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supposed to do?”
    “Be patient, Caelum,” Zared said. “We must wait for Faraday and—”
    “I am sick of waiting for this fairy woman!” Askam said. “We must move, and move now. I suggest that—”
    “Faraday?” put in a voice to one side of the clearing. “Faraday?”
    They all spun around.
    Axis and Azhure stepped out from the gloom of a tree. Just behind them StarDrifter leaned against the trunk of the tree, his wings and arms folded, his face devoid of any expression.
    And, yet further behind him, pale shapes moved in and out of sight. Massive hounds—Azhure’s Alaunt. Most settled down out of sight, but one, Sicarius, their leader, walked forward to sit by Azhure’s side. Her hand touched the top of his head briefly, as if for reassurance.
    “Father!” Caelum hugged his parents tightly, relieved beyond measure that they’d arrived. All three had to blink tears from their eyes. They were alive, and for the moment they were safe, and that meant there was still some hope left. There must be.
    Caelum nodded at StarDrifter, who raised a tired hand in greeting, then returned his attention to his parents. “You were in the Star Gate Chamber? What happened? Did you see the Demons step through? And Drago? What of him?”
    “Caelum, enough questions!” Axis said, but his tone was warm, and it took the sting out of his words. “Give me a moment to catch my breath and I will answer them.”
    He swept his eyes about the clearing, taking in Zared, Askam and DareWing. Together? This group that had only days previously been committed to civil war? For the first time in days Axis felt a glimmer of true optimism. He looked Zared in the eye, remembering the last time they’d met—the heated words, the hatred—but now all he saw was the son of Rivkah and Magariz, his brother, and a man he would have to relearn to trust.
    Caelum had obviously done it, and so could he—and Axis knew it would not be hard. This brother was one that, despite all the arguments and differences, he knew he could lean on when they faced a common enemy.
    “We left the Chamber before the Demons broke through,” Axis said. “We didn’t see them—or Drago—although I imagine he came through with his demonic companions in treachery.”
    Axis paused, and his voice and eyes hardened. “I hope he is satisfied with what he has accomplished. His revenge was harder than I ever imagined it could have been.”
    “None of us know what was in Drago’s heart or mind when he fled Sigholt,” Zared said. Like Axis, all Zared’s illfeeling for his brother had vanished. Their personal problems and ambitions were petty in the face of the disaster that had enveloped them. “And we do not know if he was the instigator or just another victim of this disaster. Perhaps we should not judge him too harshly until we have heard what he has to say.”
    Axis’ face hardened, and Zared decided to leave the subject of Drago well enough alone for the time being. “Axis,” he said, and stepped closer to him. He hesitated, then took one of Axis’ hands between his. “How are you? And Azhure?”
    In truth, Zared did not have to ask, for both Axis and Azhure, and StarDrifter who still lingered in the shadows, looked as did every Icarii Enchanter Zared had seen in the past few days. They looked…ordinary.
    “How am I?” Axis said, and, stunningly, quirked his mouth in a lopsided grin. “I am Axis, and that is all I am.”
    Zared stared at him, holding his gaze, still holding his hand. “Is ‘just Axis’ going to be enough, brother?”
    “It is all we have,” Azhure put in softly, and Zared shifted his gaze to her. There was still spirit in her eyes, and determination in her face. “Just Axis” and “just Azhure” might still be enough to stop the sky from falling in. Might.
    Zared dropped Axis’ hand and nodded. “What do you know?”
    “First,” Axis said, “I need to know what you have here. Zared and Caelum…together, in the one camp. And