"It could all fall apart so easily ." Isaiah said.

"I know," Axis said, "but what choice do we have?"

Chapter 5.

The Outlands.

They rode north-westward until Isaiah and Axis estimated they were no more than two or three days from Elcho Falling.

The Skraelings had not returned, and none of Isaiah's scouts could find them. Axis fretted about it, as he suspected Isaiah did also, but little was said.

Whatever happened with the Skraelings, happened, and there was little they could do save prepare as best they could for any eventuality.

They did not see a Lealfast, either, although Inardle said they were above, flying invisible.

That worried Axis as much as the continued absence of the Skraelings.

Two days from Elcho Falling Isaiah ordered the army to camp. He wasn't riding any closer until he had a clearer idea of what he faced.

Isaiah and Axis stood apart from the camp, staring into the distance where they could see Elcho Falling.

"Do you have news from the Enchanters inside Elcho Falling?" Isaiah asked.

"The Lealfast Nation continues to stay in Armat's former camp." Axis briefly described the layout for Isaiah. "Kezial and his army are camped about the northern part of the lake."

Isaiah grunted. "Eleanon is keeping them as distant from us as he can, lest Kezial change his mind."

"Is Kezial likely to do that? Lamiah did, after all."

Isaiah chewed his cheek, thinking. "I'd always had great hopes for Kezial. I was disappointed when he'd decided to join with Armat, although I can understand why. Eleanon obviously does not trust him."

"It is something to keep in mind."

"Yes. Axis, what of those inside Elcho Falling?"

"They are well. StarHeaven said Georgdi and Insharah are mightily relieved to see us and are preparing the welcome party for our arrival."

"And, um, have they heard from Josia?"

"Indeed. Georgdi told me happily enough that Josia told them Maxel and Ishbel are still deep inside Isembaard, travelling slowly."

Isaiah grunted. "When does Maxel need us to --"

"Tempt the One to the window of his tall, tall tower?" Axis took a deep breath. "Dawn tomorrow. I do not think I will sleep tonight for worry."

"Neither will I." Isaiah stood a little while in silence, thinking of what Maximilian would attempt in the morning, and trying not to think of what would happen if he failed. Eventually, he forced his mind to other matters. "Has Georgdi any news of the ship he sent south?"

"Yes," Axis replied. "Georgdi said he has received a signal that the ship is waiting for Maxel and Ishbel on the east coast. Maxel and Ishbel cannot be too far from it now. Josia, the true Josia, told me that they are moving fast for the coast."

Isaiah gave a nod and steered the conversation away from Maximilian and Ishbel. At the moment he simply did not want the worry to distract him. "I wish I could see what is happening . . . how Eleanon and his forces have arrayed themselves. They are above us. Why haven't they attacked? I would have probed at an approaching army's defences, to discover their mettle. But he hasn't."

"Who knows the maddened ways of Eleanon?" Axis said, then he smiled. "But a bird's-eye view I can give you, my friend."

"The eagle is here?" Isaiah cast his gaze upward as Axis nodded toward a speck in the sky.

"My friend eagle," Axis said softly.

They looked through the eyes of the eagle as it soared high into the thermals. Below they could see themselves, the tiniest of specks on the ground, while between them and the eagle's position they could see the distorted air left by the invisible Lealfast fighters.

"Shetzah!" Isaiah muttered to Axis. "There are thousands of them above us. Axis, can you ask the eagle to fly closer to Elcho Falling?"

Axis nodded, and spoke to the eagle. Friend eagle, can you approach Elcho Falling safely?

From the south and east, said the eagle, yes. But I do not want to fly above the Lealfast encampment, nor above Elcho Falling itself.

It will do nicely, friend eagle, I thank you. Go as close as you dare, but do not endanger yourself.

Isaiah and Axis waited as the eagle soared closer to the citadel. He approached from the easterly route, up the ca.n.a.l which connected the citadel's lake with the Infinity Sea. Axis studied the thick reed banks to either side of the ca.n.a.l with interest, the germ of an idea forming.

From the eastern ca.n.a.l the eagle tipped his wings and veered northerly, over Kezial's encampment, giving Isaiah and Axis a clear view of the Lealfast Nation's camp to the west.

We thank you, friend eagle, Axis said to him. Fly away now, linger no longer lest the Lealfast attack.

That evening Axis and Isaiah sat alone at a campfire, talking. Axis had asked that none of the others join them. What he wanted to say he wanted only Isaiah to hear.

"I wonder if we ride into a trap," Axis said.

Isaiah nodded. "But of what kind?"

"I don't know. But I do not like the fact that Eleanon allows us to approach so unharried. Why? He has the strength and the advantage. If I commanded a winged force of the magnitude of his I would have attacked many days before this. They have no reason to allow us so close to Elcho Falling, or to allow us to continue toward Elcho Falling."

"Aye. I agree. What are you thinking?"

"I am thinking he wants us in Elcho Falling, or at least very, very close to it. I have no idea why, or what he has planned . . . "

"Again, I agree," Isaiah said. "And again I can see that you want to say more, so speak it."

Axis sighed, playing for time as he ordered his thoughts. "I don't think we should give Eleanon what he wants."

"Explain."

"I don't think we should allow all of us to be herded into Elcho Falling."

Isaiah nodded slowly, smiling. "I was going to suggest the very same thing."

Now it was Axis who grinned. "Of course you were! You just wanted me to have the honour of suggesting it first!"

They both laughed, spending a moment pouring ale into mugs and sipping it.

"You want to remain outside?" Isaiah said to Axis.

"Yes. I had thought to keep a small force of men with me, but I think the Lealfast would spot us too easily. One man stands a chance of remaining hidden."

"You'll be spotted anyway," said Isaiah. "The Lealfast have the advantage of flight."

"Not necessarily," Axis said. "I have an idea about that . . . but just imagine, Isaiah, how useful I could be outside Elcho Falling. I can sound out Kezial. Keep an eye on Eleanon. Be watchful. And we can keep in contact easily."

Indeed, said Isaiah in Axis' mind, so long as you don't wander more than a day's walk away.

One of Axis' fingers tapped at the rim of his ale mug as he thought. "Isaiah . . . how helpful can those juit birds be?"

Isaiah chuckled. "Depends what you have in mind."

"Can we speak to them?"

"In the morning, my friend. Now, tell me what it is you have planned."

As Axis and Isaiah sat at their campfire, so Kezial and Eleanon stood at the edge of the Lealfast encampment, staring south.

"Isaiah isn't far away," Kezial said.

"Two days," said Eleanon. "But I doubt he will march straight into our maws. Kezial ."

"Yes?"

"The Skraelings have vanished."

"What?"

"Many days ago."

"You made no mention of this."

Eleanon shrugged, dismissing Kezial's anger. "They were herding Isaiah and his army northward . . . and then one dawn my scouts reported the entire horde had vanished."

"How could they just 'vanish?"

Another shrug, and Kezial bit down a bitter retort. What else was Eleanon keeping from him?

Likely an entire "horde" of secrets.

"Can Skraelings just vanish?" he asked Eleanon.

"It is possible. Who knows what the One has done to them." Eleanon paused, and Kezial sensed that Eleanon was now getting to the reason he had summoned Kezial.

"Isaiah is also travelling with a few million, give or take five or six, pink birds."

Kezial gaped at him, unable for the moment to speak.

Eleanon turned his cold eyes on Kezial. "Do you know what these pink birds are?"

"Are they tall gangly things, long necks and legs, oversized beaks?"

"Yes. They apparently squabble a great deal. They arrived at Isaiah's force just ahead of the Skraelings."

Kezial's mouth curved in a small smile. "Then they are most likely juit birds. They come from a lake to the south of Aqhat."

Eleanon's gaze grew more intense. "And what significance are the juit birds? For what reason do they attach themselves to Isaiah?"

"As for reason, I am guessing they escaped the Skraelings who --"

"But the Skraelings had left Isembaard, ma.s.sing north."

Kezial shrugged.

"What significance, then?" Eleanon said, his tone now growing as sharp as his eyes.

Kezial held his gaze steadily. "No significance. They are water birds, they squabble a great deal as you have said and they are truly terrible eating. I have no idea why they have attached themselves to Isaiah's army, but if I were him I'd be truly irritated about it."

"They're trouble," Eleanon said. "I can smell the stink of trouble about them."

Kezial shrugged. "They are silly pink birds," he said. "They have no significance at all beyond that, Eleanon."

Later, when Kezial was alone in his tent, he spent long hours sitting at his camp table, staring at the moths fluttering about the bowl of the lamp.

Isaiah has the juit birds?

Kezial had been down to Lake Juit several times. He had been there when Isaiah had pulled Axis from the Otherworld.

The juit birds were not just "silly pink birds" at all. They were one of the great mysteries of Isembaard.

Kezial began to think carefully about his next move.

Chapter 6.