The Infinity Gate: Darkglass Mountain: Book Three - By Sara Douglass Page 0,162

had told Isaiah about his discussion with Maximilian, hoping for some support from him, but Isaiah had only shrugged and said he could understand Maximilian’s reluctance.

It was close to dusk when Axis realised at least one part of the mystery.

“They’re keeping clear a ribbon of land about the shores of the lake,” he said to Isaiah as they stood on the eastern balcony, watching the boulders drop. “They’re keeping their own camps at a distance, and they’re clearing away Armat’s camp which, for whatever purpose they have, was obviously in the way.”

“Then .” Isaiah said slowly, his eyes narrowing as he thought, “they are not closing off the channel so much as completing the land circle about Elcho Falling? They are encircling us with clear land.”

But why? Axis wanted to scream, knowing it would do no good.

Inardle was with them, and now she touched Isaiah on his arm to gain his attention. “I need to go tomorrow to find the Skraelings,” she said. “I can’t get out of here unless you make your mayhem. The sky is clear for hundreds of leagues, and Georgdi tells me that summer in the Outlands is inevitably dry.”

Isaiah nodded. “Very well, then. I will build it overnight,” he said. “If nothing else it will put a stop to whatever the Lealfast do.”

Chapter 7

Elcho Falling

The mayhem rolled in from the sea, spitting fire and ice, drenching Elcho Falling and the surrounding landscape in pelting rain. The wind was not as bad this time, but it was still a terrible storm.

Eleanon and Falayal watched it approach. Both wore irritated expressions, but neither looked particularly worried or angry.

“Well, it surprised me Isaiah left it this long,” Falayal said. “I’d expected it yesterday.”

“Perhaps Isaiah is growing old,” Eleanon said, “and mayhap grows weak. This doesn’t look as terrifying as that one he summoned during the battle.”

“But bad enough. We’ll need to leave soon.”

Eleanon nodded. “Do it now,” he said. “There is no need to linger. Fly an hour to the north. You shall be safe there. This storm is only very local. Return once it is calm.”

“You will be safe?” Falayal said.

“You wouldn’t be pleased to see me gone?” Eleanon replied.

“Don’t be foolish, Eleanon,” Falayal snapped. “We’d be lost without you.”

And pray you don’t forget that, Eleanon thought.

“Keep well,” he said, “and so shall I. And by the time this is done, you can be assured that Isaiah will never, never summon a mayhem again.”

Falayal grinned at Eleanon, then he was gone. A few minutes later the Lealfast Nation rose into the approaching winds, veering northward.

Axis watched the Lealfast leave, feeling some deep satisfaction that the storm forced them to flee.

He wondered how often Isaiah could summon these mayhems.

But for now he stood in the chamber which held the pool leading to the underwater escape from Elcho Falling. Apart from Inardle, who stood before him, the chamber was empty.

There were cracks in some of the walls, though. It would not be many more days before the Dark Spire broke through to this level, likely destroying this chamber in the process.

“Be safe,” he said to her. They were standing close but not touching, and Axis was feeling awkward. He hated goodbyes, and he had a terrible feeling that Inardle might not come back — or at least not as someone who would want to be his companion.

She smiled. “I will be safe. I do not fear the Skraelings.”

“Still .”

She leaned into him, their bodies touching in myriad places, and they kissed, softly.

“You are a different person, now,” Axis murmured as she leaned back.

“Which do you prefer, Axis? This, or the other?”

“Come home,” he said.

“This is not your home,” she replied, the waters shifting behind her eyes, and with that ambiguous reply she turned away from him and disrobed. She gave him one last, long look over her shoulder, then, before Axis could say anything else, turned into a column of water, which then crashed into the pool.

This is not your home, she had said, and Axis stood there for a long time, staring at the blank pool, feeling terribly lonely and dislocated.

Eleanon had escaped into invisibility as the Lealfast Nation left, and secreted himself within the reed banks surrounding the eastern shores of the lake. He would get wet, violently wet, but the thick, tall reeds would give him protection against the ferocious winds.

The mayhem hit suddenly, forcing Eleanon to grab onto thick bunches of reeds to keep himself from being blown away and sucking the air from his