Enchanter Read Online Free Page A

Tree. No-one else saw her. StarDrifter and Raum were concentrating so hard on the Tree that they did not look up. I don't know if she saw me, but she looked down and smiled." Azhure gave a litde shrug. "At least, I like to think she smiled at me."
    Axis relaxed a little. "She would like you, and you her. It is a pity you are both caught in the web of this Prophecy."
    "If / were married to Borneheld he would not have survived his wedding night," Azhure said tightly. Over thepast few weeks she had learned much of Faraday's circumstances. "Why did she not escape with you to Talon Spike?"
    "Because she honours the vows that she took when she became Borneheld's wife, Azhure. Even her love for me will not make her desert her honour." He sounded bitter. "Do I wonder about her? Do I worry if she is all right? With every breath that I draw, Azhure. I live for her."
    "Axis."
    They both swivelled towards the voice. StarDrifter stood on the ledge by the archway that led back into the mountain, his white wings a litde outstretched to aid his balance.
    . Axis stood in one fluid motion, feeling his father's intrusion keenly.
    StarDrifter held his gaze briefly, then dropped his eyes to Azhure and smiled warmly at her, his face breathtaking in its beauty. "You should not bring Azhure out here, Axis. She does not have our balance." He stepped forward and helped Azhure to her feet, clasping her hand as he led her back into the safety of the mountain.
    As they stepped through the archway and down into the wide corridor, Azhure pulled her hand awkwardly from StarDrifter s grasp. "I followed Axis out there, StarDrifter. It was not his fault. And neither the height of the cliff nor the narrowness of the ledge bother me. Truly."
    StarDrifter looked back at her. He wished- she would abandon the Avar tunic and leggings and wear the loose flowing robes favoured by the Icarii women; she would look superb in their jewelled colours and she had the grace to do their elegance justice.
    Axis stepped down into the corridor behind them and StarDrifter glanced at his son. The tensions of their morning argument remained, and this afternoon's training session would not be easy. No doubt they would end this afternoon with angry words as well. Axis was so desperate to learn, but hated being the student.
    Yet he learned so well, and so quickly. That was part of the problem, for Axis wanted to learn faster than StarDrifter was willing to teach. While StarDrifter took pride in the knowledge that the Prophecy had chosen him among all Icarii to breed this son, he also found it hard not to resent Axis' power. As EvenSong resented losing her only and most favoured child status, so StarDrifter was battling to come to terms with the fact that very soon Axis' power would surpass his own — and StarDrifter had long revelled in being the most powerful Icarii Enchanter alive.
    StarDrifter looked back to Azhure with studied casualness. "Will you join us this afternoon, Azhure?" he asked. With her present, both Enchanters kept a tighter rein on their tempers. Neither MorningStar — who often helped with Axis'
    training - nor Axis had so far raised any objections to Azhure s occasional presence in the training chamber.
    "I thank you for the invitation, StarDrifter, but I will refuse. I promised EvenSong I would spend the afternoon with her. If you will excuse me."
    She nodded at both men, then walked down the corridor, disappearing around the first corner.
    "Imagine the Enchanters she would bear," StarDrifter said, so quietly that Axis could not believe he was hearing cor-recdy. "I am nothing if not a good judge of blood."
    Then he turned his powerful gaze on his son. "Over the past thousand years the Icarii blood has thinned. Before the Wars of the Axe that severed our races many Icarii birdmen chose to get their sons on human women. It was said that human blood added vitality to the Icarii. You are proof enough of that."
    Axis felt his anger simmering. Was StarDrifter planning