The Infinity Gate: Darkglass Mountain: Book Three - By Sara Douglass Page 0,16

will take a good hour to get the rest of the Isembaardians inside.”

Axis looked at Maximilian, quelling the urge to ask a multitude of questions, then gave a nod and moved back down the causeway, urging men forward. They could move much faster now that they did not have to try and shelter from arrows at the same time, and within minutes, once the injured and dead had been carried inside Elcho Falling, Isembaardians were trotting six abreast along the causeway.

Insharah appeared by Axis’ side, and together they helped the remaining Isembaardians to reach Elcho Falling, with no further losses.

The final few score men had brought horses with them, dragging the terrified animals by the reins along the causeway. They must have cut the horse lines before they’d left the encampment, because the mass of Isembaardian horses from the camp followed their companions into the tunnelled archway, forcing both Axis and Insharah to flatten themselves against the walls to avoid the stampede.

“Are you sure Elcho Falling can take all these?” Insharah said.

“Elcho Falling is an amazing place,” Axis replied.

Chapter 9

Elcho Falling

At the sound of Elcho Falling’s massive portal closing behind him, Axis sank down on his haunches, resting his back against one of the giant columns of the vast ground floor chamber. He was exhausted. He had not slept in almost two days, he had been driven to the edge both physically and emotionally, and he simply had no strength left with which to think, or plan, or solve.

And yet he had to do all three.

Somehow.

There were men and horses milling about, but they were gradually being sorted and redirected by Emerald Guardsmen, some of Georgdi’s Outlander men and by the citadel’s silent servants.

Axis closed his eyes, wondering if he could snatch just a few minutes sleep before he had to attend to that one thing that had been nibbling away at the back of his mind all day.

Inardle.

“Axis?”

He opened his eyes wearily. Maximilian and Ishbel stood before him, Ishbel leaning on her husband’s arm for support.

“Come up to the command chamber,” Maximilian said. “We need to talk.” He offered his free hand and Axis sighed, took it, and allowed Maximilian to pull him to his feet.

They filed into the command chamber where, so it felt to Axis, this current crisis had begun over a thousand years ago — and he’d been awake for all of it. Was it only a day since Maximilian had been murdered; only a day since he’d thought Inardle trustworthy, since he’d thought he’d loved her?

She was sitting in here now, on a stool against a far wall, her hands folded in her lap, her eyes downcast.

The perfect pose for the repentant traitoress.

Axis couldn’t look at her. He averted his face, choosing to move to a chair as far distant from her as possible.

The Outlander general Georgdi was here, too, as was Insharah, Egalion, StarDrifter, StarHeaven and a dark, handsome man Axis did not recognise but who he supposed must be somehow associated with the Isembaardians, perhaps a commander under Insharah.

He didn’t care, he was too fatigued. Axis exchanged a brief word with StarHeaven and then his father, then slumped down in the chair.

Maximilian and Ishbel sat down where they had a clear view of everyone else, and Maximilian gestured at those few still standing to take seats as well.

“We are safe enough for the moment,” Maximilian said, “although I cannot guarantee the morrow.” He gave a brief smile. “The moment shall have to do for now. There is something I need to tell you, but first, perhaps, we need to review what has happened here. Georgdi, Egalion, how stands security within Elcho Falling?”

“Good, so far as I can tell,” Georgdi said. “But who is to know what other traitors lurk in the shadows?” He glanced at Inardle as he spoke.

“Everyone who has entered Elcho Falling has been assigned quarters,” Egalion said. “Garth and Zeboath are attending the wounded as best they can, but many more will die from their wounds.”

“For your part this night,” Maximilian said, “I need to thank you, Egalion, and your guardsmen. We may all have been lost, had it not been for you.”

Egalion nodded, like so many others, too tired to waste energy on unnecessary words.

“What other threats lurk, Axis?” Maximilian said.

“The Skraelings are coming,” Axis said, rubbing at his eyes with one hand, “and they will be here as soon as they may. Eleanon has been reinforced with Bingaleal and his twenty thousand.” Axis sighed, thinking. “Kezial and some