There was one thing Qeteb could do to keep DragonStar's witches out of mischief until he could give them his full attention.

He began to whisper, and about him the air filled with howls and screams as the demonic gibbered their approval.

There was little peace in Sanctuary. Urbeth was here, and while Urbeth said she could help them escape, Urbeth remained completely silent on the "how's" and "wherefore's", and spent much of her time snapping and growling and making sarcastic comments about everyone's state of readiness.

Axis spent as much time snapping back at her. The entire land — all that had survived Qeteb's resurrection — was hidden here. Sanctuary throbbed with life, but it was life that lay only a moment away from total annihilation, and all that stood between them and that moment was Urbeth's damned reticent aid and Axis' need to get everyone and everything organised.

There may have been little peace, but what stunned Axis was the fact that there was utter calm. He'd always believed that peace and calm went hand in hand, but apparently not. Everyone within Sanctuary was now aware of the imminent danger, and everyone was aware that an escape was being planned —

although not everyone was aware that, apparently, Urbeth meant to dump them (how? how? how?) in the frozen wastes of the northern tundra.

It was not only the Icarii, Acharites, Ravensbund and Avar who were aware of some of these things.

The animal, bird and insect life also seemed apprised of not only the threat, but of the plans for escape.

And of everyone, the exiled fauna of Tencendor seemed the calmest and the most organised.

Striding about Sanctuary supervising the loading of supplies that would continue through the night, Axis came across population after population of beetle, or millipede or butterfly, patiently clinging or clumping to baskets and panniers: none of the packhorses or mules seemed to mind carrying a load of insects or even birds. Axis stood open-mouthed with astonishment at the sight of one draughthorse standing, so covered with bats, that only his drooping head appeared from the shifting, squeaking (but not complaining) mass of grey and brown fur that had buried its myriad claws into his thick winter coat.

Several hundred carts were filled with dozing seals: cats, dogs and poultry snuggled with no hint of squabbling or rancour between the seals' warm, gently heaving sides. Oxen, cows, mules and horses stood waiting yoked or collared to the carts, many with birds clinging to spines or manes.

Elsewhere grouped herds of livestock or of wild creatures, each herd ignoring nearby animals even though under more normal circumstances they might be natural competitors or even enemies.

Ravensbundmen and women moved about among the animals, checking and adjusting the gear of those creatures yoked or collared to carts, murmuring and soothing any creature that appeared nervous and jittery. Axis had seen Urbeth talk to Sa'Domai earlier: undoubtedly the Ravensbundmen were the best adapted to working in the conditions that faced them, but they also appeared to be particularly suited to working and empathising with animals. Was it because they were hunters and used to the ways of wild creatures, Axis wondered, or simply because the Ravensbundmen were more than half-wild themselves?

Intermingling with everything and everybody were the fey creatures that had once populated the forests. Shifting shapes and colours, winking jewel-like eyes and horns, with strange, soft cries and gentle touches, the fey creatures slipped in and out of every pack and herd, spreading calm and even, Axis suspected, some sense of hope.

But, strangest of all the creatures that Axis saw, were the huddled creatures from Bogle Marsh. They were grouped so closely that Axis could not tell them apart. They simply formed one massive lump of grey, steaming flesh that extended some thirty paces into the air and spread some sixty or seventy paces wide.

The entire pile was gently humming to itself: some strange, marshland melody that rose and fell in gentle, if gigantic, undulations over the other creatures about them.

Axis could feel it vibrating up through his feet, and was strangely soothed by its touch.

"Axis?"

He turned. It was Zared, looking cross and tired.

"Urbeth," Zared said with more than a trace of aspersion, "has just had a new thought."

Axis repressed a smile. He did not think it had helped Zared's temper.

"She wants us," Zared continued, "to pack some four or five hundred large, shallow bowls, as well three hundred barrels of potent malmsbury wine."

Axis remained silent, although he let the question flood his face.

"I have no idea why!" Zared said, and gestured aside impatiently.

"Undoubtedly Urbeth has her reasons," Axis said gently. "Zared ... Zared, I know there is little I can say to help you. I know how you must be feeling with Leagh —"

"Do you?" Zared said, his eyes hard. "Do you?"

"Aye," Axis said, "I do. Azhure and I fought apart much of our time, and I spent much of that time in agony wondering whether or not I would ever see her again. Do not blame me for the fact that currently I know she is safe."

Zared visibly forced himself to relax. "I'm sorry. But ... none of us are 'safe', are we? Azhure perhaps stands in as much danger as does Leagh."

"As do you and I."

"Yes," Zared sighed. "As do you and I." He swept his eyes about the scene before him, letting them linger briefly on the pile of humming Bogle Marsh creatures. "As does every creature in this gods-forsaken place."

"I assume that Sanctuary has supplied the bowls and malmsbury?"

Zared sighed again, managing a rueful smile as he did so. "Oh, aye. The best quality malmsbury wine I have ever seen. I think you and I, brother, should broach a cask before morning."

Axis grinned. "I look forward to it. I doubt overmuch if Urbeth will notice a glass or two gone."

Once Zared had left, Axis continued his wander through the hordes slowly gathering for the exodus.

He had a vague, very slightly uncomfortable feeling, almost as if he was looking for something, but not knowing what.

So he walked through the half twilight that, in Sanctuary, passed for night. As people approached him and asked questions, so Axis answered as best he could, but he did not seek out conversation. He knew that Azhure and StarDrifter awaited him back in their apartments — StarDrifter in particular had appeared anxious to discuss something with him — but Axis' need to find something drove him deeper into Sanctuary and the milling hordes of peoples and creatures awaiting escape.

How many millions bad DragonStar made him responsible for?

Axis felt an immense burden of responsibility literally weigh down on his shoulders and he had to force them back to stand straight. Even with Urbeth's uncertain aid, could he pull this off?

And how did he feel about the Skraelings? Gods, he had never thought to have to face them again!

Then Axis stopped, stunned out of his thoughts.

What he'd been searching for so vaguely and uncertainly stood in front of him — as nervous and unsure as he was.

She was plain and brown and with the skittishness of the very young. She lifted her head and caught sight of Axis. She stilled.

Axis smiled, and held out a hand, moving very slowly towards her.

She did not move, although her black eyes rolled with her inner uncertainty.

Axis smiled, and touched her cheek.

She trembled, and he ran his hand down her neck.

A fine, brown, but very young mare of only three or four years.

Axis' smile broadened. "You're not quite Belaguez, but somehow I think you will do just as well."

Suddenly he relaxed. He had a task, impossible as it might seem, and now he had a mount, as insignificant as she might appear. Life was falling together neatly.

Axis tugged at the brown mare's forelock, and she lowered her head and gently butted him in the chest.