A dark shape spiralled down from the sky and alighted before the Demons. It was StarGrace SunSoar.
“Great Father,” she said, and bowed before him.
“StarGrace,” Qeteb said. “I have a task for you.”
StarLaughter looked at StarGrace, looked at Qeteb, and wondered. Would the Hawkchilds join her in exacting a revenge upon Qeteb (he had stolen her son!), or would they remain blind to the Demon’s duplicity, and continue to obey him?
StarGrace did not even look at StarLaughter, and bowed her head as Qeteb spoke to her. Once he had finished, she moved quickly to do his bidding.
And still she did not look at StarLaughter.
StarLaughter’s mouth thinned. She was alone, then.
Faraday blinked, and they were standing under a crystal dome in the midst of a field of flowers.
She blinked again, and she was standing with her four companions in an apple orchard in Sanctuary. A movement caught her eyes. It was DareWing, fully healed, stretching his glossy wings in the sun.
He smiled at her, but Faraday noted that the expression in his eyes had changed. No doubt, she thought, the expression in all of their eyes had changed.
“My witches,” said a warm, humorous voice, and Faraday’s smile widened.
DragonStar rejoined the group from the shade of an apple tree. He regarded them all carefully, and gave each a small nod and a smile, but otherwise made no remark on their final evolution.
What will he do? thought Faraday, and then the next thought sprang almost immediately into her mind. What will he do with us?
“Faraday?” said a small voice, and Faraday turned quickly.
Katie ran out from behind the same tree DragonStar had been sheltering under, and Faraday held out her arms and embraced her.
“She will stay with us for the time being,” DragonStar said. “But when we venture back into the wasteland it would be safer if she stayed here in Sanctuary.”
Thank all stars and gods in existence he isn’t going to expose her to danger, Faraday thought, and planted a kiss on the girl’s shiny brown curls.
“When do we go back to the wasteland?” DareWing asked, his voice thick with an emotion that Faraday only belatedly realised was the need for revenge.
“We will all need to go back,” DragonStar said, “but you and I will return first, DareWing. No, wait, let me speak before you all bombard me with questions. Will you sit? This orchard is secluded enough for us to talk without interruption.”
They settled themselves in a circle, Katie resting with her head on Faraday’s lap.
As Faraday looked up from Katie, she caught Leagh looking at the girl with an odd expression on her face.
The instant Leagh realised Faraday had seen it she wiped her face clear of any interest in the girl. Katie had her own destiny, as did Leagh’s child, and she could do nothing to change either.
Faraday wanted to ask Leagh why she’d looked so at Katie, but before she could speak DragonStar began to talk.
“Tencendor can be reborn,” he said, “but it must first be cleared of all its corruption.”
“The Demons?” Gwendylyr said. There was a tendril of black hair hanging un-neat across her forehead, and Gwendylyr lifted a hand as if to pat it back into place, but her hand hesitated, then dropped. Gwendylyr left the strand to its own devices.
“Yes,” DragonStar said, “but also of all the crazed animals and … and …”
And the maniacal people crawling about, he almost said, but could not. But even with the thought unspoken, DragonStar could see the knowledge in everyone’s eyes anyway.
“Which first?” Goldman said.
DragonStar hesitated, and ran the tip of his tongue over his lips. “Ideally, the Demons first,” he eventually said, “but we, you five as well as I, need to be stronger before we can attempt their destruction.”
Katie lifted her head at the latter words and stared briefly at DragonStar, then she dropped her face back into Faraday’s lap. Her shoulders shuddered slightly.
No-one noticed her reaction, save Faraday, who assumed Katie had shivered with the gentle breeze blowing through the orchard. She pulled a section of her skirt around Katie, far more concerned at DragonStar’s words.
Faraday and the other four had shared concerned glances. “Talk to us,” Faraday said. “What do you mean?”
DragonStar took a deep breath. “I am StarSon, and Qeteb will be my battle,” he said. “But the other Demons —”
“Ah,” Goldman said, understanding, “as you will be responsible for Qeteb’s destruction, so will each of us be responsible for one of the other Demons.”
“Yes. It is preordained. Five of them, five of you.”
“But, how can each of us contend with one of the Demons!” Leagh said. Her face was almost panicked, and she’d placed both her hands protectively over her belly. “I can’t —”
“Right here and now,” DragonStar said, his tone and eyes gentle as he regarded Leagh, “you can’t. No, I agree. We need experience and perhaps even some more knowledge before we can dare the Demons. But eventually each of us will have our task to do, and for each of us that task will be a particular Demon.”
“But there are only four Demons left,” Gwendylyr said, “not counting Qeteb. Sigholt’s bridge destroyed Rox —”
“Evil cannot be destroyed,” Katie whispered into Faraday’s lap, “it can only be transformed.”
No-one heard her.
“ — so surely that means only four of us need to confront a Demon. Leagh must wait it out in Sanctuary. We can’t risk her.”
DragonStar looked Gwendylyr steadily in the eyes, and then shifted his gaze to Leagh. “We will all be needed in the wasteland,” he said. “Leagh as much as anyone else. Her pregnancy cannot excuse her. And as for Rox, well … all I know is what I feel. The balance will be restored.”
“How?” asked Goldman.
DragonStar lowered his eyes, remembering his long disquiet about Niah, but not knowing why he was so disquieted. “Niah,” he said. “Niah will become the fifth Demon.”
Everyone stilled, dismayed at the thought, and yet instinctively feeling the truth of it.
Niah would become the fifth Demon … and yet … yet all felt that peculiar, edgy dissatisfaction that DragonStar did.
There was something else about Niah. Something else they should all know and understand.
StarGrace entered Spiredore, and hungered. She had been a SunSoar Enchanter once, and heir to the throne, if StarLaughter’s child had not survived. And he hadn’t really, had he?
So, theoretically, she — StarGrace — should now be Talon. If only WolfStar hadn’t embarked on his murderous ambition.
WolfStar, WolfStar, WolfStar!
StarGrace ran the name in a litany of hate through her head. WolfStar! When would Qeteb throw them at WolfStar?
Ah! She calmed herself, remembering the instructions Qeteb gave her. There would be time enough for WolfStar.
StarGrace cocked her bird-like head to one side and regarded the interior of the tower. This was the first time she’d ever been inside. During her lifetime in this land only Icarii Enchanter-Talons had been allowed to know Spiredore’s secrets.
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