"I greet you well, dear heart," Jack replied softly, "and it gladdens my heart to see that once more the waters flow."

"I have been sad," the bridge said, "but now I am happy."

Later, after the bridge had questioned each member of Belial's force, Belial stood with Jack in the courtyard of Sigholt.

"Well? What of Zeherah?"

Jack shook his head sadly. "Perhaps she needs the Lake to refill before she can return."

But as the Lake gradually filled over the next few days, there was no sign of the fifth Sentinel. After six days of watching from the rooftop Jack retired to his private chamber and did not emerge for many days. When he did, his face was creased and haggard with grief. There was nothing else he could do. Zeherah was lost unless he could discover the enchantments that bound her.

'I Will Lead You Back into Tencendor!"

The Assembly Chamber of Talon Spike was vast, tiered with dozens of rows of golden-veined white marble about a circular floor of translucent and very beautiful golden marble veined with violet. Pale gold and blue cushions lay scattered about the benches. The lower circles of benches were reserved for the Elders, the Enchanters and the family of the Talon. These benches were completely lined with crimson cushions for the Elders, turquoise ones for the Enchanters, and royal violet for those of the House of SunSoar. The very top seventeen rows of benches reserved for the Strike Force were uncushioned, as befitted the hard muscles of warriors.

A spectacular circle of gigantic pillars soared above the tiers and supported the domed roof of the Chamber. Five times life height, the pillars were carved into alternating male and female figures, their arms and wings extended joyously, their eyes open in wonder and mouths open in silent song. They were gilded and enamelled, with real gems in their eyes and in the golden tores about their necks. Each individual hair on their heads and feathers in their wings had been picked out in gold and silver and the muscles in their pale naked bodies were carefully de ned in the ivory tones of flesh. They supported a domed roof completely plated in highly burnished bronze mirrors which, due to the enchantments bonded into their making, gave off a gentle golden light that illuminated the entire Chamber.

The Chamber lay empty, awaiting the Icarii and the man of the Prophecy who would lead them back into Tencendor and back into the lands of myth and legend.

In the circular robing room RavenCrest SunSoar faced the man who demanded to be named his heir.

The Icarii Talon, his violet eyes furious, paced to and fro, his black and speckled-blue wings rustling angrily behind.

"I reserve the right not to name an heir!" he shouted.

Axis understood RavenCrest's reluctance to act. The Talon had not yet accepted FreeFall's death, but Axis had to make him realise that an heir needed to be named while Raven-Crest still lived. These were bad and dangerous times, and if an heir could die so precipitously, then so too could a Talon -and nothing was so threatening to the stability of any realm than uncertainty over the succession.

Tonight Axis would address the full Assembly of the Icarii, and he needed to do that with the authority of an heir. He had to unite the three races - Icarii, Acharite and Avar - in order to weld them into a force that could defeat Gorgrael's Ghostmen. He knew tonight could be his only opportunity to pull the Icarii behind him.

He walked deliberately towards his uncle, wearing the golden tunic Azhure had made for him, the blood-red sun blazing triumphantly across his breast. I bless her for this gift of the blood-red sun, he thought as he held RavenCrest s eyes, for it will be the emblem of what I will become. StarDrifter and MorningStar glanced at each other. Axis stopped not a pace from RavenCrest, his eyes calm before the Talon's temper.

"Your son is dead. Gone. You have no other children. RavenCrest, you have a duty to your people," Axis paused, "and to your blood. You have no choice but to name me your heir. I demand it as my right. You have no choice." RavenCrest gestured towards StarDrifter. "My brother stands in direct line to the throne."

Axis' mouth curled ironically. "Uncle, if you follow that line of reasoning, then StarDrifter would be followed by his eldest son." He paused, letting the full implications of his statement sink in. "Would you have Gorgrael knock on Talon Spike's door to claim his heritage, RavenCrest? Gorgrael as Talon? If nothing else, I am the lesser of two evils."

RavenCrest said nothing, the muscles in his jaw flickering. "The whole mountain seethes with uncertainty over this issue," Axis snapped. "Name me as your heir, or let your beloved people tear themselves to pieces once you have gone. You have no son or full-blood nephew to follow you, Raven-Crest, and I ant your only choice! You must decide and you must decide now Why did you give me control of the Strike Force if you did not intend to give me the throne as well?"

RavenCrest tore his eyes away from his nephew's and looked at his mother.

MorningStar inclined her head. "He is right, RavenCrest. You have no choice.

You must name Axis your heir." Her eldest son did not like what she said. "This has never happened before!" RavenCrest shouted, wheeling away and resuming his agitated pacing. "The Icarii have always had a full-blood Icarii SunSoar as Talon!"

"The whole world is changing and being refashioned beneath our feet, RavenCrest. Nothing will ever be the same again." Not only his voice, but Axis'

entire body stance exuded power and confidence.

RavenCrest looked at his nephew. His whole being yearned for his son, but FreeFall was dead. Despite his grief and his resistance to naming Axis his heir, RavenCrest indeed knew that he would have to do it. StarDrifter would be a hopeless Talon, and, even though Axis was not full-blood Icarii - not even winged - he knew how to lead.

The anger on RavenCrest's face faded, and he gestured to his brother.

"StarDrifter, call our wives and EvenSong. They must be here so that the entire living House of SunSoar will bear witness to this."

At StarDrifter's summons, BrightFeather, RavenCrest's wife, then Rivkah and EvenSong entered the room.

As soon as the door was closed behind them RavenCrest stepped forward and took Axis' face between his hands, then kissed him softly on the mouth.

"As the head of the House of SunSoar and as Icarii Talon, I not only welcome you who was lost into the House of SunSoar, nephew, but also name you in front of these witnesses as my heir and successor to the titles, ranks, privileges and powers of the hereditary office of Talon."

EvenSong's eyes widened in surprise. Rivkah smiled at StarDrifter; their eyes burned with pride.

RavenCrest's eyes were still locked with Axis' and his hands still gripped his nephew's head; he took no notice of the reactions about the room. "Axis. For the past six thousand years the House of SunSoar has been the guardian of the office and person of the Talon. We have been privileged, and have enjoyed the trust and loyalty of the Icarii people."

If not the trust and loyalty of the Acharite people over whom you once ruled, Axis thought a little sourly.

"Respect that tradition of trust and loyalty." RavenCrest paused. "Axis, You will be the twenty-seventh Enchanter-Talon, the first for over fifteen hundred years. You will wield much power, both in your own right and in your position as StarMan. Do you promise to respect your people?" "Always," Axis responded softly, his sourness fading. "Do you promise now, before me and your family, that you will not abuse your power?"

. "I will never do so."

"Will you guide your Icarii people through the Prophecy so that they will drift only into sun-bright clear air and not shadowed turbulence?" "I do so promise."

RavenCrest gently let Axis' head go and kissed each of his nephew's palms before folding them gently over Axis' heart.

"Then accept my blessing and my goodwill, Axis SunSoar. Before the House of SunSoar here gathered I formally name you heir to the Talon throne as I will name you to the Icarii nation in Assembly. Shoulder your responsibilities and fly with them into the future."

"I shall endeavour not to falter, RavenCrest, and I will do my best for our people. I am grateful for your trust and for your belief in me. I will do well." In truth, Axis did not know if he'd ever take the throne of Talon, but this was not the time or place to tell RavenCrest how he intended to structure the new Tencendor. But if he did not become Talon, he would pass it to another of the same blood. The office of Talon would not leave the House of SunSoar.

StarDrifter embraced his son. "Welcome to the House of SunSoar, Axis.

Welcome home to your heritage."

He was followed by MorningStar. "Welcome to the House of SunSoar. You are a powerful Enchanter, Axis, heir to the Throne. I am proud of you. Fly high and soar well."

BrightFeather whispered some cordial words of welcome, then Axis was enveloped into a bear hug by his mother. Hecould feel her cheeks were wet with tears as they brushed his.

"I weep with happiness, my sweet son," she said, "andbecause at least I have witnessed you seize your heritage inboth your hands before I die. Welcome among the SunSoars."

Axis hugged her tightly, tears springing into his own eyes.

He wished he had enjoyed her love and support all his lifeinstead of only the past few months.

Rivkah let him go and stepped back for EvenSong.

EvenSong placed her hands on Axis' shoulders and kissed him gendy. "I have not been very welcoming. Axis," she said softly. "Please accept my sorrow that I did not more fully embrace your return into our family earlier. I have acted badly, and for that I beg your forgiveness. Welcome into the House of SunSoar, brother."

Axis touched her cheek. "There is no need. I know of your grief. EvenSong,"

he hesitated, "FreeFall's last words and thoughts were of you. Have faith in his love for you."

EvenSong leaned back, her face expressionless as she fought back tears.

Even now, after so many months, words of FreeFall were painful.

"There is one more task that must be done before we enter the Assembly,"

said RavenCrest, "and it breaks my heart to do this." He held out his hands.

"Rivkah. StarDrifter."

When they joined him he took each by the hand. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Rivkah nodded. Her mind was made up. "Yes, Raven-Crest. This is what we must do."

StarDrifter was silent.

"Many years ago," RavenCrest began, "it was my privilege to announce and witness the marriage vows and bonds between you. Now, by mutual decision, you have decided to break those vows." He dropped each of their hands, the gesture deliberate and grave. "Your marriage has come to an end, StarDrifter and Rivkah. Use your freedom wisely."

Rivkah and StarDrifter had warned their children and family earlier of their decision; none were truly surprised. The true tragedy, Axis thought, was that this passion, this love that had altered lives and would alter nations, could be ended so simply.

"I loved you, Rivkah," StarDrifter said gently. "Know that."

"And I loved you, StarDrifter, with heart and soul. Know that."

"Rivkah," RavenCrest laid a hand on her shoulder. "You are and will always be SunSoar. Talon Spike is still your home if you wish to call it that. You are not cast out of this family because you have ended your marriage to StarDrifter."

Rivkah nodded. "Thank you, RavenCrest. Those are kind - and welcome - words." She hesitated. "I will stay until Beltide, celebrate that with you, and then return to Achar for a time. I do not know how long I will stay, or if I will find a home there."

"Come," RavenCrest said to his family. "I can hear the Assembly Chamber filling. It is time for us to robe. Axis must meet his people."

Axis had lived among the Icarii for some three months now and had yet to meet the Icarii people as an assembly. For the first two months he had been so closeted with MorningStar and StarDrifter that he'd hardly seen anyone else, and for the past month his efforts with the Strike Force had kept him relatively isolated.

However, even though the greater proportion of the Icarii had yet to have the chance to make up their minds about Axis SunSoar, rumour and hearsay had spread like wildfire through the Talon Spike complex. If Axis spent two months closeted with MorningStar and StarDrifter it was because he was teaching them, not they teaching him. He'was planning to throw the Strike Force at Gorgrael immediately after Beltide in revenge for theYuletide attack, while a contrary rumour had Axis planning to drive south and capture Achar for the Icarii first.

Five Icarii solemnly swore they'd personally seen the letter of surrender that Gorgrael had sent to Axis, addressed to Talon Spike, while another seven claimed to have seen a similar letter announcing that Gorgrael had been assassinated by a band of Ravensbundmen. Several Icarii women claimed that Axis had proposed marriage to them. One woman claimed to be bearing his child. Others still tried to determine which of the conditions of the Prophecy had been fulfilled and which still waited. Many wondered if RavenCrest had finally made up his mind regarding the succession. If not Axis, then who? A few talked of Azhure and her mastery of the Wolven, and one or two privately wondered if she were one of the Star Gods wearing mortal disguise, returned to play among the Icarii.

Raum sat with Azhure, talking quietly on a tier several rows below those the Strike Force would take. Azhure had hardly seen the Avar Bane in recent months; he had been so busy with his study in the Icarii library and his teaching of the Icarii children.

"What do you think will happen tonight?" Azhure whispered, her eyes on the fidgeting Icarii population squeezed into the benches of the Chamber. She wore a vivid crimson gown, draped low over her shoulders and sashed with deep emerald, her hair loose down her back, making her normally exotic appearance even more striking than usual. Many Icarii eyes had followed her entrance into the Chamber.

Raum smiled at her, his liquid brown eyes gentle. "Who knows, Azhure.

Tonight Axis must either win the Icarii or lose them. He will have no other chance."

"Raum!" Azhure exclaimed. "They cannot refuse him! Can they?"

Raum squeezed her hand reassuringly. "No-one can ever tell what the Icarii will do in Assembly, Azhure. They are a flighty lot and can stampede in entirely the wrong direction."

"But Raum, in the Assembly after Yuletide, didn't the Icarii vote to accept Axis as the one to lead them through the battles ahead?"

Raum smiled wryly. "That's not the exact thing they voted on, Azhure. That was discussed, yes, and many agreed to it, but the actual vote was taken on whether or not to open negotiations with Axis in Gorkenfort. The Icarii love to meet and argue, but they are very bad at actually making decisions."

Azhure muttered something about the Icarii under her breath as Raum continued. "But it helps that Axis has already gained control of the Strike Force, Azhure. The Icarii will respect that. At the least he will address them as Strike- Leader." Raum's eyes flickered up to the empty benches of the Strike Force. He smoothed down his dark-green robe. Where were they? Were they not going to support Axis?

As if in answer to his thought there was a rustle of movement, and the various Wings of the Strike Force began to emerge from each of the archways, filing their way silently into their places.

Their appearance stunned the Icarii who crammed the benches below. As necks craned, mouths dropped open.

"What?" Raum gasped. "What is that they wear?"

Azhure s eyes gleamed in satisfaction.

Not only had the entire Strike Force dyed their wings in the ebony of war, but now all wore ebony uniforms of sum-fitting wool as well.

"Axis said he wanted to turn the Strike Force from birds of paradise into hawks," Azhure said, her eyes fixed on the Strike Force. "At least now they look the part."

But it was not their dark and imposing presence, stunning as it was, that made the real impact. Every member of the Strike Force wore a blazing blood- red sun embroidered into the chest of his or her uniform. Wing-Leaders were distinguished by a tracery of gold outlining the blazing sun, Crest-Leaders by a smaller circle of golden stars.

"The blazing sun is the symbol of the House of SunSoar," Azhure explained, "and the blood-red sun is Axis' own."

"You devised it for him?"

Azhure nodded. "And he accepted it, although he does not yet know that the Strike Force now wear it. I approached FarSight with the idea."

And he obviously agreed, thought Raum. If nothing else this will indicate to the Icarii population that the Strike Force stands totally united behind Axis. Again he looked at the woman beside him, her face serene as she gazed at the Strike Force. Did the Prophecy place her in Smyrton for a purpose? Raum wondered.

Was it simple coincidence that in Smyrton I should find a woman who would save myself and Shra from death, a woman who would later show the way to save many of the Icarii and Avar from slaughter at Yuletide, a woman who could master the Wolven when in four thousand years only one of the Icarii could, a woman who could plan this stunning show of support for Axis? Coincidence?

Hardly. There were so many small things about Azhure that didn't add up. He remembered how, during the last Assembly, Azhure had understood the ancient Icarii tongue that StarDrifter had sung in, a language that Raum had mastered only after many years of hard study.

Who are you, Azhure? Raum wondered. What are you?

Five rows below him sat the two Sentinels, Ogden and Veremund. Both had discarded their dirty habits and were dressed in slightly more becoming robes, and both were looking at Azhure with exactly the same amount of speculation as Raum. The sense of deep familiarity they experienced whenever they met the woman puzzled them. It was as if they had known her most of their lives. And the Sentinels had lived very, very long lives. This was no simple peasant girl from Smyrton, caught up in events that were spinning her out of control. No, they thought not. Who was this woman who walked so effortlessly through prophecy?

Contemplations were cut short by the entrance of the Elders and Enchanters who took their seats on the lower tiers. The Assembly held its collective breath, all eyes on the small door that led to the robing room. No-one spoke, not a feather was ruffled to destroy the silence.

The SunSoar women came out finally and took their seats; BrightFeather first, as befitted the wife of the Talon, then MorningStar, Rivkah and EvenSong who, through virtue of her connection with the royal House of SunSoar, sat with them tonight rather than the Strike Force. All the women wore various combinations of the royal violet, intertwined with gold and ivory. The colour combination looked particularly striking on EvenSong with her violet eyes and golden underwings.

There was a movement in the doorway and seventy thousand eyes shifted as one towards the figure who now entered.

It was StarDrifter, looking his magnificent and powerful best in a crimson toga with a pale gold sun across his chest. He did not sit on the benches but moved to stand in the centre of the golden floor that was the heart of the Chamber. There he dropped his eyes and watched the door.

RavenCrest entered - slowly, proudly, his violet toga edged with gold, the jewelled golden tore about his neck proclaiming his position as Talon, leader of all Icarii. He walked to stand with StarDrifter, pausing as he joined him. Then, as one, they saluted the Assembly, bowing low in the traditional Icarii greeting, their arms and wings swept low in a gesture both of respect and of abasement, both swinging in a slow full circle so that all were included in their greeting.

Azhure remembered how incredibly beautiful and graceful she had thought StarDrifter when he had bowed in greeting to the Assembly the last time it met, but the effect of both brothers saluting the Assembly in this manner was staggering in its exquisite beauty and simplicity.

It was very unusual for both to open the Assembly as equals. Normally, either one or the other did it - StarDrifter, in his capacity as the most powerful Enchanter, or Raven-Crest in his capacity as Talon.

Azhure turned to Raum with the question in her eyes.