Battleaxe: Book One of the Axis Trilogy

“And would you have me move them the slow way, by rowboat up the Nordra and then by forced march across the plains of Ichtar? That journey will take close to six weeks and they will be exhausted when they get there. We need to move now, we need to move as fast as we can, and we need the men relatively fresh when we get there. If I commandeer as many ships as I can in Nordmuth then I could be there in under three weeks from the time we leave Carlon. It will take more than a week to organise the units and transport.” Borneheld thought for a moment. “Myself and the greater part of the force can be at Gorkenfort ready to fight by mid to late Bone-month; the remainder of the force can go via the Nordra and be in Gorkenfort in early Frost-month, early Snow-month at the latest. I am ready”

Axis sat up straight and directed a level look at his half-brother. “The Axe-Wielders also stand ready to defend Achar.” He did not want anyone in this chamber to think that Borneheld commanded the only force capable of meeting the threat from the north.

Borneheld started to say something, but Jayme leaned forward and held up his hand. “No, BattleAxe. I think you are needed elsewhere. I am ashamed that I cannot provide Priam and Borneheld with the information that they need to fight these creatures. But there is one place where we might still find the information.”

He glanced at Moryson, who nodded slowly. “The Silent Woman Keep.”

There were nervous glances among several of the other men. Over the past forty generations few men, and certainly none in the room, had ever visited the Silent Woman Keep. The Keep stood solid and dark in the centre of the only remaining forest in Achar, the Silent Woman Woods. Many whispered that although the Brotherhood of the Seneschal preached that all forests were evil, they allowed the Silent Woman Woods to remain simply to protect the secrets of the Silent Woman Keep. Few Acharites would ever willingly venture within leagues of the Silent Woman Woods. And no one professed any curiosity about the Silent Woman Keep or the small band of brothers who kept vigil there.

“Yes,” Jayme agreed. “I suggest that you should reinforce the WarLord by all means, but do so by a circuitous route. Take the majority of the Axe-Wielders and travel to the Silent Woman Keep. Our brothers there have access to ancient records and chronicles from the time of the Wars of the Axe. Learn what you can about the Forbidden. From there, travel on to Smyrton via Arcness and Skarabost to assess the danger. Then,” Jayme turned back to face Priam and Borneheld, “leave some of your Axe-Wielders at Smyrton and travel to Gorkenfort. Borneheld will need both your information and your men if the danger is as bad as it appears.”

Borneheld’s face darkened and he opened his mouth to say something, but he was interrupted by Priam. “A sensible plan, Jayme. We need to know more about these creatures.”

Jorge nodded again. Sensible indeed. It kept Borneheld and Axis apart for as long as possible before the likelihood of real fighting in the north. Even going via the circuitous route Axis could still be at Gorkenfort by the beginning of winter. Winter would be the time these creatures struck in force, if they kept to their previous pattern. And, if Artor were with them, then Axis might also arrive with some information about exactly what it was that they faced. Hopefully, once Borneheld and Axis had a real foe to face they would forget their private enmity.

Borneheld did not look so happy about the arrangement. “Sire, my forces are perfectly capable of –”

Jayme broke in smoothly. “And, of course, when the BattleAxe and the Axe-Wielders arrive in Gorkenfort, WarLord, they will be under your command.”

An expression of deep contentment filled Borneheld’s broad face. “Yes,” he said. “Yes. That would be satisfactory. I’m sure that I’ll be able to use your men somewhere, BattleAxe. And yourself, of course.”

Axis turned to Jayme, a look of angry incredulity over his face. The cloth he had been using to wipe his lip was clenched tightly in his fist. “Brother-Leader –”

Jayme took Axis’ arm. “We have much to discuss in private, BattleAxe. Let it rest.” His painful grip belied his genial face.

Axis took a deep breath and sat back in his chair, avoiding Borneheld’s triumphant gaze, his mouth white and pinched. He would rather burn in the everlasting fire pits of the AfterLife before he handed control of the Axe-Wielders over to Borneheld.

“So,” Priam said, relieved that some decisions had been made, “then we have at least made a start. Roland, Jorge, I can count on you to support Borneheld with troops, supplies, and perhaps your own persons and advice? Good. Gentlemen, if we can adjourn for the moment? I’m sure that each of us has enough to keep us busy. Furrow wide, furrow deep, and may Artor guide our steps over the coming weeks and months.”

As the group left the room, Earl Isend caught up with Borneheld and tweaked his elbow. “Duke Borneheld, if I may speak with you for a moment?”

Borneheld pulled his elbow away roughly, annoyed, and walked a little faster. He did not like the foppish Earl Isend very much.

Isend wet his lips nervously and struggled to keep step with Borneheld as he strode down the corridor. “Duke Borneheld? It is about my daughter … Faraday.”

Borneheld stopped abruptly and turned to look at Isend, a speculative gleam in his eye. He’d taken particular note of Faraday when she had been presented to Priam the night before. Most men in the Chamber of the Moons had.

7 In the Brother-Leader’s Palace Apartment (#ulink_cb4ffae4-a7b7-5120-8b55-2a29deac3293)

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.”