at Axis’ shoulder.
Axis closed his eyes a moment, communing with the eagle. “They are still around the lake, still somewhat scattered and confused, but Eleanon is organising them. We have to go soon, Maxel.”
“I need to see, too,” said Ishbel. “I need to know where we need to go.”
Egalion gave Ishbel a startled look at the “we”.
“Then watch,” Axis said, and Ishbel’s mind was filled with a vision of the outside.
She saw with the eagle’s eyes, high above Elcho Falling. There was the citadel, great gaping holes in its walls, and she saw the lake, its surface still churning somewhat with the activity of the River Angels deep below; she saw the Lealfast, now clearly gathering into their twelve groups.
I have no idea what Eleanon hopes to do from this point, Axis said into Ishbel’s mind. But I do not wish to give him the chance to execute it, I need to strike now.
Where do you wish to go? Ishbel asked Axis.
Then, and then, and there, and there, Axis said, showing Ishbel four points that would give his troops best advantage. You need the lealfast in the air, Ishbel said.
Once they know we’re then, they’ll take to the wing instinctively, Axis said. Any winged race would do so.
The vision faded.
“You are ready now?” Ishbel said.
“A moment,” Axis said. “Egalion —”
But Egalion had already gone to join his men in the common room.
“Let me just share this vision with the men,” Axis said. “They need to know where we go and how I wish to deploy them.”
Ishbel waited, watching the faces of the men glaze slightly as vision filled their minds, then watched them nod, just slightly, as they responded to something that Axis said. Ishbel felt the first real frisson of hope that she’d felt in many, many months.
Maybe, maybe, if Ravenna could be trusted, then this would be the final act.
Axis reopened his eyes.
“Now,” he said, and Ishbel drew on all her power as Lady of Elcho Falling, and did as Axis asked.
Axis felt as though a giant had squeezed his midriff and forcibly expelled all the air from his lungs. He had no sensation of moving, or of being transported. He just suddenly found himself face down in the dirt by the lakeside of Elcho Falling, heaving breath into his lungs.
He rolled over, forcing himself to move, desperate to get his men positioned before the Lealfast could do much more than rise into the air in panic. He rose to his knees and was relieved beyond measure to see all the men rising and forming themselves into their practised, shield-protected squads.
Ishbel was there as well, crouched low to the ground, and she gave a small wave at Axis’ concerned look. I am all right. Do what you must without thought of me.
Axis risked a quick glance upward — already the air was filled with startled Lealfast — then he was down on the ground, rolling as fast as he could under the shield wall of the nearest squad of bowmen. Once inside he rose to his feet, bending over slightly at the shoulders, and grabbed the shoulder of the nearest bowman.
“See what I see,” he whispered. He communed with the eagle, sharing the view from a height far above Elcho Falling, then, using all of his skill as an Icarii Enchanter, he twisted the vision, translating it to what a man on the ground would see, then shared this vision with the bowmen.
See, he whispered among all their minds. See . . . and act.
In the four different locations, bowmen slotted their arrows through the tiny openings between the shields, took a breath, and, using Axis’ vision as their only guide, let loose their arrows.
Immediately each bowman’s arrow keeper slapped a fresh arrow into the bowman’s hand, and a moment later a second wave of many thousands of arrows skewered the air.
And again.
And again.
And again.
The tip of the Dark Spire, now leaning precariously to one side as the structure beneath it continued to crumble, had turned completely black. It was also covered in cracks which were opening wider and wider with every breath Ravenna took.
Behind them she could sense, if not actually see, a terrible darkness awaiting.
The One, crouched directly beneath the cracking skin of the pinnacle of the spire, took a deep breath and then his form began to change. His green glassy flesh melted away and the One transformed himself into pure power.
In essence, it was not the One who now lay waiting beneath the top