The Infinity Gate: Darkglass Mountain: Book Three - By Sara Douglass Page 0,191

away the corpses of the Lealfast.

“Many escaped,” Axis said.

“They won’t be a trouble,” Isaiah said. “Not for many generations yet.”

By which time, Axis thought, they’ll have had the time to breed up and rekindle their anger and resentment. The Skraelings have gone, but in their place . . .

“Not for many generations,” Axis echoed.

Isaiah finally turned to look at him. “What are you going to do?”

Axis returned the look, then his heart lifted and he smiled. “I was hoping you’d tell me that, Isaiah.”

Chapter 23

The Salamaan Pass

Eight weeks later.

Axis pulled his horse to a halt, peering through the southern mouth of the Salamaan Pass into whatever was left of Isembaard. The sun burned bright overhead, and Axis was grateful he’d changed into lighter clothes the day before.

He was in the hot southern lands now, the ice and snow of the north a long way behind him.

There was a crunching of the land’s sandy grit, and Axis looked over to where Isaiah, Insharah and Zeboath had pulled up their horses.

“It will not be much of a home for any of you to return to,” Axis said.

“Nonetheless .” Isaiah said.

“There are family to be farewelled,” Insharah said.

“And family to be found, perhaps,” the physician Zeboath said.

Axis nodded. The past two months had been vastly healing for all four of them as they trailed slowly down through the Outlands, staying here and there with Outlander friends as they travelled — including Georgdi, who was fascinated to hear of Axis and Isaiah’s destination, and looked as if he might one day decide to join them.

Insharah and Zeboath kicked their horses forward, but Axis and Isaiah waited a few minutes.

“There goes the future of Isembaard,” Isaiah said, quietly.

“It will grow again,” Axis said. “It might take generations, but it will grow again. The Lhyl runs, the soil will be fertile, and whoever is left from among this once mighty population will return from their hiding places.”

Isaiah gave a nod. Already many tens of thousands of Isembaardians had returned from the northern lands through the Salamaan Pass into Isembaard. They carried news that almost all of the settlers that Isaiah had dragged north would eventually return.

As would the Isembaardian army. It had stayed a few weeks longer with Maximilian at Elcho Falling, but now the eagle, who constantly soared overhead and who communicated with his brethren further north, told Axis and Isaiah that Kezial was leading it south.

Kezial and Insharah would need to battle it out for the Tyranny, but Axis and Isaiah hoped they’d do it peaceably enough.

Meanwhile, the far, far unmapped south, and further adventures, awaited.

Axis caught Isaiah’s eyes, and they grinned simultaneously.

“There is a long road ahead of us,” Isaiah said.

“Then let us ride it,” Axis said, and booted his heels into his horse’s flanks.

Epilogue

The Land of Nightmares

Ravenna screamed, and the Nightmares closed in about her.

She screamed again, and the Nightmares reached out their hands.

One more time, and then the Nightmares were cradling Ravenna and Maximilian’s son in their terrible hands, loving him a little, before laying him down in Ravenna’s arms.

Ravenna cradled her son, tears streaming down her face. For so many months she’d thought that her son would be denied her or that, if he did make it to birth, his heritage would be denied to him.

But he had been born, and he had been born with all his heritage his to take as he wanted.

Lord of Elcho Falling.

She kissed his brow, marvelling that, even newly-born, she could clearly see Maximilian’s features in his.

Maximilian’s son.

Ravenna wept in joy.

She cradled their son against her breast and was delighted when he began to nurse. He would grow strong here, learning from her and from her nightmarish midwives.

“And one day,” Ravenna whispered to him, “one day I will take you home to Elcho Falling, which is your right.”

She smiled yet again, then, in a soft voice, began to tell her son about Elcho Falling and all it would mean to him.

One day.

Glossary

Alaric: a nation in the extreme north.

Aqhat, palace of: the home of Isaiah, Tyrant of Isembaard.

Armat: one of Isaiah of Isembaard’s generals.

Axis: see SunSoar, Axis.

Baxtor, Garth: a physician who employs the Touch (the ability to determine sickness through touch). Garth was primarily responsible for freeing Maximilian Persimius from the Veins eight years before this tale begins.

Bingaleal: one of the Lealfast leaders.

BroadWing EvenBeat: an Icarii, and friend of Maximilian Persimius.

Central Kingdoms: a loose term incorporating Hosea, Pelemere and Kyros.

Coil, Order of the: an order which once lived in Serpent’s Nest, now Elcho Falling. They