"Ravenna has confirmed it," Isaiah added. "We can find no fault with what StarDancer has said. The One hauled himself through Infinity and into the Dark Spire, using some kind of gossamer umbilical cord."

Maximilian felt like mumbling an obscenity, but he contented himself with sharing another look with his wife.

They had been so sure.

"What will it take to best this beast from Infinity?" Ishbel said, and Maximilian felt a stab of dark resentment toward her for mouthing the question.

"I will need to think --" he began, but StarDrifter halted him.

"StarDancer says he has a solution."

Maximilian raised unbelieving eyebrows. A baby? "And the solution would be .?"

"He has not said," StarDrifter said. "He wanted to wait until you and Ishbel had returned."

"I should speak with Ravenna first," Maximilian said.

"No," StarDrifter said, "speak with StarDancer, then Ravenna, if you wish. StarDancer said he would need to speak with you first . . . with all of us," he added.

They moved to StarDrifter and Salome's chamber. Salome held StarDancer in her arms, the others sat grouped about, the baby the centre of attention.

"You asked to talk with myself and Ravenna," Maximilian said, feeling uncomfortable being thus summoned to a baby's presence.

I am grateful you agreed, StarDancer said, the words clear in everyone's mind.

"The One is back," Maximilian said.

In the Dark Spire, StarDancer said. He hauled himself back through Infinity and -- "You are certain?" Ishbel said, her voice hard.

I am certain. You can ask Ravenna to confirm it.

Maximilian gave a nod, not wanting to think about Ravenna. She, and whatever mischief she'd done within Elcho Falling, was a problem that would need to wait until after this. "Your father said you had a solution."

The One is very powerful, StarDancer said. I doubt there is any in the chamber who can best him, including you, Maximilian.

Maximilian's mouth tightened. "Elcho Falling and I have managed before."

You only deferred the problem. You have tried, Elcho Falling has tried, Ishbel has tried. None of you bested the One; you have merely postponed the problem. Every time the One has bounced back, stronger than previously. Now he is back yet again, freshly infused with the power of Infinity, and wrapped in the protection and sorcery of the Dark Spire, which I think is intended to destroy Elcho Falling. Do you have a plan, Maximilian?

"I have not inspected the Dark Spire yet." Maximilian was growing more irritated by the moment.

Then do that, StarDancer said, after I have spoken.

"And you advise?" Ishbel said, her voice laced with a little sarcasm.

I do not blame you for distrusting me, StarDancer said, but hear me out, please. The One draws his power from Infinity. What can any of us in this room do against him? There is only one person who can successfully contain the One.

"And that person is?" Maximilian said.

Ravenna.

"No!" Ishbel said, shifting as if she meant to rise before deciding to perch stiff-backed on the edge of her chair. "Ravenna? She has done nothing but betray Maximilian and Elcho Falling. You think . . . what? That she can somehow destroy the One? She does not have the power, and even if she did then she would use it to destroy us, not the One!" Ishbel looked to Maximilian. "Maxel?"

"I agree," Maximilian said. "I cannot see how Ravenna has either the power or the goodwill to destroy the One for me and Ishbel. She is more likely to betray us."

The One sent her to kill me, and she did not. Ravenna regrets what she has done to you.

Ishbel gave a soft snort.

"Please listen to what my son has to say," StarDrifter said. "If I had listened to him earlier then we would have been warned about the approach of the One. As it was, I laughed away his concerns. Please do not laugh away what he has to say now."

Maximilian gave a small wave of his hand. "Then speak, StarDancer. How is it that Ravenna shall save us and Elcho Falling from the One?"

Hear me through before you object, StarDancer said. Ishbel must remove the three curses she placed on Ravenna: restoring Ravenna to her power as a marsh witch, allowing her once more to touch the Lands of Dreams and of Nightmares, removing the curse that makes it almost impossible for Ravenna to remain within any community, and, finally, removing that curse that stripped Ravenna's son of his rights as heir to Elcho Falling.

Ishbel sent a shocked and disbelieving look to Maximilian, but he raised a hand to ask her to remain silent.

"And then?" Maximilian said.

Then Ishbel needs to divest you of your power as Lord of Elcho Falling, and -- He got no further. The chamber erupted in uproar. Maximilian, Ishbel, Axis and Isaiah all leapt to their feet, protesting loudly.

Listen to me! StarDancer's voice cut through all of their protests. Listen to me!

They quietened, but remained standing.

If Ishbel removes from Maximilian his power as Lord of Elcho Falling, then Ravenna's baby, as heir -- remember that Ishbel will have restored him to that status once she removes all her curses from Ravenna -- becomes the Lord of Elcho Falling. StarDancer could feel the protests building within his listeners, but he ploughed on regardless. Once the One emerges from the Dark Spire, which he will have to do, he will be after one thing -- the Lord of Elcho Falling. In order to take the citadel and all its power, he will need to destroy its Lord. He will home in on Ravenna and her baby -- and then Ravenna, now restored to her full power as a marsh witch, and she was once very, very powerful, will drag the One through into the Land of Nightmares. The Land of Nightmares can do what nothing else can -- contain the One. It will not destroy him, but he will not be able to escape it.

"And Ravenna and her child?" Axis said before either Maximilian or Ishbel could speak.

They too will be trapped within the Land of Nightmares, with the One, StarDancer said. For eternity.

"No," Ishbel said. "This is not possible. You can't expect any of us to trust Ravenna, or to remove from Maximilian his power and authority as Lord of Elcho Falling!"

"If the Lord of Elcho Falling will be trapped inside the Land of Nightmares for an eternity," Isaiah said, "what will happen to the citadel? And to Maxel?"

Both will continue, said StarDancer. Maximilian as a mortal man, as a king if he wishes, and Elcho Falling as a mere citadel, no longer a portal into any other realm. It is the price both Maximilian and Elcho Falling will need to pay if they wish to rid themselves of the One.

"And how can you be certain that the Land of Nightmares will hold the One?" Axis said.

"It can," Maximilian said softly. "It can. Drava once told me of its properties."

It can, echoed StarDancer. Ravenna told me of its properties.

"No one can trust whatever Ravenna says!" Ishbel all but shouted. "How many times has she betrayed Elcho Falling and Maximilian? How many times?"

All I have done is to tell you what can be done, StarDancer said. Whether or not you choose to follow this route is entirely your decision.

Ishbel made a sound of disgust, turning to Maximilian. "Maxel, this is nonsense. We can't trust Ravenna. I will not remove my curses. And never, never will I consent to strip you of your powers!"

"Can Ishbel do this?" Axis asked.

"Yes," Maximilian said quietly.

"I will not do it, any of it!" Ishbel said.

"I --" Maximilian began.

"No!" Ishbel shouted.

Maximilian stepped forward and took Ishbel by the shoulders, pulling her stiff body into a brief embrace. "I will talk with Ravenna," he said, "then again with you. Then we will decide."

He walked from the room, and Axis looked to Isaiah. "There has to be another way," he said.

Chapter 3.

Elcho Falling.

Maximilian did not go straight to Ravenna. Instead he went first to the Dark Spire.

It was far worse than he could have imagined. The Dark Spire had grown physically since he'd last seen it (it now had grown through six levels, by the G.o.ds!), but, far more, Maximilian could sense the damage it had done to Elcho Falling. Somehow, the spire had grown into Elcho Falling.

He paused, gathering his courage, then crouched down at the base of the horrid thing, feeling it gently with his fingers.

It felt like cool living flesh.

Living, indeed.

Maximilian withdrew his hand, feeling cold to the very core of his being. He could feel the One inside, and feel also the layers of protection wrapped about him.

h.e.l.lo, Maximilian, Lord of Elcho Falling.

Maximilian did not respond. He rose, and left the chamber.

Maximilian paused outside the guarded chamber which held Ravenna and looked at the man who had risen from a chair placed by the door.

Garth Baxtor.

"Have you spoken with her?" Maximilian said.

Garth inclined his head. "Welcome home, Maxel."

Maximilian grunted. "It is not a particularly warm welcome . . . have you heard about the One?"

Garth nodded.

Maximilian's eyes drifted to the locked door. "How is she?"

"She is not well, for she has been badly treated by both Eleanon and the One, but she is not dying. If she were restored to her power she --"

"I do not yet wish to speak of 'ifs'. Just of the here and now."

"Then she is grey and tired and underweight, but all of these conditions can be remedied with time and care."

"And the baby?" Maximilian said softly, his eyes still on the door.

"Underweight as well, and not particularly strong."

Now Maximilian shifted his eyes back to Garth. "Your prognosis, if you please?"

"As Ravenna's health improves, then so shall his."

Maximilian drew in a deep breath. "I am faced with a terrible decision."

"If you need to talk, then I am here."

Maximilian nodded, and rested his hand briefly on Garth's shoulder. "How is Ravenna," he said. "Not her health, her ."

"She is more the girl we once knew," Garth said. "She does regret what has happened, Maxel, and now she will help if she can. Her ambitions are long lost."

"But do I trust her?" Maximilian murmured, then he stepped past Garth and nodded at the guards to unlock the door.

He paused inside the door as the guards closed it behind him, his eyes adjusting to the lower light in the chamber.

He caught her movement first, shifting as she swung her legs over the side of her bed so that she sat on its edge.

"Maximilian." Ravenna's voice caught, as if she were nervous, but Maximilian didn't allow himself to trust whatever emotion she chose to show him.

He walked over to a chair that sat a couple of paces from the bed, and sat down. "What have you done to Elcho Falling?" he said.

"I removed eggs from the Dark Spire and have placed them in the walls of Elcho Falling."

"What is their purpose?"

"I don't know. I don't, Maximilian," Ravenna added at the expression on his face. "Eleanon told me to do it. Made me do it. I was not allowed a choice."

Maximilian forbore to ask what her choice may have been, had she been able to make it.

"Ishbel's curses left me vulnerable --"

"Don't make excuses," Maximilian said. "I don't want to hear them."