The Infinity Gate: Darkglass Mountain: Book Three - By Sara Douglass Page 0,121

stood and stared.

There were others in the chamber with her. Icarii Enchanters and a few Isembaardian soldiers. None of them saw her or in any way realised her presence. Eleanon’s and Ishbel’s curses, entwined together now, hid her from their perception. One or two of them had actually bumped into her, but still they did not realise, cursing their lack of coordination as they stumbled, moving on.

The Dark Spire . . . Ravenna stepped forward, reaching out one trembling hand to touch the foul thing.

And then she stopped, staring upward, sending her senses straining through all the levels of Elcho Falling above her.

She had heard a baby gurgle in delight.

Salome sat in the chamber she shared with her husband, StarDrifter, Talon of the Icarii, and bounced their son on her knee. StarDancer had grown well since his birth, and had developed his powers quickly, as did all Icarii Enchanter children (Salome could barely remember her life in Coroleas, when she had fought to live as the human Duchess of Sidon, and not as she lived now, an Icarii Enchantress). She had once delighted in intrigue and despair, but now she delighted in nothing but the love of her husband and their glorious son.

He was an Enchanter, like his parents, and a powerful one. Now, as he bounced up and down on her knee, StarDancer shared his joy in life with his mother and he burbled with laughter.

StarDancer was but a baby, after all, delighting in his mother’s love, and he had yet to tell his mother about his dream.

Ravenna’s hand dropped away from the Dark Spire and fell back to her belly. She stared upward, her eyes filling with tears.

There was a baby above, burbling in delight.

Ravenna was struck deep with guilt again, guilt that she had condemned her own son to gods knew what. He might never have the chance that the baby above obviously did . . . he might never be able to sit on her knee and burble in delight.

Ravenna took a step away from the Dark Spire, wanting nothing more than to fade away into the shadows and weep, when she froze.

A group of men had entered the chamber, and among them was Garth Baxtor.

One of the men was Isaiah. He stepped forward to the Dark Spire, examining it closely.

He moved close to Ravenna, and she shrank back, distrusting his acute senses and power.

But he did not acknowledge Ravenna or give any indication that he knew of her presence. He was close enough to reach out a hand and grab her if he had wanted, so Ravenna assumed that Eleanon’s and Ishbel’s twisted curses were so powerful they could dupe even agod.

What hope for her or her son, then?

Isaiah was concentrating fully on the Dark Spire, his face twisted into an expression of distaste, and Ravenna took the opportunity of his preoccupation to move away from both Isaiah and the spire.

Perhaps the stairs, and the baby . . .

But Garth stood on the stairs, blocking her path, and he looked about.

“Ravenna?” he called, softly. “Ravenna? I am sure you are here.”

Ravenna froze, unable to take her eyes from Garth. Could he see her? Could his Touch, and the fact that he had known her so well and for so long, circumvent the curses that bound her?

“Ravenna? Please, if you are here, speak to me. I will not harm you.”

He could not see her. He was only casting out in hope. Yet, even so, Ravenna was sorely tempted to step forward and take his hand.

Of everyone in this fortress, Garth was the only one Ravenna could be sure would not judge her. He would remember all the times they had shared, the laughter, the adventures.

“Ravenna?” Garth called out now, so softly and yet with such warmth and comfort, that Ravenna barely restrained another sob.

Surely it would be all right if she touched him, just for one moment —

And then riveting pain grasped her mind, making her stumble backward, hands clutching at her head.

Eleanon.

Ravenna, are you ready to commence your duty?

Isaiah looked away from the Dark Spire toward Garth Baxtor. “Garth?” he called. “What is it?”

Garth hesitated, then sighed. “Nothing. I was just hoping that maybe Ravenna was here, and might respond to me. Just a forlorn hope, Isaiah.”

He walked closer to Isaiah. “What do you think of it?” Garth said. “It is a foul thing indeed.”

“Have you tried with your Touch, Garth? Can you make anything of it?”

“Aye, I have tried. All I can say, Isaiah,