Enchanter: Book Two of the Axis Trilogy. Sara Douglass

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      She moaned, her hands clenching by her side, knowing that her blood demanded of her that she choose, hating herself, knowing that she could not walk away.

      The mist clung thick and loving to both forms, so that both StarDrifter and Axis, equal distances from her now, seemed ethereal, wraithlike, in the forest. Each now beckoned, demanding.

      Without conscious thought or decision, Azhure turned to StarDrifter. His eyes widened in triumph and his fingers flared towards her.

      “Sorry,” she whispered, then walked towards Axis.

      Behind her StarDrifter screamed.

      Axis had thought his heart would tear itself apart with victory and craving when Azhure turned to walk towards him, her eyes downcast. His entire body had vibrated with every beat of his heart, his blood as wild and as febrile as the pulse of the feral pipe music.

      “Dance with me,” he’d whispered, and Azhure had raised her eyes to his. Neither had cared if StarDrifter still watched.

      Now she rested, heavy and warm along the length of his body, sleeping. They lay underneath a stand of giant feather-back ferns, encased in green tracery, warm and safe.

      Axis shifted slightly, tensing a little as Azhure mumbled in her sleep, then relaxing with her as she slipped deeper into her dreams.

      Did she dream of him? He knew he would dream of her for many long nights to come. No other had ever made him feel this way. She had sent him reeling among the stars, until his entire vision had been filled with the myriad blur of the stars as they rushed by, seizing him up in their mad dance through the heavens, until he could feel his very soul tear itself loose from its moorings and crash free about the firmament itself. Wonder and madness, exultation and pain, all had consumed him. He had withheld nothing, could withhold nothing, from this woman.

      Perhaps it was her virginity, perhaps it was Beltide night, perhaps it was the wine they had both consumed. Axis did not know. Perhaps it was because this was the first time he had coupled with a woman since coming into his full powers as an Enchanter.

      Slowly his touch grew firmer, and his hand moved further down her arm. How long, Axis wondered, did his body need to recover before he could make love to her again? His hand drifted to her back, and his touch softened. He remembered holding her as he lost himself among the surging waves of the Star Dance, feeling the terrible ridged scars that ran the length of her back. Only the single smooth strip of skin over her spine had escaped the cruel hand that had inflicted these scars. Why? What spirit of cruelty had driven Hagen to inflict this pain on Azhure?

      “Azhure,” he whispered, wishing the circle of his arms could protect her from any further hurt. He leaned his body towards her, stroking her gently awake.

      She woke slowly, opening her smoky eyes into his pale ones. “Axis? Did we …” She hesitated.

      “Did we celebrate Beltide together, my lady? Do you not remember?”

      Azhure laughed a little, her cheeks colouring. “Yes. I remember.”

      Axis smiled, and kissed her very slowly, refreshing her memory. His hand moved down over her hips.

      “And tell me, Azhure, did you ever think, when you were a small child growing up in Smyrton, that you would lose your virginity to an Icarii Enchanter on the hard ground of the Avarinheim forest?”

      Azhure did not hesitate in her reply. “I swore that I would never give myself to anyone less than a hero, Axis SunSoar. That I should love him so deeply makes this night the more sweet.”

      Axis’ hand stilled. “Azhure,” he stumbled. “Do not love me. I cannot, I … Faraday …” His voice trailed off. It was the first time he had thought about Faraday this night, and the guilt struck deep.

      Azhure flinched at the expression on his face. “I know, Axis,” she whispered. “I know. I did not expect to be loved in return.”

      Now Axis winced. Who had he betrayed here tonight? Faraday – or Azhure? He leaned down and kissed Azhure again, shifting his body against hers, allowing his desire to swamp him. The night was yet young, and Faraday was very far away.

      Neither knew that somewhere, sitting in front of his lonely fire, the Prophet laughed at the man and woman entwined beneath the ferns. He was pleased. Well pleased. Azhure had served the Prophecy well this night.

       16

       A Parting of Ways

      Azhure, dressed in her Avar tunic and leggings, packed the crimson robe carefully into the base of her pack. Last night seemed a dream. But every aching muscle in her body told her otherwise.

      “Rivkah, where will you be going from here?” she asked.

      “Back to Achar, Azhure. Do you think to join me? Why not go back to Talon Spike with the Icarii?”

      Azhure hesitated. “I –”

      “I know what happened last night,” Rivkah said gently. “I saw both StarDrifter and Axis follow you into the forest, and I saw StarDrifter return alone.”

      Azhure busied herself thrusting the last of her belongings into the pack. “It would be hard to go back to Talon Spike, Rivkah. StarDrifter would be … well –”

      “Impossible,” Rivkah said. “Yes, Azhure, I understand that. Do you want to follow Axis?”

      “That would be impossible, Rivkah. No, I thought I might follow you. I am heartily sick of this Prophecy, and I do not want to get in Axis’ way. It would be best if I left whatever we had last night here. As quickly as possible.”

      Rivkah nodded. She understood that Azhure wanted to walk away from Axis before he had the chance to tear her soul apart as StarDrifter had torn Rivkah’s. Mortal women had no place beside Icarii Enchanters.

      Axis stood conferring with several of the Crest-Leaders. Those of the Icarii who had not indulged too freely in the wine of Beltide were making preparations to return to Talon Spike. The groves about him were filled with the rush of feathers and shouted goodbyes.

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