Kalanute laughed softly, now stretching a little. “Such a shame, for I particularly desired Inardle. but, as you say, there are others.”
“Then perhaps Inardle is inside Elcho Falling slaking her lust with the StarMan,” Sonorai said.
Eleanon and Bingaleal exchanged a glance and a small smile.
“What?” Sonorai said. “A secret? Share, do!”
“Inardle and Axis may well be slaking their lust somewhere — although personally I think they might still be trembling in too much fear to even think of it — but I can assure you they are not doing it inside Elcho Falling,” Eleanon said.
Falayal, Sonorai and Kalanute all raised their eyebrows.
Eleanon gave a soft laugh. “Axis and Inardle ‘escaped’ Elcho Falling this evening, slipping out under the cloak of Inardle’s power. She thought I could not see through it . . . but I am aided by the power of Infinity, and they were immediately apparent to me. The moment they left Elcho Falling I knew of their presence.”
“You allowed them to escape?” Kalanute said, all amorous thoughts driven from his mind.
“Why not?” Eleanon said. “I am curious as to what they might do . . . although I, as Bingaleal, am certain where they go.”
“And that is .?” Sonorai said.
“To offer their aid to Isaiah,” Bingaleal said. “Isaiah and his army are two weeks or so distant. Isaiah leads them straight for Elcho Falling, believing he can be of some assistance.” He uttered a soft, mocking laugh. “Our ‘allies’, the Skraelings —”everyone smiled derisively“— are with him now, although they seem to be dilly-dallying in some confusion. Isaiah has many things to worry him.”
“We saw the Skraelings on our flight here,” said Falayal. “I have no idea why they don’t attack. They must outnumber the Isembaardians ten to one.”
“They are likely missing the direction of the One,” said Bingaleal, and the others nodded.
The Skraelings would have no idea what to do now that their master had fallen silent.
“I am assuming you will keep Axis and Inardle under observation,” Kalanute said to Eleanon.
“Naturally,” Eleanon replied, and the conversation drifted on to other matters.
Eleanon leaned back against the pile of blankets he was using as a cushion and tuned out the conversation. He was feeling mellow indeed: happy to have the Lealfast Nation here, happy that Axis and Inardle — the fools — had had no idea he was aware of them the entire time (stars, Eleanon did not know how he had not burst out laughing while they were edging around behind his back), and just happy with the entire situation. The One was safe in his hidey hole where he could work the most damage (and yet not interfere with Eleanon’s plans), the Dark Spire still throbbed in the heart of Elcho Falling and all would be well in time.
Then Eleanon’s senses sharpened as he saw a movement at the corner of his eye.
He rose, drawing queries from the others about the fire.
“It is nothing to be worried about,” Eleanon said. “Forgive my absence for an hour or two.”
Then he was gone, skirting the fire as he stared intently at something at the edge of the camp and walking into the night.
Chapter 11
Elcho Falling
Eleanon reached out and caught at Ravenna’s elbow. “My dear,” he said.
She tried, and failed, to pull away from him. “Leave me be.”
“No. You fascinate me.” As indeed she did, although Eleanon was aware that currently his fascination was due more to the effects of the alcohol than anything else.
They were just outside the camp, and Eleanon led Ravenna further into the night, putting distance between them and the Lealfast Nation.
“What do you want?” she said.
“To talk. To investigate a little more deeply this curse Ishbel has cast on you. If I know how it works, then I understand Ishbel a little better.”
What he wanted, of course, was to alter it slightly, turn it to his own use.
“I want to go.”
“Nonetheless you keep trailing about Elcho Falling, drawn to it like a moth to the fire. Or is it Maximilian you lust for? He has gone now, I believe. I have heard that he and his lovely, lovely wife have been up to some mischief at DarkGlass Mountain.”
Eleanon turned Ravenna so that she faced him, and took both her shoulders in his hands. “You yearn for Elcho Falling, yet your curse keeps you distant from everyone. How is the baby, Ravenna?”
She blinked, confused by the sudden change of subject and made anxious by the pressure of his hands on her shoulders.
“I . . . I am not sure,” she said. “I suppose he is well enough.”
“Not sure? Truly? This is your child, the heir to Elcho Falling! And you are not sure?”
“Ishbel made it that he is no longer heir to —”
“Ah, but this is still Maximilian’s child, yes? Of course. Then this baby still has some connection to him and his pretty citadel. Besides, what can be wound can also be unwound. It is, after all, what Ishbel specialises in.”
“You can unwind this curse?”
“That is not what I said . . . but, well, who knows.” Eleanon pulled Ravenna closer despite her reluctance, pressing her body against his and running his hands over her shoulders and down her back.
“It is so strange to feel a woman with no wings,” he murmured. “How can you bear it?”
She struggled. “Let me go.”
“Stay.” Eleanon was pressing her more tightly against him now.
“I don’t want to .”
“What? What don’t you want?” He tried to kiss her, but Ravenna twisted her face out of the way.
“Don’t do this to me.”
“Are you not glad that I can stay this close to you? That I can touch you? That I can subvert Ishbel’s curse to this extent?” “I am glad — now leave me alone.”
Eleanon hated the arrogance in her voice. Ravenna’s haughty contempt, particularly given her current circumstances, could well outdo even the self-importance of the hated Icarii.
It made him want to hurt her, just a little bit.
And he knew precisely how to do it.
“You could be useful to me, Ravenna.”
“Leave me —”
Eleanon grabbed her face with a hand, twisting his fingers in cruelly deep, then kissed her as hard as he could. There was no passion or comfort or even much arousal in his kiss — it was meant purely to humiliate.
“You do not respond,” he said when he finally raised his mouth. “Am I not as good as the Lord of Elcho Falling?”
“Get away from me!” she hissed, and Eleanon smiled. There was fear in her voice now, stronger than her arrogance.
“I mean to investigate this curse of Ishbel’s,” he said, “as closely as I might.”
And twist it to what I want.
Ravenna was fighting back, but Eleanon still held her easily. He lifted a leg and kneed her violently in her groin, bringing her struggles to an abrupt halt as she bent double, gasping for breath, both arms now wrapped protectively about her pregnant abdomen.
He hit her again, this time using his fist to punch her in the side of her head.
Ravenna fell to the ground, moaning, half senseless, and Eleanon knelt beside her. He bent over, running his hands up and down her body, feeling her both physically and with his power, scrying out the twists and turns of Ishbel’s curse.
It was powerful. Eleanon felt it as dark bands of some gruesome material . . . blood, it was blood! . . . that wrapped about her body like a cocoon. He could slip his hands between them here and there, finding Ravenna’s vulnerable flesh, but he could not unwrap them.
No matter. He could isolate them.
“You are very lovely,” he murmured, now using a knee to prise her legs apart, “even with this cumbersome belly of yours.”
Ravenna cried out, struggling weakly, but it was of no use against Eleanon’s strength. He penetrated her body and mind, using spiteful fingers
of power to probe deep into her thoughts as he also moved his body inside hers, leaving long agonising trails of hurt wherever he went.
Ravenna screamed, then again, and then yet again, unable to bear the pain.
Eleanon smiled. He enjoyed her agony and was glad it was necessary in order to freeze a little bit of Ishbel’s curse into uselessness.
“You think Ishbel your enemy,” he said, finally rising from her body, “but she is nothing compared to the enemy I will become if you do not do as I command.”
He stood, adjusting his clothing and looking at Ravenna as she wrapped herself about her belly, sobbing.
“I have frozen the part of Ishbel’s curse that isolated you from others,” Eleanon said conversationally. “People will still feel uncomfortable about you and wish to move away from you, but you will be able to stay in their presence. The other aspects of her curse — your isolation from the Land of Dreams and the disinheritance of your son — remain in place.”
Eleanon paused. “Don’t wander too far away, Ravenna. Sooner or later I am going to be needing you. Who knows, you may get the chance to see your true love once again. Maybe he’ll reconsider this time.”
Chapter 12
Elcho Falling
Georgdi stood on the balcony, bathed in the mid-morning sun. Across the lake, Armat’s former military camp seethed with Lealfast. They glinted in the sun, the lines of frost on their eyebrows and on the ridges of their wings sending shimmers of light sparking into the air and surrounding countryside.
It was a stunning spectacle, but it did nothing to lighten Georgdi’s mood.
Then he tensed in alarm, straightening his back and sliding his hand down to the knife in his belt.
A window had appeared in the air some two or three paces out from the edge of the balcony. In that window sat a young dark-haired man, regarding Georgdi with considerable amusement.
Georgdi allowed himself to relax slightly, although he rested his hand on his hip, close to the knife.
“You must be Josia,” he said.
“Indeed,” said Josia, “and it is with you I must chat now that Axis has vanished.” Something crossed Josia’s face, almost irritation, but then the smile returned. “Do things go well in Elcho Falling, Georgdi?”
Georgdi gave a short laugh. “We eat, dance and are merry,” he said. “Light entertainments are all that is left to us now that we lie under such heavy siege.”
“It must be galling to you, sir, to be so confined.”
“I am an adaptable man.” Georgdi injected a light tone into his voice, wondering what Josia wanted. There was something about the man that riled Georgdi, but he couldn’t put a name to it, and he thought it must be just a projection of his frustration at being, indeed, so confined within Elcho Falling.
He was an Outlander, born and bred for the vast open spaces of the plains, and house confinement of any description abraded his nerves.
“Do you have any news of Maximilian and Ishbel?” Georgdi said.
“Axis told you of their success at DarkGlass Mountain?”
“Yes.”
“The One is gone and all Maxel and Axis need to fret about are the approaching Skraelings and,” Josia waved a hand behind him, “these winged creatures. I am sure Axis can —”
“Do you have any news of Maximilian and Ishbel?” Georgdi asked again. Josia was really starting to irritate him, and Georgdi knew now it wasn’t just frustration at his own confinement.
He didn’t like the man.
“None interesting enough to relay,” Josia said. “They have begun their journey home, which shall take them a good few weeks as I am sure you realise.”
“Then is there anything you need to discuss with me?”
Josia’s mouth curved in a very small smile. “No. Not really, Georgdi. I just wanted to get your measure.”
He was gone, then, before Georgdi could even open his mouth to reply.
Gods, that man was annoying! Georgdi had no idea why Maximilian and Ishbel seemed to think him such a friend and confidante. He turned to walk back into the command chamber then he stopped suddenly, his heart thumping.
Two surprises in just a few minutes. Georgdi didn’t think he could take much more of an escalation in surprises this day.
One of Elcho Falling’s servants stood just inside the doorway. He was half shrouded in shadow so that Georgdi could not see him clearly, but he could easily make out his form.
As soon as the servant saw Georgdi react he stepped into the light, bowing his head slightly in greeting.
“And what can I do for you?” Georgdi said.
“We, too, make ourselves known to you,” said the servant.
“You need only to think your need of us and we shall be here.” “You speak for Elcho Falling itself, do you not?”
The servant bowed his head again.
“What do you think of Josia?” said Georgdi.
“We are glad he resides only in his Twisted Tower,” said the servant.
Georgdi grunted in amusement. “I had not thought of it that way, but yes .”
“Just remember that words can often be as harmful as weapons or power.”
“Is that a warning?”
Again the servant inclined his head, but in a manner that could have meant anything.
“Well,” Georgdi said, “thank you . . . I suppose.” He paused. “May I ask something? Is there any way in and out of this fortress other than by the front door?”
The servant smiled.
“There are chambers as yet undiscovered,” he said.
The servant leaned closer to Geordi and the two spoke quietly for some time.
An hour later Georgdi met with Egalion, Insharah and Ezekiel. Neither Maximilian nor Axis had consulted much with the once most senior of Isaiah’s generals, but Georgdi liked Ezekiel and valued his opinion.
“I am tired of all this sitting about,” Georgdi said, lacing his hands over his chest as he leaned back in his chair and looked at the other three.
Both Ezekiel and Insharah grinned, and Egalion narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
“And what do you plan to do about it?” Egalion said.
“I have heard so much about the Isembaardian military prowess,” Georgdi said, “and yet I have not had an opportunity to view it firsthand. You’ve done a great deal of moving from place to place — and in my land, may I point out — but little to demonstrate your great reputation.”
“Are you about to give us a chance to demonstrate it, then?” Ezekiel said, leaning forward a little, his eyes bright.
“And you and your Emerald Guard,” Georgdi said to Egalion, ignoring Ezekiel for the moment. “What you did that night the Lealfast attacked was extraordinary. I’m betting Maximilian has never allowed you very far off the leash in all the time you have trotted about in pretty green columns at his back.”
Egalion chuckled. “Either you are trying to make us angry, or you have a plan, Georgdi. I think the latter.”
“I have always been a great fan of the unexpected,” Georgdi said. “Axis expects us to sit here and hold the fort for him. Maximilian expects everyone to sit and twiddle their thumbs awaiting his glorious return. The Lealfast think to have us trapped impotent in this citadel. No doubt the Skraelings scampering their way toward us also think we sit around dreading their arrival. Well, I am sick of all this sitting. I’d like to see what you and your commands can do, and I’d like the chance to show you what the Outlanders can do.”
“Not the Strike Force?” Ezekiel said.
“The Strike Force can sit this one out,” Georgdi said. “They’ve had their chance.”
“And you think to . . . ” Insharah said.
“Look,” Georgdi said, finally unlacing his fingers and sitting up straight, “we cannot free ourselves from the Lealfast siege, but I see no reason why we cannot make things uncomfortable for them. I think some niggling, embarrassing action could unsettle them enough to make them do something stupid. They do have an awful lot of
Icarii blood in them, after all.”
“Never say that in front of Axis, or StarDrifter or StarHeaven,” Insharah said.
“Am I saying it in front of Axis, or StarDrifter or StarHeaven?” Georgdi said. “No? Then don’t worry about it. Any of those three would want to plan some grand — and no doubt foolish — action which would see too many of our friends dead. I don’t want to do that. I’d rather see none of our friends dead. Just a little bit of action is all I ask for.”
Georgdi smiled as he reached into the leather pocket of his jerkin and pulled out a small square block of brown fibrous material.
“Do any of you know what this is?” he said.
His smile broadened at the looks of puzzlement on the faces of the other three.
“It is a block of pressed seed pods from the falamax plant,” Georgdi said. “Falamax grows fairly widely on the Outlands’ plains and our people often carry a small block like this on their persons. Many of my warriors here do. The falamax plant is a fairly innocuous shrubby perennial that is remarkable for one thing only — the value of the spores contained within its seed pod. Mostly we use it for cooking purposes.” Georgdi turned the block over in his fingers. “A tiny bit of this crumbled into our food gives flavour along with a mild intoxicating and warming effect.”
Georgdi paused. “But if this is crumbled and blown into the wind, and if someone inhales it, well then . . . then the falamax spores become a powerful hallucinogen.”
“Ah .” Ezekiel said, and he grinned.
Chapter 13
Elcho Falling
StarDrifter stood with Georgdi, Insharah and Egalion on the balcony where earlier in the day Georgdi had conversed with Josia. It was almost full night and across the lake the Lealfast were settled in front of fires, drinking what was left of the Isembaardian wine. There were a hundred or so in the air, barely visible, but the majority were in the former Isembaardian military camp.
“I don’t understand,” StarDrifter said, “why you don’t use this trick to mount a full-scale military assault on the Lealfast?”