"There's trouble ahead," StarLaughter said, and then silently mouthed a prayer for WolfStar's safe-keeping.

DragonStar also saw the Demons soar overhead, so single-minded in their quest for destruction they did not even heed him.

He, too, crouched, then stared, and then leaped lightly down from his rocks atop the rubble of Star Finger to where his Star Stallion waited in a ravine below.

The Alaunt milled about the stallion's legs, whining with their eagerness for the hunt.

As DragonStar walked up to the horse and hounds, his garb slipped away, and he strode once more in the linen loincloth with the lily sword swinging from the jewelled belt.

"There's trouble ahead," he said, and vaulted on the Star Stallion's back.

Within the instant both horse and Alaunt were running north-east.

Chapter 45

Trouble

Beyond the trees and the still ice forms of Urbeth and her daughters in their respective positions at either end of the avenue, the northern tundra was wrapped in an ice-gale so vicious that even the odd Skraeling, escaped from Ur's trap preferred to huddle in their burrows than drift out to search for prey.

Axis spent most of the morning making sure that people and animals were settled comfortably —

perhaps on the morrow they might begin their move south — and trying to avoid StarDrifter, who sat like a brooding storm on one of the carts near the head of the convoy.

Neither StarDrifter, nor Axis or Azhure, could quite come to terms with, let alone believe, the choice Zenith had made.

Axis blamed Fate, Azhure blamed herself and StarDrifter blamed WolfStar.

Axis had sent word to WingRidge to move WolfStar to the very rear of the convoy, far enough that he and StarDrifter might not meet accidentally.

Axis was also truthful enough with himself to understand that he did not want to see WolfStar either, nor Zenith with WolfStar.

Perhaps he could speak to her later ... but for the meantime there was far too much to do.

Urbeth's twin daughters dreamed the morning away in their pillars of ice, recovering strength after their efforts at leading the Demons into the souls of the Chitter Chatters. As had Urbeth at the front of the convoy, they'd placed themselves at its very rear, standing in the open space between the last trees on either side of the avenue, at the border between the rage of the snowstorm and the peaceful warmth of the avenue.

They seemed completely inviolate, twin pillars of unapproachable ice, but they were not quite alone.

Protected by the warmth of the trees, SpikeFeather TrueSong sat some paces away from them, cross-legged and winged, his head resting in one hand, red hair and feathers flaming incongruously before the ice, his eyes resting curiously on Urbeth's daughters.

Truth to tell, SpikeFeather had been feeling more than slightly obsolete in the past few weeks. He'd been the one to correctly guess the location of Sanctuary, but it had been others who'd opened it, and then led Tencendor's populations through its doors. DragonStar and his five witches had garnered all the attention and glory in their quest to destroy the Demons. SpikeFeather was not feeling jealous, merely horribly useless. He'd always hovered about the edges of the action, through the wars with Gorgrael, and now with these Demons, bursting with potential but never quite achieving it. Why had Orr taken charge of his life and why spend so many years talking to him and showing him the Underworld?

Why?

In Sanctuary, SpikeFeather had spent much of his time with Adamon and his wife, Xanon, and the other Star Gods. He'd wanted to see if, somehow, they might give him a direction, even a clue, but he'd learned nothing from them. Without exception (and apart from Axis and Azhure), the once-gods were colourless and apathetic, unable to come to terms with the destruction of Tencendor and with their exile — as mere mortals! — in Sanctuary.

They'd been kind, and patient, but SpikeFeather had learned nothing of himself from them. And now, they'd disappeared, undoubtedly off on their own well-intentioned purpose, but that did not help SpikeFeather in his current despair.

"Gods!" SpikeFeather muttered, with no rancour, only desperate wishing. "What is my purpose? What am I to do?"

If only Orr hadn't died so precipitously in the chamber of the Star Gate. Perhaps if he sought out DragonStar ...

But SpikeFeather sighed, and let his eyes linger on the immobile ice pillars before him.

Urbeth's daughters apparently knew exactly who they were and what was expected of them.

Meanwhile, here he sat, not knowing what to do or how to help.

Suddenly, both pillars melted back into the forms of women, and they stared into the storm that raged beyond the avenue.

One of them hissed, and she swung around, stopping with a jerk as she saw SpikeFeather.

"You!" she cried.

Axis was startled out of his conversation with the Ravensbund chief, Sa'Domai, by a shout from the head of the convoy.

He leaped onto Sal's back and galloped forward to find Urbeth transforming back into her womanly self, and DragonStar — DragonStar! — emerging from the storm on his white stallion, the Alaunt milling at Belaguez's feet.

The expression on DragonStar's face said it all.

"Trouble," Axis stated.

"Oh, aye," DragonStar said, and halted Belaguez by Sal. His eyes widened very slightly at the sight of Axis' brown mare, but he made no remark about her.

Not when disaster threatened.

"The Demons are not far behind me," DragonStar said. He looked in wonder at the avenue of trees, then looked in query at Urbeth.

Ur, she told him in the mind voice, her thoughts carrying more images than spoken words.

Skraelings. Souls of trees. An army.

DragonStar nodded, accepting. "Urbeth, can you hold here for the moment? I must —"

"Yes. Go."

DragonStar nodded, then reached across and let his hand rest momentarily on Axis' arm. "I must see to Azhure's and Katie's safety," he said.

"How can we fight against the Demons?" Axis said, grabbing at DragonStar's own arm as his son pulled back.

Again DragonStar glanced at Urbeth. "Support Urbeth and her daughters, and support the trees," he said. "Even I can do no more."

Axis nodded, and let him go.

DragonStar rode Belaguez deep into the column until he found Azhure, Katie and StarDrifter. They were standing by a collection of Ravensbund tents, and looked up in stunned surprise as DragonStar rode up.

For the moment DragonStar ignored Azhure and StarDrifter, sliding off Belaguez's back to lift Katie into his arms.

She smiled and snuggled in close to him.