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with no knives to each other’s throats. Have you made peace? And you mentioned Faraday. Have you seen her?”
    Caelum hesitated, glanced at Zared, then spoke. “Father, we fought—”
    “And I lost,” Zared put in, and grimaced.
    “I had the advantage,” Caelum said, glancing again at Zared. “We agreed to unite against the threat of the Demons. We were riding to meet you at the Ancient Barrows when…when…Zared, you finish. She spoke to you, not me.”
    “On the night before the Demons broke through,” Zared said, “we were camped some four leagues above these Woods. I’d been to talk with Caelum, and when I returned I found Faraday and Zenith seated at my campfire.”
    “Zenith?” Azhure said. “Are you sure it was she?”
    Behind her StarDrifter finally straightened from the tree trunk and showed more interest in the conversation.
    Zared frowned at her. “Yes, I am sure it was her. Why wouldn’t I be?”
    Azhure turned her head aside. Axis had been right then. Niah—her mother—was truly dead. Yet one more grief to examine in the dead of night.
    “Faraday and Zenith had just walked out of the night,” Leagh said, joining the group. She linked her arm with her husband’s, and shared a brief smile with him. “They were well, and more cheerful than any I had seen for weeks previously, or since.”
    “She said that we had to flee for the Woods,” Zared said, “and that we’d be no more use than lambs in a slaughterhouse if we continued on to the Barrows.”
    “In that she was right,” Axis said. “ None of us were of any use.”
    Unnoticed, StarDrifter had moved to linger at the outside of the group, listening.
    “After some persuasion,” Caelum said, “I agreed to divert the army here. If we had been caught outside…”
    “At least we have an army,” Axis said, “although Stars knows what use it will be to us. And Faraday and Zenith. Where are they now?”
    “She said she and Zenith were going to the Star Gate,” Zared said. “They said they had someone to meet there. I thought it was you.”
    Axis shook his head. “No. And if they were in the Chamber when the Demons broke through, then they would both be dead. No-one has the power to resist them.”
    “Maybe.” StarDrifter now spoke up. “And maybe not. Faraday has changed, and who knows now what enchantment she draws upon. Besides,” he indicated the trees, “the forest’s power, as the Avar’s, has been wounded, but not mortally. There is hope.”
    StarDrifter knew who it was they had gone to meet. He did not know what kind of a hope Drago provided, but if Faraday believed in him, then StarDrifter thought he might have the courage to do likewise. Stars, but he hoped they’d survived the Demons’ arrival. Faraday might well have the power to cope with them…but Zenith? StarDrifter prayed Faraday had shown the sense to keep Zenith well back. They’d not fought so long to save her from Niah to lose her now.
    “There must always be hope,” Axis said quietly. “Fate always leaves a hope somewhere. And I intend to find it.”
    “And Faraday,” StarDrifter said. “Did she say where she and Zenith would—”
    “She said that we should wait for her here, and she would eventually rejoin us,” Zared said. “She said we were not to go near Cauldron Lake, for that was where the Demons would strike first.”
    StarDrifter nodded, and tried to relax. Faraday wouldkeep them all well. She must. He suddenly realised how deeply worried he was about Zenith, and he frowned slightly.
    “How does she know that?” Azhure said. “Is she somehow in league with them?”
    “Faraday has always put this land before her own needs and desires,” StarDrifter said sharply. “And you, Azhure, should know that better than anyone else here. Have you forgotten she died so you could live?”
    Azhure’s cheeks reddened, and she dropped her eyes.
    “Enough,” Axis said. “Caelum, you are our hope.”
    “Me?”
    Axis looked about. “Caelum,