Читать книгу Battleaxe: Book One of the Axis Trilogy - Sara Douglass - Страница 16

Axis retrieved his axe from the antechamber outside the Privy Chamber and fell into step behind Jayme and Moryson, his anger and resentment at Jayme’s decision increasing with every stride. Why, after hundreds of years, was a Brother-Leader passing control of the Axe-Wielders into the hands of a secular commander? And Borneheld! Axis shoved his axe into his weapon belt with a furious thrust. He rarely disagreed with Jayme and had never raised his voice to him in anger before, but now he’d made a disastrous decision and Axis meant to tell him so, Brother-Leader or not.

He brushed past Isend and Borneheld talking in low tones in the corridor. Surely the dandified Isend wasn’t offering to fight alongside him? As far as Axis knew the closest he’d ever come to a weapon was the fruit knife that he constantly carried with him, hanging from his begemmed belt on a small silver chain. He turned the corner behind Jayme and Moryson, who were discussing whether or not to send Gilbert along on the journey to the Silent Woman Keep. Axis didn’t give a damn about whether or not Gilbert accompanied him, all he wanted was future control of his Axe-Wielders back again.

A fat white cat that had rubbed about Axis’ legs at breakfast now scrambled along the corridor behind him. As he shut the door of Jayme’s apartment, he almost caught the cat’s tail as she slipped in between his legs. Jayme and Moryson turned to look at him, their faces expressionless.

“Father, I will not relinquish control of my command to Borneheld at Gorkenfort!”

“Axis,” Jayme began, stepping forward, but Axis was now so furious that he interrupted his Brother-Leader. “Have you gone mad? Do you know what you have done? You will inform Borneheld that you were mistaken and that control of the Axe-Wielders will remain with me.”

Jayme halted a few paces from Axis, and bright spots of red blossomed in his cheeks; his eyes sparked as angrily, as Axis’. “Remember who you speak to, BattleAxe! You do not question the orders of the Brother-Leader nor do you presume to offer him orders yourself.”

Axis took a quick deep breath and squared his shoulders, staring defiantly at Jayme, his fists clenched at his sides. Moryson stepped forward, worried, ready to intervene if he had to.

“I have not spent my life in the Axe-Wielders to see them led by someone other than me! I have not spent the past five years harrying them into the most effective fighting force they have been in generations to watch you squander their abilities so thoughtlessly!” Axis hissed, now so infuriated he was past caring if he insulted Jayme. “Do you know what you do, old man? Are your senses fading along with your strength?”

Jayme’s nostrils flared, utterly shocked by Axis’ disrespect. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t hand over command of the Axe-Wielders to Borneheld right now!”

Axis was silent for a moment, his mouth twisting as he tried to reign in his temper. “Give me one good reason why I should hand over control to Borneheld in Gorkenfort,” he said in a quieter voice, though it still vibrated with anger.

For a moment longer Jayme stared at him, then he too took a deep breath and spoke in a calmer tone. “Because Achar needs to be united to face this threat, BattleAxe. When you get to Gorkenfort there must only be one force, one commander. That is the only way the Seneschal and the forces of Achar defeated the Forbidden a thousand years ago and it is the only way we can do it now.” His voice rose a little. “Do you understand what I am saying, Axis? I do not want to sacrifice Achar to save your cursed pride!”

Axis stared at him, his fists slowly clenching and unclenching at his sides. “I understand what you say, Brother-Leader, and I can try to accept the reasons behind it. But it doesn’t mean I agree it’s the right thing to do.”

Moryson glanced between the two men. He hoped Jayme would accept Axis’ words, for he did not think Axis would back down any further. As it was, only the years of deep affection between them and the respect Axis held for Jayme had made him back down this far. Moryson did not think that he would have done it for any other man. He must have got his damned pride from his father, Moryson thought dourly.

“All I want is your word that you will obey my instructions, BattleAxe,” Jayme said quietly, his eyes holding Axis’ in a vice-like grip.

After a moment Axis gave a curt nod. “You have it.” He refused to lower his eyes before Jayme’s stare.

The cat suddenly spat at Jayme, its fur standing on end. The distraction broke the tension in the room and Jayme forced a little laugh. “Well, at least the cat seems to agree with you, Axis.”

Axis bent down and scooped the cat into his arms, petting her back with long, slow strokes. The cat relaxed, her bright blue eyes blinking and then narrowing as she started to purr. She nuzzled his hand in affection.

After a moment’s awkward silence Moryson cleared his throat. “Perhaps we need to talk about your journey, Axis.”

The men walked over to the fire, Jayme waving the other two into chairs.

Moryson leaned forward to warm his hands. “The Brother in charge of the records in the Silent Woman Keep is named Ogden, Axis. He has been at the Keep many years and is the most knowledgeable of the brothers who study there. I know him well, he is a good man, dedicated to his duty. He will help you.”

“Ogden is almost as damned independent and proud as you are, Axis,” Jayme muttered. “I will send a rider off today to make sure he is aware of your coming.”

“And we will send Gilbert with you, Axis,” Moryson said. “When you continue on for Smyrton, Gilbert can return to us with what information Ogden and you’ve found.” The plan was sensible enough, and an added benefit was that Jayme and Moryson had a few weeks free of Gilbert.

Axis closed his eyes and let the fire warm his face, idly stroking the cat as he thought.

Moryson and Jayme exchanged glances for a moment before Jayme asked, “When will you be able to leave, Axis? And how long do you think the trip to the Woods and then Smyrton will take you?”

Axis thought for a moment longer then opened his eyes. The firelight caught peculiar golden glints deep in his blue eyes. “How many of the Axe-Wielders do you want me to take?”

Jayme considered, his fingers steepled against his nose. “Most, I think. There is little point in leaving more than a token force at the Tower of the Seneschal. Take seven cohorts and leave one here. Depending on what you find at Smyrton you might need to leave several units there. Take the rest onto Gorkenfort.”

“The six cohorts that I took down to Coroleas will arrive here within a day. They have been travelling for over a week, so I’ll need to rest them and their horses a few days. I’ll use that time to organise our support and supplies. We can leave within five days, six at the most. From here to the Silent Woman Woods – two weeks at a solid pace. From the Silent Woman Woods to Smyrton,” Axis paused as he calculated the distance, “perhaps a month if we travel through Arcen and across the River Bracken.”

“And from Smyrton to Gorkenfort?”

“That is a harder and longer journey. If the reports of ice above the Urqhart Hills are true then it will be even harder. Especially if the winter closes in early.” Jayme and Moryson, who were in a position to see the window, nervously glanced at the heavy snowclouds. “Perhaps twenty days. If all goes smoothly and I am not detained too long at Smyrton, then I should be at Gorkenfort by early to mid-Snow-month.”

Jayme looked concerned. “That’s very late. Winter may well be there before you.”

Axis’ gaze was steady. “It’s the best I can do given the number of cohorts and the route you suggest.”

“Could he send a cohort or two directly to Gorkenfort via the River Nordra, Brother-Leader? They could be there several weeks ahead of the main force of Axe-Wielders that come via Smyrton,” said Moryson.

“The force stays intact and it stays with me,” said Axis fiercely.

Jayme hesitated, then nodded. “I will grant you that, BattleAxe. Borneheld will have enough troops there soon enough, and he will be ably supported by Jorge and Roland. No, all seven cohorts go with you, Axis.”

Axis relaxed. “Good. Then, if you will excuse me, Brother-Leader, I have an expedition to organise.”

Jayme nodded and waved a sketchy blessing with his right hand. “Furrow wide, furrow deep, BattleAxe.”

“Furrow wide, furrow deep, Brother-Leader,” Axis replied, standing. The cat jumped down and sat before the fire. Axis bowed slightly to Jayme and Moryson, his right fist clenched over the golden axes on his breast, then he strode from the room, his boot heels clicking sharply on the stone floor.

“Well,” said Moryson quietly, after Axis had closed the door behind him.

“Well, indeed,” Jayme replied equally as softly.

“Can we trust him?” Moryson asked.

Jayme took a deep breath. “Yes. Yes. He won’t like passing over command of the Axe-Wielders, but he will do it in the end. It would look peculiar if we didn’t send the Axe-Wielders to help in the defence of Achar, and even more peculiar if we didn’t send their BattleAxe with them.”

“What will he find out?” Moryson asked.

Jayme squirmed in his chair, and the cat paused in her washing to gaze at him. “Hopefully nothing. With luck his rivalry with Borneheld and the threat of the Forbidden will keep him occupied. Moryson –”

“I know, old friend, I know. Priam’s news shocked me as much as it shocked you. What did those creatures want with Rivkah’s body?”

Jayme looked up and caught Moryson’s gaze. His eyes were cold and calculating and his face no longer wore its usual kindly mien. “And what will they do when they discover it wasn’t hers?”

Moryson suddenly looked ten years older, his already hollow cheeks deepening further. “My friend, I think they already know that. I think that’s why they destroyed the scriptorium in a rage.”

Jayme smiled bleakly. “Then in that at least they did us a favour. For years I have wanted those records destroyed. We can only hope that the two brothers who survived were two of the younger brothers – with no memory that stretches back thirty years.”

The cat paused briefly, her head still bent over her tail, but her bright eyes fixed on Jayme. Then she flipped over and began washing her protruding stomach.

“But it doesn’t answer the question,” Moryson said, his voice revealing the strain he was under, “why did they want Rivkah’s body? Why?”

Jayme did not, could not, answer. The cat stretched and sat for a moment, regarding them both with level blue eyes. Then she rose to her feet and stepped languidly over to the door, scratching to be let out. Moryson obliged.