The Infinity Gate: Darkglass Mountain: Book Three - By Sara Douglass Page 0,23

that stage, Axis thought, and shuddered at the remembrance of sharing his bed and body with this bleak witch.

“You used no Star Dance in its making?” StarDrifter said, and Inardle glanced at him as she replied.

“A little, I believe,” she said. “The Lealfast who sat with the Magi and who helped in its construction drew on the power of the Star Dance to create the Dark Spire, but the Star Dance did not go into the Dark Spire’s flesh, as it were. That was all the power of Infinity.”

“Do you know how to use it, how to negate it?” Axis asked.

“Not really,” Inardle replied, and Axis made a noise of disbelief.

“You cannot expect us to believe that!” Axis said. “You —”

“Only those Lealfast completely indoctrinated into the highest levels of the Magi could use it properly,” Inardle said. “And among the Lealfast now living, that was only Eleanon and Bingaleal. I would help on those few occasions we used it, but that was merely a courtesy on their part. They did not truly need me, nor any of my power.”

“You are a Magus?” Ishbel asked.

“I have been trained in some aspects of a Magus,” Inardle said, “but never truly accepted into its brotherhood. The Magi can only be a brotherhood. Women corrupt the One by subdividing it, by carrying within them the potential to give birth . . . it is amazing that Eleanon and Bingaleal allowed me even a glimpse into the arts of the One.”

“And they did that because .?” Axis said.

Again she met his eyes. “Because, at times in the past, I have been the lover of both of them. There was affection and respect between us, and thus they drew me a little distance into the way of the One.”

“Inardle,” Maximilian asked, “what can we do about this?” He waved a hand at the Dark Spire.

“I don’t know,” she said softly, and Axis made another impatient noise.

“The rose spires,” he said. “They were made by your people as well. Surely they can be used in some manner to understand or affect their dark brother?”

Inardle shook her head. “They are foreign to each other, Axis. I am sorry. The rose spires are of no use against this.”

“What exactly can this Dark Spire do?” Ishbel asked.

“It channels the power of Infinity,” said Inardle. “This,” now it was she who waved a hand at the spire, “is like nothing I could have accomplished. This is the touch of Infinity.”

She paused, thinking. “It is a cancer at the very heart of Elcho Falling. I do not know if it can destroy the citadel completely. But it can aid the One, and Eleanon and Bingaleal, in whatever they plan. And no,” she glanced at Axis, “I do not know what that might be.”

“Well,” said Maximilian, “whatever that might be, I am afraid you will need to deal with it for the moment, Axis. I leave you in complete charge of Elcho Falling. You may do whatever you need to in order to ensure —”

“I cannot believe this!” Axis said, almost shouting. “How dare you just wander off! I don’t care how important DarkGlass Mountain is . . . this, Elcho Falling, is vastly more important! Have you no sense of duty? Of responsibility? Do you think you can just walk away from this utter mess? Do you think that —”

“Axis,” Maximilian said.

“— you have any right to just walk away and —”

“Axis!”

Axis stopped, half turning away from Maximilian in his anger.

“Axis, I am sorry, but Ishbel and I must go. We —”

“You abandon every kingdom you inherit,” Axis said. “Escator and now Elcho Falling. The responsibility is obviously far too much for you.”

That stung, and Maximilian flushed. Ishbel moved closer to him, placing a hand on his shoulder, but before she could speak she was forestalled by Georgdi who, accompanied by Insharah, had walked down the steps and now stood just behind Axis and StarDrifter.

“I think I speak for most of the people sequestered within Elcho Falling,” Georgdi said, “when I say that we would all prefer that Axis led us through this time of crisis than Maximilian. We wish you well, Maximilian, Ishbel, but the disaster that Elcho Falling now finds itself in requires a war leader and that you are not. It is my country, the Outlands, which is overrun by armies of every ilk and by ghostly monsters now surging up from the south. You are a good man, Maximilian, but I want Axis, not you. Safe travelling.”

Axis