Sara Douglass - Pilgrim

As Caelum inspected his horse’s gear, Askam stepped quietly up beside him.

“Yes?” Caelum said.

“Was it wise of Axis to leave Zared in full control of the army, StarSon?” Askam said, and dropped his voice still further. “Remember that he has crowned himself King of Achar. Do you so agree with his actions that you watch as your father virtually presents him with the entire territory of Tencendor? Gods, man! He’s even got control of the Strike Force!”

Caelum thought carefully before he answered, but when he did his voice was very firm. “Axis made the right choice,” he said. “Zared can command more loyalty than you. Do you not remember what happened when you tried to command his army the morning after the battle?”

Askam recoiled. “I have lost my sister to him, now must I also lose land and troops. Where is the justice in this, Caelum? Where?”

“The problems between you and Zared must wait until the TimeKeepers lie broken at our feet, Askam.”

“And the fact that he apparently stands with Drago against you and your father? Does that not concern you?”

Caelum paused, unable to answer immediately. “Zared, like so many of us, simply does not know what to do. And like DareWing, perhaps, he wants as many choices as possible left open to him.”

He sighed. “My friend, giving Zared control of the army is no reflection on you. He is simply the best man to do it.”

No, Askam thought, no reflection at all. I am simply “not best”. I understand, Caelum StarSon. I understand very, very well.

“I understand, StarSon,” he said, and then he drifted away into the gathering darkness.

Zared organised the unit of men, then went to check that Axis had suitable horses for Azhure and himself.

“Is there such need to rush off so soon?” Zared said quietly to his brother.

Axis looked at him. “I cannot stay, Zared. Not with Drago here. You must surely understand that.” He paused.

“Zared, I cannot explain this, but somehow I know the answer to those Demons lies in Star Finger. I cannot wait to get there. And to get Caelum there.”

Axis stopped and glanced to where Faraday and Drago sat, then moved a step closer to his brother and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I cannot trust Drago. I cannot!”

“I can understand, Axis.”

“And yet you support him?”

Zared hesitated. “I trust Faraday when she says that Drago has pledged himself to Caelum. Axis, I do not believe he murdered RiverStar. Caelum treated him badly, the trial was a farce, for the gods’ sakes!”

“And yet the vision WolfStar conjured showed that Drago murdered —”

“And have you ever trusted WolfStar?”

Axis was silent, and Zared let him think for a moment before he continued. “I am prepared to give Drago a chance, Axis. I think that he deserves that one chance.”

Axis’ face tightened, but when he spoke his voice was calm. “Then will you promise me one thing?”

Zared raised his eyebrows.

“Promise me that you will kill him the moment you suspect he works, not for Tencendor and Caelum, but for those Demons. Promise me!”

Zared slowly nodded. “I will not allow him to betray this land, Axis.”

“To betray this land any further than he has!” Axis said bitterly, but he accepted Zared’s words, and, after a moment’s thought, gripped his younger brother’s hand. “I do not envy you your task,” he said.

“Nor I yours,” Zared said quietly. They stared at each other, then Zared turned and walked away.

Caelum finished checking his horse, disquieted by Askam’s visit, then went to say goodbye to Zared and DareWing. Zared would look after Tencendor — what was left of it — as well as anyone could.

Drago watched him, then pushed Faraday’s gentle hands away. “Faraday, I must speak with him.”

“Wait! Drago, your neck —”

“Faraday, a few steps won’t hurt me, and I need to talk with Caelum. Neither of us should leave it like this.”

Faraday dropped her hands. “Then stay well clear of your father.”

Drago nodded, his expression bleak, and walked slowly away.

Caelum conversed briefly with Zared and DareWing, and then began to walk back to where he could see his parents with the unit of twenty men that Zared had given them. Axis and Azhure, the Alaunt milling about them, were obviously impatient.

Caelum sighed. On the one hand, he hated to leave Tencendor like this. He felt as though he were abandoning his responsibilities. On the other hand, Star Finger represented such a haven of safety that he could hardly wait to get there. Well might Faraday say that Drago was now the most trustworthy soul this side of death, but Caelum could not believe it. Not when each night the nightmare still thundered through his sleep, and the lance still pierced his heart.

Suddenly Drago stepped out from behind a tree and stood directly in Caelum’s path.

Caelum stopped dead, his heart thumping. Drago was pale, and the blood-stained bandage about his neck hardly improved his appearance, but Caelum thought he looked strong enough for mischief. He quickly checked the surrounding trees — no-one was close, although he could see his parents start in concern; Axis had taken a step forward.

“Get out of my way,” Caelum said.

“Caelum, please, I do not come to hurt you —”

“Why should I believe that?”

Drago held out a hand. “Caelum, the only reason I came back through the Star Gate was to right the wrong I did you so many years ago. Brother, I pledge myself to your cause. Please, believe me.”

His only answer was a hostile stare from his brother.

Drago’s hand, still extended, wavered slightly. “I can understand why you hate and fear —”

“You understand nothing if you can say you have pledged yourself to my cause, and you ask me to trust you. Why should I believe that?”

“Caelum —”

“How dare I ever trust you ? “

Drago dropped his hand. “Because when I came back through the Star Gate all enchantments fell from my eyes, Caelum.”

Caelum’s eyes widened, appalled at what he’d heard. He stared at Drago. “And still you say, ‘I come only to aid you’?” he whispered.

Drago nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving those of his brother. “I swore to aid you and to aid Tencendor, and so I will do.”

“You lie,” Caelum said, “if all enchantments fell from your eyes as you came back through the Star Gate, then you must lie! You are here to destroy me. No more, no less.”

Then he stepped past his brother and walked into the shadows where waited his parents.

As they mounted and rode into the forest, Sicarius stood a moment, looking first at the retreating riders, then at Drago standing watching them.

He whined, hesitated, then finally bounded after Axis, Azhure and Caelum.

The pack of Alaunt followed his lead.

High in a nearby tree, the feathered lizard inspected one of its twinkling talons, then slowly scratched at its cheek, thinking. After a moment it glanced down to the two white donkeys and the blue cart they were still harnessed to.

In its tray lay the staff.

“Drago?” Faraday placed a hand on his arm. “Do not blame Caelum too much.”

“I do not blame him at all.”

“Then do not blame yourself too much, either. Come, let us walk back to Leagh and Zared’s fire. We need to eat, and I think I can see Leagh dabbling in some pot or the other. And I sincerely hope she spent some of her princesshood attending lessons in the kitchens,” she added, almost in an undertone.

Despite the emotion of the past hour, Drago’s sense of humour had not completely deserted him, and Faraday’s words made him grin. For someone who had lived on a diet of grass, grass and yet more grass for the past forty-odd years, Faraday should be the last person to criticise anyone’s culinary imagination.