The Serpent Bride

by Sara Douglas

  A daughter.

  He had his hands clasped in front of him on the table, and they turned over and about themselves as he tried to unmuddle thought and emotion.

  "Maxel," Ishbel said softly, "I am so sorry."

  "I came so far for you, Ishbel. For you and our child. It has been so hard. So difficult."

  Her heart tore apart at the pain in his voice, and she clasped her hands to her face in a useless attempt to stem the tears.

  "I'm so sorry," she whispered again. "I didn't think...I thought you'd just go back to Escator, forget me."

  "Forget you?"

  "I thought you hated me. Maxel, I'm sorry. I--"

  "Stop telling me you're sorry! I don't ever want to hear that again! For months I have abandoned my kingdom, all my responsibilities, brought trusted friends into danger with me, and for what? For what? A

  wife who has been disporting herself with a man in the very process of invading her homeland?"

  "I thought you hated me, Maxel."

  "Don't call me that. You have abandoned the marriage and you have abandoned me. Do not think to address me so familiarly."

  Ishbel closed her eyes, taking a shaky breath before reopening them and forcing herself to look at Maximilian.

  "Isaiah offered me comfort and compassion," she said, her voice low. "If I had known that you had wanted me, were coming for me...oh, gods, Maximilian, why is life so full of `ifs'?"

  He said nothing, refusing to look at her.

  Ishbel began to babble, wishing she didn't feel the need to speak further excuses, but unable to stop herself.

  "I was so upset when our daughter died. I wept for days. Isaiah...he was so good to me. He has such compassion. He offered me comfort, not judgment. He did not even want to judge me for being the archpriestess of the Coil--"

  Ishbel stopped, appalled at what her babbling had brought her.

  "Oh, what lies you have told me," Maximilian said, looking directly at her now. "I tore the earth apart for you, and for what? For what?"

  He stood.

  "I will say this to you one time," he said, "and then I will never, never allow these words to pass my lips again. I loved you, Ishbel. You. The loss of you wounds me more than the loss of the child."

  There was an infinitesimal pause. "You have broken my heart, Ishbel, and in the doing ruined my world."

  He stared at her a long moment, then left the room.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Sakkuth, Isembaard

  Axis and Ravenna walked through the ill-lit and largely deserted streets.

  A squad of ten armed men followed them at a distance of about twelve paces.

  Axis did not try to evade them, and did not particularly resent them. If he'd been Isaiah he would have done the same thing and, frankly, he thought it remarkable that he and Ravenna were walking the streets at all after this night's debacle.

  He wondered how Maximilian and Ishbel were doing.

  "I remember you from the tales told of Maximilian's rescue from beyond the hanging wall," Axis said quietly to Ravenna as she led them to where StarDrifter and the remainder of Maximilian's party waited.

  "And I, naturally, know of you from the many tales circulating of Tencendor."

  "Isn't legend such a wonderful social introduction aid," Axis said, and Ravenna laughed softly, a lovely,

  low, seductive sound.

  Axis glanced at her. "If I was Ishbel, I'd be worried that Maximilian has had such as you for company all these weeks and months."

  "She has no reason at all, as yet, to be jealous of me. Maxel has remained true to her, if not she to him."

  Axis noted that "as yet," and also noted, from the tone of Ravenna's voice, that perhaps Ishbel was a subject best left alone for the time being.

  Besides, there was something else, far more wonderful, awaiting him.

  "My father," he said. "StarDrifter. Is he well?"

  Ravenna smiled at the repressed excitement in Axis' voice. "Yes. He is well. And regrowing his wings."

  "What? How?"

  "Ah, we carry our own mysteries with us. And, as you heard, StarDrifter also has a wife, if a somewhat reluctant one."

  "This I cannot believe! Who can have managed to nab my father? Tell me, who is this Salome?"

  "Well...they, ah, met in Coroleas. I will leave it to StarDrifter to tell you about her."

  There was a mischievous glint in her eye as she said this, and Axis had to bite his tongue from peppering her with questions.

  "StarDrifter is an extraordinary man," Axis said. "I remember the first time we met...at the base of the Icescarp Alps..."

  His voice faltered, and Ravenna touched his arm briefly in empathy.

  Axis brought his emotions under control. "And the other members of the party? Not many, from what you said."

  "My mother, Venetia, and Serge and Doyle. I think you will like them. They once worked as assassins,

  but now are Maxel's loyal men."

  "Assassins?" Axis laughed. "Never tell Isaiah that!"

  "Look, we are here. Let me go down first, Axis, for Serge and Doyle will be as nervous as cats and you'll like as not meet the blades of their swords before ever you meet them if you enter first."

  "Axis!" StarDrifter hugged his son to him, so tight that Ravenna, standing to one side, later swore she had heard Axis' bones creak in protest. Tears streamed down his face, as they did down Axis', who returned his father's embrace with equal ferocity.

  Venetia met her daughter's eyes, and smiled. She had rarely seen StarDrifter smile, let alone display this magnitude of joy, and she was glad for him, that finally he had his son in his arms and his life again.

  She glanced at Salome. The woman was standing against a wall, almost in the shadows, looking both distant and cautious, and Venetia wondered what she made of this arrival.

  Axis SunSoar, the great legend, of whom even Salome in her time at Coroleas must have heard.

  And now a close relative.

  Axis and StarDrifter were still embracing, laughing, tears flowing freely down both their faces. Finally,

  Axis pulled away a little, one hand patting at StarDrifter's back as he did so.

  "What is this then, StarDrifter? Wings?"

  StarDrifter sobered. "You know how--"

  "How you lost them. Yes. Gods, StarDrifter, no one knew what had become of you. Where you had gone. We had lost Zenith, only to rediscover her in the world beyond death, but you...No one...oh,

  sweet stars in heaven, I can hardly believe you are here. I saw you this morning, and thought you an apparition...and this evening, when Maximilian and Ravenna appeared--"

  "Please," interrupted Serge, "what of Maximilian? Is he safe?"

  "Yes," said Ravenna, "for the moment I believe he is safe enough in body if not well in spirit or heart,

  Serge. Ishbel has abandoned her wifely vows for the Tyrant of Isembaard, and the daughter she bore Maxel died at birth. Murdered, I believe, by the maniac Ba'al'uz."

  His hand still on StarDrifter's shoulder, Axis turned to face the rest of the group.

  "We all have much news to share," he said, "and we need somewhere better than this to share it. Isaiah,

  the tyrant, has offered Maximilian and all of you shelter within his palace. He--"

  "Oh, come now!" said Doyle. "Surely you don't expect us to believe that!"

  "Isaiah is not the great evil warlord of the south," Axis said. "He is a good man. And I think you will be no more imprisoned within his palace than you are"--he glanced about the dismal bakery cellar--"here,

  and far more comfortable, although you may have to relinquish your weapons at the door."

  Serge's and Doyle's hands both tightened reflexively about the hilts of their swords.

  "And I shall return them to you within your quarters as soon as I might," Axis said. "A deal?"

  Serge and Doyle exchanged a nod. "A deal," Doyle said.

  "So then," said Axis, "now that we've sorted out the difficulties of accommoda
tion, perhaps some introductions?"

  "Ah, I am sorry," said StarDrifter. "Where are my manners? Serge and Doyle," he said, nodding in turn at each man, "are Maxel's men."

  "And former assassins, I hear," said Axis, stepping forward to take each man's hand. "Please don't mention that to Isaiah. He has just survived an assassination attempt, by an Icarii--"

  "What?" said StarDrifter.

  "StarDrifter, I will talk to you about it later," said Axis. "Serge, Doyle, your former employ shall have to remain quiet for the moment, I think. Agreed?"

  They both nodded. "Agreed."

  "This is Venetia," said StarDrifter. "Ravenna's mother."

  Axis smiled at her. She was as lovely as her daughter, with the same coloring and strange gray eyes, but whereas Ravenna's beauty was that of the freshness of youth, Venetia's was that of the mature woman.

  Axis felt immediately attracted to her--experience was always the more seductive beauty than youthful freshness.

  And when combined with her obvious power...

  As with Serge and Doyle, Axis took Venetia's hand, but did not immediately let go of it.

  "I have never met such as you and your daughter," he said quietly, holding her level gaze. "Maximilian is a lucky man to have you as his allies."

  "He is a man who attracts such luck," said Venetia. She started to pull her hand from Axis', but he tightened his grip fractionally, keeping it trapped a moment longer.

  "I shall have to ask him his secret," Axis said, then let Venetia's hand go with a slight widening of his smile, and turned to where Salome stood.

  "You are Salome," he said, taking her hand as he had everyone else's. "An Icarii...and also growing wings, I see. There is a story here."

  Salome said nothing, looking uncomfortable.

  Axis looked to his father.

  StarDrifter looked even more uncomfortable.

  "Salome is a SunSoar, Axis," Venetia said, irritated by all the hesitation, "and now carrying StarDrifter's child. The SunSoars are to be congratulated, I think, for their skill in rekindling their dynasty. The rest I

  should leave for StarDrifter or Salome to explain to you."

  Axis was aware he was gaping unbecomingly, but for the moment he could do little else. The instant Venetia had said Salome was a SunSoar he had recognized it in her face. But how? Whose child was she?

  StarDrifter had come over and gently disengaged Salome's hand from Axis'. "We have a great deal to share, Axis," he said softly, "but as you said, this is not the place to do it."

  Axis finally managed to regain his composure, and turned to Salome fully.

  "Have you been welcomed into the House of SunSoar, Salome?"

  She frowned, flickering a glance at StarDrifter.

  "No," she said, "what do you mean?"

  "Although my father has very obviously been an attentive man, Salome," said Axis, "he has also been somewhat neglectful of his duties." He gave a little shrug, remembering how he had shunned his son DragonStar for far too long. "As we have all been, from time to time."

  He stepped closer to Salome, placing both of his hands on her shoulders.

  "These are words, Salome, that are usually spoken to a newborn baby, as StarDrifter and myself, and you, too, will speak them to the child you are carrying at his birth. But I sense you have had a difficult life,

  and have only come recently into your heritage, and I think you need to hear these words very much indeed."

  He leaned forward, kissing her softly on the forehead.

  "Welcome, Salome, into the House of SunSoar and into my heart. My name is Axis SunSoar, and I am your kinsman. Sing well and fly high, and"--here Axis hesitated, wondering whether he should speak redundant words, then quickly revised the traditional greeting--"may all of creation work to ensure that one day your feet will tread the path of the Star Dance."

  But still, he thought, remembering the lifeless glass pyramid he still had in his safekeeping, there is hope that one day you, as all Icarii, may set foot once more on the path of the Star Dance.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Sakkuth, Isembaard

  The palace chamberlain met Maximilian as he strode out of the room where he'd talked with Ishbel,

  informing him that Axis and Ravenna had gone to fetch the rest of the party and they were to be accommodated with all honor in Isaiah's palace.

  Maximilian was so angry, so hurt, and so overwrought at that moment he couldn't have cared less had the palace chamberlain informed him he was to be escorted to the dungeons, so he'd simply followed the man wordlessly.

  The chamberlain led him to a door, saying that his apartment lay beyond it, and Maximilian had just laid a hand to the door handle when a voice spoke.

  "Maximilian."

  Maximilian realized he was going to have to wait a little while yet for the peace he craved. He turned slightly.

  Isaiah stood, arms folded, leaning in the frame of another doorway a few paces down the corridor.

  He hadn't been there when Maximilian had walked past a moment ago.

  "Isaiah," Maximilian responded, his voice dull.

  "Can we go inside?" Isaiah said, nodding at the doorway leading into the apartment. "I do not wish to speak to you in the corridor."

  A muscle flickered in Maximilian's jaw, then he gave a terse nod.

  "You know who I am," said Isaiah the moment the door closed behind him.

  Maximilian said nothing. They were in the first room of what appeared to be a suite of spacious and well-appointed chambers, and he marched over to a side table, poured himself a glass of wine, and gulped it down.

  "My Lord of Elcho Falling--" Isaiah began.

  Maximilian whipped about. "Don't call me that!"

  "Wake up, damn you!" Isaiah said. "Kanubai is risen, and it is time for you to assume your responsibilities. You must know that!"

  Maximilian decanted himself another glass of wine, drinking it down as fast as he had the first.

  "I walk," said Isaiah, "and Light walks as a man named Lister. Kanubai is risen." Isaiah thought about telling Maximilian that Kanubai had used the blood of his daughter to attain flesh, but thought better of it--another time, but not now. "Elcho Falling is stirring. I don't care what you want, Maximilian Persimius, but you must have known from the moment you met Ishbel, from the moment you heard from where she came, that Elcho Falling stirred. The time has come, my lord."

  Maximilian poured himself a third glass, stared at it, then slammed it down so hard on the table that red wine spilled over its glossy surface, and sank into a nearby chair.

  "Why take her from me?" he said, his voice weary. "Why sleep with her? What purpose did that serve save to break hearts?"

  "You had lost her, Maximilian, turned your back on her. I am a man, and Ishbel is a lovely woman."

  "I had expected a more noble excuse. Surely there were other lovely women about you could fuck for recreation."

  "Maximilian--"

  Maximilian leapt to his feet. "Don't you ever step in my way again, you shitty little piece of frog spawn!"

  He took a step toward Isaiah, who moved backward.

  "Maximilian--"

  "Don't you ever step in my way again!"

  Isaiah gave a little nod, and the faintest suggestion of a bow from his shoulders.

  Maximilian stared at him, then turned back to the side table and downed what was left of the wine in the glass. "Get out," he said.

  "We leave within days for the north, Maximilian. You know why we head north."

  Maximilian sloshed some more wine into the glass. The last thing he wanted to do now was talk about Elcho Falling.

  "Travel with us, you and your party. There is no point in your breaking away to travel independently.

  After all," Isaiah added softly, "we head in the same direction. North, to Elcho Falling."

  "And the Skraelings you go to meet? Your allies?"

  "They are under the control of Kanubai. Neither I nor Lister can do anything about them, Maximilian.
I

  am sorry."

  Maximilian drank the glass of wine in one gulp, spilling a little of the liquid down his chin. He wiped the dribble away with the back of one hand. "Get out."

  "While with me, you will be treated with all honor and--"

  "Get out!"

  Isaiah turned on his heel and left.

  Axis escorted StarDrifter and the rest of the group back to the palace, StarDrifter carrying a blanket-wrapped bundle that piqued Axis' curiosity, although for the moment he kept his questions to himself. Isaiah's armed men trailed them, closely enough to earn black looks from Serge and Doyle.

  There were even more black looks at the palace where Serge and Doyle reluctantly handed over their weapons, before the palace chamberlain, polite and unquestioning, even though the night's events must have been extraordinary to him, escorted them to their various apartments. Axis left StarDrifter and Salome in their apartment, to bathe and refresh themselves, before heading to the guards' main equipment room and securing two swords for Serge and Doyle. He liked and trusted the two men instinctively, knowing he would have been glad of them in any command of his, and knew also that they would fret constantly until they had weapons with which to guard Maximilian.

  Axis was pleased to see that Maximilian had been allocated what amounted to a small wing of the palace with at least five bedchambers and four reception rooms. Serge, Doyle, Venetia, and Ravenna were all staying in Maximilian's quarters. Once Axis had delivered the swords to the relieved and grateful Serge and Doyle, he stood in the anteroom looking at the closed door to Maximilian's private bedchamber,

  wondering how Maximilian was, but knowing that the last thing the man needed now was a stranger prying into his heartache.

  After a quick glance up and down the corridor--Isaiah had stationed guards at several points--Axis left Maximilian and his companions and went to rejoin his father and whoever Salome might prove to be.

  "Maxel?"

  His bedchamber was lit with only a single lamp left to burn low, and it had taken Ravenna a few moments after she'd closed the door behind her to make him out as he sat on the floor, hunched into a corner.