Axis’ mouth hardened, and he turned his face away.
“If you say you will stand responsible for Drago’s actions,” DareWing finished, “and that he deserves the chance to finally help instead of hinder, then I will trust you and I will give Drago that chance.”
“And I,” StarDrifter said quietly, looking Faraday directly in the eye. Then he dropped his gaze to Drago. “Don’t fail her.”
Be his trust, the Survivor had said, be his trust. Suddenly Faraday knew what he had meant.
Axis started to say something, stopped himself, then stared at the ground for several moments, battling his fury.
Finally he raised his eyes. “Where is the Sceptre?” he said flatly. “If Drago hands the Sceptre to Caelum, then I will give him his chance.”
“I do not know the Sceptre’s will, nor do I know its location,” Faraday said. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?” Axis stared at her. “Sorry! A trifling word to use as excuse for defending a traitor and a murderer!”
“No! Wait!” Drago struggled to his feet, the front of his tunic horribly bloodstained, his face white. He leaned heavily on Zenith, and looked about.
Where was the staff? Surely that was the Sceptre, transformed?
“Well?” said Axis.
“Wait …” Drago cast his eyes frantically about. He had it when he stepped into the clearing, he was sure … had it fallen from his hand when Axis attacked him? Where …
“You were ever the consummate play-actor,” Axis said, hate and sarcasm infusing his voice and face.
Drago stopped his search to stare at his father. “I —”
“I have had enough of you and your lies!” Axis said, and turned back to Caelum.
He took a deep breath, and calmed himself. “We still have hope, Caelum. Adamon and the other gods have gone to Star Finger and await us there. If we go to the mountain we will have the advice and knowledge of the past six or seven thousand years that is stored there. There must be something secreted in the damned mountain that can help us! Besides, I cannot help but believe the Sceptre will find its way to the StarSon in time. It is fated thus, and thus it must be.”
Unnoticed, the donkeys twitched their ears slightly, and one of them dipped her head to the ground, as if trying to hide unwanted mirth.
Caelum nodded, comforted by the surety in his father’s voice. “And now that the Demons are through and no longer blocking the Star Gate, there’s every chance that we might be able to regain a part of the Star —”
“The Star Gate has been destroyed,” Zenith said, wishing she did not have to say it. “We will never hear the Star Dance again.”
To one side StarDrifter groaned and sank to one knee, head in hand.
Axis’ face worked, and he shot Drago a look of such utter malevolence that his son had to turn his face aside, but Axis finally managed to speak relatively calmly.
“Then there is no point in lingering here. StarDrifter, I say to you, and to you, Dare Wing, and to you, Zared, that if you want to believe Faraday’s assurances then I cannot stop you — but don’t try to stop my efforts to help this land! Azhure and I will take Caelum back to Star Finger. Already, Adamon and the others who were once gods gather there.
“Zared, in Caelum’s absence I need you to take command of the army. DareWing, through you Zared will command the Strike Force as well — support him.”
DareWing nodded.
“And my task while you and Caelum are in Star Finger?” Zared said.
“Perhaps the worst task of all,” Axis responded. “Deal with the devastation as best you can. Save as much and as many as best you can. Save a Tencendor for my son … for us all.”
“I will do my best, StarMan.”
“Do not call me that,” Axis said dryly. “Now I am no more the StarMan than you.”
He turned about, meaning to talk to Azhure, but his eye was caught once more by Drago, and his face darkened.
“Drago,” Axis thrust a finger at him, “come within shouting distance of Star Finger and no-one will be able to stop me killing you. Do you understand?”
Drago was standing still, patiently enduring Zenith’s bandaging of his throat. “I, like you,” he said, “will do whatever I have to in order to right the wrongs done to this land, father. I wish you would believe me. I will do anything I can.”
“Neither I nor this land nor Caelum needs your aid,” Axis said. “You are filth! I disowned you as a child, Drago, and there is nothing in this life that will ever make me accept you now. I do not love you, and I never will, and I swear before every Star that can still hear me that I wish you the death you deserve for your misdeeds. Damn you! You are nothing but worm-filled shit in my eyes!”
Drago flinched and his already white face went whiter.
Axis spun about on his heel. “Zared, may Azhure and I requisition a horse apiece? We must ride our way north as Spiredore is undoubtedly useless now the Star Dance is dead.”
Zared nodded. “I will also send a unit of men with you. You will surely need some protection wandering north — gods know where the TimeKeepers are now.”
“Good. Azhure, my love,” Axis held out his hand to her. “Say your goodbyes … to whoever deserves it. Caelum, fetch whatever you need to bring with you.”
“Axis?”
Axis turned to look at Faraday.
“Axis, keep to shelter — whether beneath trees or inside houses — during the Demonic Hours. You will remain safe that way.”
Axis continued to stare at her, then he spun about and walked away. Faraday turned her attention back to Drago’s wound.
The gathering slowly dissipated as people drifted off, to prepare for departure or to sink back before fires and mull over the scene they’d just witnessed.
Sicarius melted back into the shadows, rejoining the pack of Alaunt.
Faraday pushed Drago back to the ground and helped Zenith more securely bind his neck.
“The staff!” Drago said. “It was here! I know it! Where —”
“Hush,” Faraday said, and laid gentle fingers on his lips. “Hush now, please.”
“I have to help,” Drago said. “I must!”
“I know,” Faraday whispered. “I know.”
She and Zenith tucked the loose end of the bandage in, then Zenith smiled, patted Drago on the shoulder, and rose and walked off to talk with StarDrifter.
Faraday waited until she had gone, then laid an apologetic hand on one of Drago’s.
“StarDrifter was right,” she said softly. “I should have thought before walking you so blatantly forth into this glade.”
“I deserved much of that, Faraday,” he said, and sighed. “No-one knows better than me that I deserve both Caelum’s and my parents’ distrust.”
“Don’t ever say —” Faraday began fiercely, when Azhure’s voice behind her stopped