The Infinity Gate: Darkglass Mountain: Book Three - By Sara Douglass Page 0,59

understanding. Don’t look up. Don’t use your power.

Axis wanted to hiss and snap at her, but couldn’t, so he kept on grimly, one careful slide of foot through water after another, every muscle in his body tense, his heart thudding in his chest.

And again, the feel of another winged creature in the air above him, the sweep of wings, the swish of their passing.

Axis could feel Inardle growing ever more panicky. There was something happening that he could not discern, something going wrong that she understood, but could not (or would not) share with him.

Damn it! Axis wanted to shout his frustration, or at least ask Inardle what had gone so wrong, but he could do nothing.

They were halfway across the causeway now, drawing closer to the deserted Isembaardian camp.

Then Axis saw a figure walk out from behind one of the tents, and stand, looking down the causeway toward Elcho Falling.

It was Ravenna.

Axis prayed to every god he had ever known or had heard vague rumour of, that Ishbel had indeed stripped Ravenna of her power, because otherwise Ravenna would be able to see them as clear as day. He glanced at Inardle, wondering if she had spotted Ravenna, but saw by the gleam of her eyes that she was staring into the southern skies. She intuited Axis’ look and caught his eye, then tipped her head once, twice, to the sky in the south.

Axis had no idea what she was trying to say. He wished she would communicate with him as she had a few minutes ago, but apparently Inardle was too scared to even use that means.

Again she tipped her head south and now Axis thought he could see pure panic in her eyes.

He stared south, hating to take his eyes off Ravenna, and suddenly his stomach dropped away in horror.

The stars in the southern sky were obscured by a moving cloud.

Oh dear gods! It was the Lealfast Nation about to arrive!

Then that horror was eclipsed by a sudden rush of wings as Eleanon alighted on the causeway some ten paces in front of Inardle and Axis.

They stopped dead, staring at him, barely able to breathe.

Eleanon turned about slowly, his eyes narrowed, looking about.

Axis held his breath, fighting pure panic at Eleanon’s arrival, and the sudden dramatic increase of pain in his arm as Inardle intensified the power she used to cloak them.

Axis hoped Eleanon could not see through it.

Then he thought . . . what if he can see through, but will pretend not to? What if this is all a fabrication on Inardle’s part? What if this is all a plan she and Eleanon had devised long before to trap me?

But Axis could feel Inardle trembling and feel her heart beating alarmingly fast through the touch of her hand on his arm. If she could pretend this level of terror, then she was far better than Axis thought.

Before them Eleanon had stopped to look south. He raised his arms, waving them slowly, and sent out a long, soft undulating call to his approaching fellows.

That call prompted Inardle into action. She started forward again, slowly pulling Axis with her.

She wanted to get past Eleanon and through the camp on the other side of the causeway before the might of the Lealfast Nation dropped down around them.

Axis knew their disguise was good, but it would not save them amongst a quarter of a million bodies bumping about the Isembaardian camp — and Axis had no doubt the approaching Lealfast were heading straight for it.

Why not? It had all the tents and beds and cooking equipment they could need.

Axis and Inardle were very close to Eleanon now. The causeway was not particularly wide and they shrank together as they drew level with him.

He moved, turning slightly, and from the corner of his eye Axis saw Inardle look downward, removing the gleam of her eyes from possible detection.

Axis hurriedly did the same.

Stars, if Eleanon reached out now he would touch them.

They edged past, every movement minutely careful, and so terribly, terribly slow. Eleanon was looking just to their left, when his eyes began to slide their way . . . and then, so suddenly it made both Axis and Inardle jump slightly, there was the rush of wings overhead and Bingaleal landed in the spot where Axis and Inardle had been standing just a moment previously.

Inardle’s grip tightened more, and Axis had to bite his lip to avoid groaning with the pain of it. It felt as if the bones