haloes of untidy white hair above tattered and stained habits.
Azhure took a cautious step back and one hand tightened about the Wolven.
Her other hand crept towards the quiver of arrows slung about her back.
"Don't you recognise us?" the tall Brother asked. "Don't you remember who we are?"
Azhure stared at them, then finally relaxed a little. "You're the two Brothers who were with Axis in Smyrton. Sentinels." Axis had told her that these Brothers were two of the Sentinels mentioned in the Prophecy.
"Yes. My name is Veremund," the tall one said, then turned to indicate his corpulent companion. "And this is Ogden." Both made courtly bows.
Azhure shook their hands. "My name is Azhure. I'm sure Axis will be delighted to find you here in Talon Spike. Do you want to see him? He is usually with StarDrifter and MorningStar during the afternoons." Her archery practice would have to wait for today.
"My dear, we would be very grateful if you could direct us to him,"
Veremund said, and Azhure turned and led them up one of the shafts.
Axis had spent all morning and the early part of the afternoon with the Crest-Leaders, and he was now feeling exhausted, both physically and emotionally. But he knew he would be so busy with the Strike Force over the coming weeks that he should take this chance to learn the remaining Songs MorningStar had to teach him.
StarDrifter was once again relegated to a stool in a corner of the training chamber as MorningStar stood before a seated Axis. This afternoon she and StarDrifter would have taught Axis all they could - then it would be up to him to develop his own powers on the foundation they had given him.
Axis relaxed. The music came to him easily this afternoon and he felt as if he might drift off to sleep as MorningStar cradled his head between her hands. Her voice was verysoothing, her fingers so sure that Axis let the entire weight of his head sink into their hold. His mind started to wander.
"And this one," MorningStar said, "is the Song of Harmony. It will soothe emotions, calm tempers, turn thoughts to peace rather than violence." She smiled a little. "It is as useful to a military commander as weapons of war, Axis.
Listen well and learn."
She opened her mouth to sing, but halted in amazement as her grandson began to hum it himself. She looked wide-eyed over Axis' head towards StarDrifter.
Axis now began to sing rather than hum. It was the Song of Harmony.
MorningStar gently let his head go and took a step backwards, her heart beating wildly. He should not be able to do this.
"When have you sung this for him before, mother?" StarDrifter whispered hoarsely, walking slowly over.
MorningStar shook her head from side to side. "Never. I left it until last. You have not...?"
"You know I have little proficiency with this Song, mother. I have not taught him."
MorningStar's face hardened. So. It was what she had feared. "Wait until he has finished his Song," she whispered. "Then we will have some questions for him."
Oblivious to their reaction, Axis sang the Song to a close. For a moment silence hung in the air, then he opened his eyes. "That was a beautiful Song, MorningStar. Thank you."
Before MorningStar could say anything there was a gentle knock at the door and Azhure and — by the Stars! — two Brothers of the Seneschal walked in.
Azhure saw MorningStar's shocked face and smiled reassuringly. "They are the Sentinels Axis has told us about, MorningStar. Ogden andVeremund."
"Ogden! Veremund!" Axis leapt to his feet and clasped each Sentinel by the hand warmly. "It is good to see you! But what are you doing here? Faraday?
Was she well when you left her?"
Ogden laughed. "Axis, m'boy, so many questions! Please, will you introduce us to these two delightful people?"
Axis introduced Ogden andVeremund to his father and grandmother and the two Sentinels fussed over them.
Azhure smiled at Axis' obvious pleasure at seeing the two old men again. "I found them in the corridors of Talon
Azhure took a cautious step back and one hand tightened about the Wolven.
Her other hand crept towards the quiver of arrows slung about her back.
"Don't you recognise us?" the tall Brother asked. "Don't you remember who we are?"
Azhure stared at them, then finally relaxed a little. "You're the two Brothers who were with Axis in Smyrton. Sentinels." Axis had told her that these Brothers were two of the Sentinels mentioned in the Prophecy.
"Yes. My name is Veremund," the tall one said, then turned to indicate his corpulent companion. "And this is Ogden." Both made courtly bows.
Azhure shook their hands. "My name is Azhure. I'm sure Axis will be delighted to find you here in Talon Spike. Do you want to see him? He is usually with StarDrifter and MorningStar during the afternoons." Her archery practice would have to wait for today.
"My dear, we would be very grateful if you could direct us to him,"
Veremund said, and Azhure turned and led them up one of the shafts.
Axis had spent all morning and the early part of the afternoon with the Crest-Leaders, and he was now feeling exhausted, both physically and emotionally. But he knew he would be so busy with the Strike Force over the coming weeks that he should take this chance to learn the remaining Songs MorningStar had to teach him.
StarDrifter was once again relegated to a stool in a corner of the training chamber as MorningStar stood before a seated Axis. This afternoon she and StarDrifter would have taught Axis all they could - then it would be up to him to develop his own powers on the foundation they had given him.
Axis relaxed. The music came to him easily this afternoon and he felt as if he might drift off to sleep as MorningStar cradled his head between her hands. Her voice was verysoothing, her fingers so sure that Axis let the entire weight of his head sink into their hold. His mind started to wander.
"And this one," MorningStar said, "is the Song of Harmony. It will soothe emotions, calm tempers, turn thoughts to peace rather than violence." She smiled a little. "It is as useful to a military commander as weapons of war, Axis.
Listen well and learn."
She opened her mouth to sing, but halted in amazement as her grandson began to hum it himself. She looked wide-eyed over Axis' head towards StarDrifter.
Axis now began to sing rather than hum. It was the Song of Harmony.
MorningStar gently let his head go and took a step backwards, her heart beating wildly. He should not be able to do this.
"When have you sung this for him before, mother?" StarDrifter whispered hoarsely, walking slowly over.
MorningStar shook her head from side to side. "Never. I left it until last. You have not...?"
"You know I have little proficiency with this Song, mother. I have not taught him."
MorningStar's face hardened. So. It was what she had feared. "Wait until he has finished his Song," she whispered. "Then we will have some questions for him."
Oblivious to their reaction, Axis sang the Song to a close. For a moment silence hung in the air, then he opened his eyes. "That was a beautiful Song, MorningStar. Thank you."
Before MorningStar could say anything there was a gentle knock at the door and Azhure and — by the Stars! — two Brothers of the Seneschal walked in.
Azhure saw MorningStar's shocked face and smiled reassuringly. "They are the Sentinels Axis has told us about, MorningStar. Ogden andVeremund."
"Ogden! Veremund!" Axis leapt to his feet and clasped each Sentinel by the hand warmly. "It is good to see you! But what are you doing here? Faraday?
Was she well when you left her?"
Ogden laughed. "Axis, m'boy, so many questions! Please, will you introduce us to these two delightful people?"
Axis introduced Ogden andVeremund to his father and grandmother and the two Sentinels fussed over them.
Azhure smiled at Axis' obvious pleasure at seeing the two old men again. "I found them in the corridors of Talon
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