"Let Fly the Standard!'

w^v ivkah hurried along the corridors of Sigholt, i_^ increasingly fretful. She had woken early to find JL. ^^.Azhure gone, her side of the bed stone cold. Her clothes were still lying draped casually across the chair -Azhure was still in her nightgown. Had she gone for a midnight stroll through Sigholt and suffered some mishap - a fall perhaps? Was Azhure now lying injured some place?

Rivkah turned down the main corridor and hurried towards the stairwell that led to the roof. She halted by the door to the main apartment. The door was closed and nothing seemed amiss. But there was something...different.

Rivkah suddenly realised what it was as the faint odour of lamp oil registered. Had Azhure gone in there? Was she now asleep - injured, perhaps - on the floor? Rivkah gripped the door handle and stepped into the central chamber.

Lamps had indeed been lit, but had now burned down. Rivkah glanced about the chamber and took a deep breath. She had not been in these apartments since returning to Sigholt, and they brought back a flood of memories. Searlas is long dead, she told herself firmly, and stepped further into the room - and saw Azhure's nightgown lying in a pale puddle in the centre of the floor. She turned her head towards the open door to the bedchamber, then walked slowly over and stepped through.

Azhure and Axis lay asleep on the bed, Axis' arms wrapped protectively around Azhure. Well, thought Rivkah, a curious stillness in her mind, you did not run far enough or fast enough, did you Azhure?

Axis opened his eyes and stared at Rivkah standing just inside the doorway.

He gently disentangled himself from Azhure; who murmured a little as he left the bed. He paused to pull the sheets over her before he hugged his mother.

"Welcome home to Sigholt," Rivkah whispered, holding her son tightly to her. "Did the Ferryman teach you well? Did you learn his secrets?"

"The Ferryman still plies his boat along the waterways, Rivkah. He is well."

Axis brushed some stray silver wisps of hair back from his mother's forehead.

"Does anyone else know I am here?" he asked.

"No." Rivkah paused and glanced at Azhure, still asleep.

"She carries a beautiful son, Rivkah."

"She was very worried. Have you sung to him?"

"Yes," Axis replied sofdy, remembering.

"Rivkah?" Azhure murmured sleepily behind them. "Is that you?"

Rivkah let her son go and sat down on the bed beside Azhure, stroking her hair.

Azhure knew exactly what she was thinking. "I will be happy, Rivkah. Do not fret for me."

Rivkah's face hardened. They were both so young and both so sure that life would work out exactly as they hoped. Well, already plans and vows lay shattered across the floor. Could they not see that?

"Azhure, it grows late, and Belial has called a meeting of his commanders in the map-room. You must dress. I'll bring your clothes here.

"Axis," Rivkah turned to him, "Belial would be more than pleased to see you.

He has long fretted about your absence."

Axis nodded. "Then shall we surprise him, Azhure? Let me see what Belial has done with my command over the past eight months."

"And while you are in conference I will tell StarDrifter and MorningStar you have arrived," Rivkah said, rising from the bed.

"They are here?" Axis asked sharply.

"Yes. They arrived some time ago."

"Good," he nodded, "for I must talk with them."

Belial paced about the map-room. Where was she? Magariz, Arne, FarSight and two of his Crest-Leaders had been here almost a quarter of an hour, chatting about inconsequential matters. Well, Belial fumed, if her pregnancy was going to make her sleep in during the mornings, then perhaps... The door opened and Azhure stepped into the room. "You're late," Belial snapped. "I ..."

Axis stepped into the room behind Azhure. "I am afraid that was my fault, Belial."

Belial gaped at Axis, then he strode across the chamber and enveloped his friend in a great hug. "Axis!

"Eight months' absence is too long, my friend," Belial said, finally stepping back. "I am glad to have you back." Axis turned to Magariz. "Magariz!" They,gripped hands. Axis' warmth for this man who had abandoned lifelong loyalties to follow his cause was only slightly less than for Belial. Without Belial and Magariz Axis' cause would be almost hopeless. Axis touched the blood-red blazing sun on Magariz's chest. "Azhure has been wrapping you in her designs, I see."

Axis greeted Arne, then FarSight and the two other Crest-Leaders. Their black uniforms, although similarly emblazoned with the blood-red blazing sun, made them look forbidding and dangerous and Axis wondered how their training was going.

After all the greetings were done, Axis gestured to the others to take their places about the table; it was clear that Axis had assumed full command the instant he'd walked into the chamber.

Axis placed his hands on the table, stared about the table, then said quietly to Belial, "Tell me."

Talking in confident tones, Belial informed Axis of the status of Sigholt and of his command, now a combined one of Acharites and Icarii, ground and air combatants.

Axis nodded occasionally, raised his eyebrows in silent query at other times.

Belial had worked wonders, and Axis was impressed - and grateful. The Icarii were doing well, learning the skills they would need in battle. The Lake had awakened both Keep and hills. When Belial described Azhure's work with the archers, her abilities as a fighter and as a commander, Axis was not surprised. As Axis and Azhure shared a look, Belial quickly moved on to the growing number of refugees who flocked to Sigholt. Word of the Prophecy was spreading, and proving potent.

"I could not have asked for a more capable or a more courageous group of commanders than the seven of you," Axis said. "I thank you with all my heart for what you have done here in Sigholt and for what you have done for me personally. If I emerge victorious then it will be your victory as much as mine.

Belial." He looked at his friend. "To you I owe the greatest debt. You accepted me for what I was when I was consumed with self-doubt about my heritage. You saved my life from Borneheld and engineered not only my escape from Gorkenfort, but the escape of an army as well. You took that force and built me a base here in Sigholt which nothing my enemies enjoy can rival. Belial, my friend," he reached across the table and gripped Belial's hand, "I thank you.

"Now." Axis leaned back and spoke to the rest of the group. "What do we control? What is the state of the Skraelings? Borneheld's men? What do you know?"

Magariz lifted a map from the rack behind him and unrolled it across the table. His hand swept over the Urqhart Hills in an arc from north to south. "We control most of the Urqhart Hills, except the extreme north and north-west, which the Skraelings occupy. We also dare not approach too close to Hsingard, which the Skraelings have destroyed. The HoldHard Pass is ours, as is the territory spreading south from the Pass to the Nordra. Below the Nordra we can move fairly easily in the northernmost parts of Skarabost, but we do occasionally skirmish with the outer patrols from Jervois Landing in the north-western parts of the Seagrass Plains. We have supply routes stretching into Skarabost, which should remain open unless our access to the Nordra is cut off." "A good start,"

said Axis. "And the rest?" "We face problems from both Gorgrael and Borneheld,"

Magariz said slowly. "Intelligence from the farflight scouts shows that Gorgrael builds his forces. We hurt them badly above Gorkenfort, and for months the Skraeling masses were scattered all over Ichtar, too disorganised to push further south. But now Gorgrael has regained control and rebuilt his forces. Skraelings, under firm direction now, mass below Hsingard in an effort to break through Borneheld's defences at Jervois Landing. A smaller force also builds in the northern WildDog Plains. Gorgrael obviously plans a two-pronged attack into Achar this winter. Not only past Jervois Landing, but also through the WildDog Plains. I only hope Borneheld can hold them at Jervois Landing, because I suspect most of our efforts this winter will be directed at keeping the Skraelings from pushing south through the WildDog Plains." This was bitter news for Axis.

He had hoped to move his own forces into southern Achar during the winter while Borneheld was occupied at Jervois Landing. But now it appeared that if Borneheld was going to be occupied with the Skraelings, so was he. Axis knew he could not let Gorgrael succeed in his push through the WildDog Plains.

But his agreement with the GateKeeper would last only a year and a day before it lapsed and FreeFall would never be reborn. He had to be in Carlon before then.

"And Borneheld?" he asked. "What has he done at Jervois Landing? How has he equipped his forces? What is his strength?"

"Axis, Borneheld now commands over twenty thousand men in Jervois Landing, and...he controls the force as King. Priam died some months ago."

Axis went rigid with shock. "King?" He took a deep breath. "I can just imagine how Borneheld seized the throne," he muttered bleakly. Now Borneheld would be immeasurably more dangerous. "But how did he manage to find a force of twenty thousand? How?"

Magariz explained about the Ravensbundmen and the extra forces that Borneheld had scavenged from about Achar. Then, as Axis' shoulders slumped, he briefly explained about the system of canals Borneheld had ordered built between the Nordra and Azle rivers.

There was silence about the table. After a moment Axis shook his head.

"Well, FarSight, your Strike Force should be worth five men each. At least Borneheld has not taken to the air yet - unless there is still more bad news, Magariz?"

Magariz laughed, relieving some of the tension in the room. "No, Axis, Borneheld is still ground-bound. The Strike Force will go far towards evening out our chances."

Axis nodded. "Then I had better announce my arrival. Shall I stand from atop Sigholt and shout it for all to hear?" "No," Azhure said softly. "I have a better way."

Axis met StarDrifter and MorningStar outside the map-room. As Azhure brushed past, StarDrifter raised his eyebrows.

"A son," Axis said. "And an Enchanter."

StarDrifter's eyes glinted. "I knew she would breed powerful Enchanters, Axis."

"I do not think of her as a brood mare, StarDrifter," Axis snapped. "She is Azhure, and I value her as much in her own right as I do for being the mother of my son." He wheeled away and followed Azhure down the corridor.

StarDrifter watched them go, still bitter and resentful that Azhure had chosen Axis that night, then hurried after them.

As the SunSoars and a group of commanders gathered on the roof of the Keep, Rivkah handed a bundle to Azhure.

"Axis," Azhure said, "over the past months Rivkah and myself have worked on this whenever we had time. Arne?"

Arne, obviously forewarned, took the bundle from Azhure and walked over to the empty flagpole.

"Now you are here in residence," Azhure said, "let all know it," and she turned to Arne.

Axis watched Arne unfold the deep gold material, then his eyes caught Azhure's. "Thank you," he whispered.

As Arne raised Axis SunSoar's standard, the breeze caught the fabric and it unfurled in a shimmer of light. As the golden tunic Azhure had wrought for Axis, so his standard -the deep gold field with the blood-red sun blazing in the centre.

All stood and watched it whip and crack in the sun.

"The command is yours, Axis," Belial said formally. "I have done my best.

Now it is yours to do your best with."

Trying to control his emotions, Axis strode to the wall and gazed over the valley. He could hardly reconcile what he saw there with the Sigholt of before.

The Lake of Life had truly lived up to her name, and now new life bloomed all about the Lake and Keep. Late summer roses were even starting to crawl up the silvery walls of the Keep. Sigholt was truly alive.

He looked closely at the camps spreading around the edge of the Lake, then at the practice fields where units were engaged in their mid-morning combat training. Eventually, more and more of them noticed the standard high above their heads, and eventually they fell still. Axis raised a hand, and a faint cheer reached his ears.

"I cannot wait to begin, my friends, but there is one more thing I must do before I rejoin my command." Axis gave a single sharp whistle, and stared into the sun.

"What are you doing?" asked StarDrifter.

"I await my wings," Axis replied, motioning for silence.

All eyes turned to the sun.

Very slowly - and the Icarii with their extraordinary vision were the first to see it - a black spot spiralled out of the sun.

He spiralled down out of the sun, escaping its blazing fury. He was alive and he rejoiced in that life, although he had no memory of the state of death or of his previous life. He simply rejoiced in the freedom of the unlimited sky and the heat of the sun on his wingbacks as he plummeted further and further down to the green and blue earth below him.

Gradually he realised he had to go somewhere, meet someone. He pulled himself out of his crazy dive and scanned the earth below. The glint of the Lake and silver grey of the Keep caught his eye, and he soared in a gigantic loop above them. An exultant scream left his throat.

All below heard the eagle's cry and watched as it tipped its wings and drifted towards Axis. He laughed in sheer delight and extended his left arm, whistling once more.

In a flurry of white and silver feathers the eagle landed on his arm, both fighting for a moment to keep their balance.

StarDrifter stared in amazement. No-one had ever tamed a snow eagle previously. And this was half as large again as most snow eagles, though coloured like all its kind with white and silver feathers, and black eyes, beak and talons.

"Axis?" MorningStar finally managed to ask.

"He is my eyes in the sky, my wings, my voice as I need a voice," said Axis, explaining nothing at all. "He is a gift from the UnderWorld."

Everyone looked at each other in confusion.

WolfStar's Story s the eagle preened itself on the parapet wall, Axis JLA asked for time to speak to MorningStar and his JL JLparents privately. He touched Azhure's cheek as she turned to go; the gesture was lost on none.

"Gather the unit and Wing commanders in the courtyard after noon," Axis told Belial, "and I will address them there. Arne. A word?"

Arne paused, listened to Axis, and nodded briefly.

Soon the rooftop was empty save for the three Icarii Enchanters and Rivkah.

"And what secrets did you learn from the Ferryman?" StarDrifter asked eagerly.

"Many secrets, StarDrifter, and most I have promised not to reveal."

StarDrifter s mouth hardened into a thin line. "Are they so terrible?"

"No. They are quite simple. But I vowed not to reveal them, and I will not.

However," Axis paused and scratched the eagle under its beak, "what I can tell you is terrible enough."

MorningStar walked over to her grandson. "What?"

Axis sighed, and all noted how tight and tense the skin was under his eyes.

"In Talon Spike, MorningStar, you theorised that there was another SunSoar Enchanter, an Enchanter who, for his or her own purposes, had taught both myself and Gorgrael." MorningStar nodded. "Yes?"

"I can now tell you who it is."

Both StarDrifter and his mother visibly tensed. Who?

"It is WolfStar SunSoar, come back through the Star Gate."