Chapter One ~ Interlude

Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill woke with a start. He bolted upright, surging to his feet in one fluid motion, leaping up and out of the scoop in which he was sheltered. Above him, perched in a branch of the elm tree which shaded him during the day, a red-tailed hawk stirred.

What's up, Ax-man? The thought-speak voice of Tobias floated down to Ax. Why are you pounding around in the middle of the night?

I am sorry if I woke you, Tobias, and I apologise Ax replied, instantly contrite. I... just thought I heard something, that was all

Tobias sighed. You sure? It was nothing? You didn't, for example, have a nightmare? The snide overtures of the question were not lost on Ax.

I am old enough not to be frightened by mere dreams, Tobias... he was about to snap back, but for some reason stopped himself. Instead, he smiled up at his 'nephew'. I am fine was all he said. Go to sleep, Tobias

G'night, Ax-man was punctuated by a mental yawn.

Aximili settled himself back down in the scoop, intending to sleep, but the aftereffects of the dream - he felt he should remember something - weighed heavily on him. He was lost in thought, contemplating the parts of the dream which he could remember, wondering what it all meant - or if it was something more than a childish nightmare. There was something missing... something vital...

The first rays of dawn had already crept their stealthy path above the horizon before Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill released his fears, and slept.