The Infinity Gate: Darkglass Mountain: Book Three - By Sara Douglass Page 0,13

in that state, too. It is how we decimated the pitiful Strike Force.”

“Where is all this leading, Eleanon?” Axis said.

“I am merely demonstrating to Insharah what good allies we might be for him,” Eleanon said. “And I should mention . . . and it is good that you, Axis, and Ishbel hear this . . . that some several millions — after all, who has ever done an actual head count — of by now supernaturally-enhanced Skraelings are seething this very way. They, too, shall be under my command.”

Axis’ mouth lifted in a slight sneer.

“Thus you can understand, Insharah,” Eleanon said, “what a bad enemy I might be. I offer you, however, my alliance, my friendship —”

“And we all know how much that is worth,” Axis said.

Eleanon whipped about to him. “You are surrounded by people who betray you, Axis! Have you never once considered why that is so? Your very nature attracts it! Your sons — who can forget what they did —”

Axis, Ishbel said to him, don’t let him needle you. Let it go.

“— and not forgetting your current lover, who has told me everything, Axis. Everything. You are not such a good lover by Lealfast standards, you know.”

Ishbel reached out a hand, certain that Eleanon had by now said enough to goad Axis into attack, but Axis simply stepped back, folded his arms, and regarded Eleanon with a slight smile.

“Your attack failed,” Axis said. “You need to learn to accept your defeats. The One has been repelled. You have been repelled. Elcho Falling is stronger than it has ever been. Go back to chasing your snow rabbits through the frozen north, Eleanon. It is really all you are good for.”

Ishbel fought to stop herself rolling her eyes. Men!

“Elcho Falling is stronger than ever, Axis?” Eleanon’s mouth quirked. “Really?” His eyes glittered with genuine amusement as he held Axis’ stare, then Eleanon returned his attention to Insharah. “I give you the chance to ally yourself with me, Insharah. Elcho Falling has no hope, nor does Isembaard, without my aid or the One’s. There is no reason to be afraid of the One, he —”

“My wife was in Aqhat,” said Insharah. “My children, too. Prove to me that they are alive, as also the families of all my men awaiting outside, and I am for you and for the One.”

“Everyone rests safe and sound within Hairekeep,” Eleanon said. “There is no need to worry.”

“StarHeaven informed me,” Axis said very quietly, “that Isaiah told her that Hairekeep was a dark mass of tortured souls. If they are there, Insharah, then they are not in any manner ’safe‘ .”

“I have twelve thousand fighters, here and now,” Eleanon said, holding Insharah’s eyes, “and they are all unseeable, and they are all scattered among your men, Insharah. Choose unwisely and many of your men will be dead and shall thus never see their families again.”

“And there you have the true Eleanon,” said Axis, his voice still calm. “Do you really believe it when he says your wife and children are safe? Maybe they are, but only if they managed to escape Lealfast ’protection‘ .”

“You have twelve thousand fighters invisibled among my men?” Insharah said to Eleanon.

The Lealfast man gave a nod. “I needed some insurance,” he said. “Some form of persuasion. Come join with me, Insharah. You will only gain by doing so.”

“Twelve thousand men among my three hundred thousand?” said Insharah, then he chuckled. “I think I prefer my odds.”

With that, he drew his sword and lunged toward Eleanon.

Axis moved instantly. As Insharah stepped forward, he could feel the movement as Eleanon’s invisible companions moved in to kill himself, Ishbel and Insharah. He moved instinctively, in somewhat the same manner as the Emerald Guardsmen had moved in their battle with the Lealfast, and in one single arc of his sword he sliced through three Lealfast.

“There,” Ishbel said to Insharah, “and there.” She pointed, and suddenly the blood she had caused to spatter over the Lealfast a few hours earlier reappeared, glowing in space. The Lealfast may have been invisible, but the glowing splotches of blood betrayed their presence.

Axis recovered from that single deadly arc of his sword, taking a step toward Eleanon, who had managed to drive Insharah back.

The Lealfast stood his ground for a heartbeat, then he vanished entirely.

“We need to get you and your army inside Elcho Falling,” Axis said to Insharah.

“The citadel will take us all?” Insharah said, incredulous.

“Aye,” Axis said, “and protect you against both Lealfast and the