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rpreting what it said； and presently they gave up trying to use it altogether。
Now suddenly there was only one tunnel again。 It curved sharply； first to the right； then back to the left again。 From beyond that final bend a light appeared； that looked to Ben like cheerful daylight。 Moving forward； he could hear running water； and then the songs of birds。
Chapter 12
In the last meters of its length； the curving tunnel's smooth interior gave way to rough rock； so that the passage appeared to be turning into a natural cave。 Mark； emerging behind Doon from the cave's mouth； blinked in what appeared to be sunlight； filtered through the foliage of majestic treetops some meters overhead。 The air was warm； and a fresh breeze stirred the high branches。 Birds flitted among them； and along the ran ace of the red rock cliff from which the cave emerged。 The sound of rushing water； as from a small waterfall or tumbling stream； came from somewhere near at hand but out of sight。 The forest grew up close to the cliff。 Its grassy； open floor was some meters below the rocky shelf on which the six intruders gathered in front of the cave's mouth。 From that shelf a barely discernible path wound down； among boulders of the reddish rock； to disappear as soon as it got in among the trees。 The highest portion of the cliff was masked by branches of the towering trees； which also effectively concealed most of the sky； but so bright was that seeming sky that the effect was not gloom； but wele shade。 Mark raised a hand to turn off his headlamp； and saw that everyone else was doing likewise。
〃We have reached the sealing of magic；〃 Mitspieler announced； in a deep solemn voice。 He spoke so rarely that everyone tended to look at him when he did。 〃Given the correct password； we could walk through it as easily as the Blue Temple priests must do。 Master； do you think it is worthwhile for us to try again to divine what that word is？〃
Indosuaros glanced at him； sighed； and shook his head。 〃We have tried that often enough； and learned nothing。〃
Doon said impatiently： 〃The Sword will guide us through。〃
Indosuaros agreed。 〃But； as we have seen； it cannot warn of traps。 In this sealing； that task will be up to me。 It will not be easy； and I want to rest before we start。〃
The Baron considered。 〃Agreed。 We can all use a rest at this point； if we can find a suitable place。〃
The two wizards looked out over the scene and conferred together in low voices for a few moments。 Then Indosuaros announced： 〃We can at least go down to the foot of the cliff safely。 I suppose no one needs warning that not everything you will see here conforms to reality。 I can tell you already that the grass and trees are real； at least for the most part； though I suppose they must be magically maintained。 We are of course still inside a cave。 This is a very large room just how large I cannot tell as yet … and naturally lightless。 What you perceive as sun and sky and wind are all artifacts of wizardry； and just what reality they may conceal I cannot yet be certain。 But we can go forward in safety for a little way at least。〃
〃What about the stream？〃 Ariane asked shortly。 They had started down the path； moving again in single file； and already the twisting path had brought them into sight of a small waterfall； which broke out tumbling from the jagged cliff at no great distance from the cave's mouth。 The small stream danced down over the lower rocks； then plunged into a flatter bed that led it away among the trees。
〃The water is real enough；〃 Indosuaros answered her after a moment。 〃Whether it will be safe to drink； or even to touch； I cannot tell until we reach it。〃
That was soon enough。 As soon as the party had reached the grass； growing from what looked and felt like rich forest soil； the two wizards moved forward to the bank of the stream and knelt beside it。 There they busy themselves briefly with the art； and presently they rose to give assurance that the water was safe。
〃I'm not surprised；〃 said Doon。 〃There are living humans … well； in some sense living … in the garrison； down below。 And the visiting priests must have need of water； not to mention the Whitehands。 So this es from some natural spring。 We'll rest here； then； wizard； if you can mark out some safe boundary for us。〃
Again the two magicians went to work。 They paced back and forth； mumbling； gesturing； watching things which mon human eyes saw not。 They walked apart and then came back to the others。 Indosuaros warned the group： 〃Stay within this first loop of the stream； between it and the foot of the cliffs。〃
The territory so defined was fortably large； giving six people plenty of area in which to relax。 It even contained enough in the way of trees and rocks and bushes to offer a minimum of privacy。 People slipped off their packs and laid their weapons down … within handy reach。
Mark bent to drink from the stream； conserving his carried water； and found it clear and cold。 Then with a weary sigh he lay back in the fortable grass； letting his eyes close。 Around him he could hear the others seeking ease in various ways。
He meant to get up in a moment； and find Ben and confer with him on the question that now loomed large in Mark's own mind： Was it time to give up and turn back； or try to do so？ Already three were dead out of the small group that Doon had started with。 The thought of Sir Andrew's struggling army drove Mark on； but going on to certain death was hardly going to help Sir Andrew or himself。
The first question was of course whether it was less dangerous； or even possible； to turn back now。 Doon and the wizard would have to be persuaded； and that might be hopeless。 Or else Doon； at least； would probably have to be fought … and it was hard for Mark to imagine any course very much more dangerous than that。。。 Lying in the grass with his eyes slitted open； Mark was aware of the dappling deceptive sunlight far above。 If he turned his head slightly he could still see the place where they had e out of the cliff。 The boundary of cliff and sky was still obscured； as if designedly； by the massed intervening foliage of the trees。 He wondered if it would be summer here all year round。
When he closed his eyes pletely； even his dull ability to perceive magic could sense the magic all around him； as steady as the sound of running water in the stream。 It was there； but what it was doing he did not know。
It was hard to relax； to rest。 He was afraid。 He was almost ready to quit； and he would have quit before now； if Ben had not been here； or if the imagined images of Sir Andrew's suffering people did not move before him； hopelessly fighting the Dark King； clamoring for the help that another Sword or even two might give their cause。。。
Someone was moving near Mark； very near； and his eyes flew open and he started up。 Mitspieler was almost within reach； on hands and knees； with his right hand extended toward Mark's bow and quiver that lay nearby in the grass。
The graying； pact man recoiled sharply at Mark's sudden movement。
〃What do you want？〃 Mark demanded。
〃O…only a touch； young sir； I bring you only a little touch of something from my master！ To anoint your weapons with； that is。 See？ This！〃 And Mitspieler held up what looked like a small bundle of dried herbs。 〃So if you should have need to use your weapons here in the realm of magic； they will not betray you。 I fear that before we are through it we may encounter some creatures that are bigger than songbirds。〃
〃All right。 Next time say something； don't e sneaking up on me like that。〃 And Mark sat and watched Mitspieler minister briefly to his bow and arrows； then handed over his knife to be given a similar treatment。 Meanwhile Mark observed that Ben and Ariane were now seated together； a few meters off； with their heads close together in conversation。
In a little while he was approaching to join them； wiping another drink of fresh water from his lips as he approached。 But there was a distraction。 Just beyond a nearby bush； Doon was arguing with Mitspieler that his Sword needed no extra magical treatment of any kind； and by all the gods it was not going to be given any。
The junior wizard's voice argued with this claim； but took care to do so diplomatically。 〃Of course that may be so； sir。 May I test it to make sure？〃
Mark delayed； watching and listening to the confrontation as well as he could。
〃What kind of test are you talking about？〃 Doon demanded。
〃If you would just let me hold the Sword for a moment； sir。 You need not worry that it will be damaged … ah； thank you。〃 Mark saw that in one hand Mitspieler was now holding a bundle of fresh…cut twigs or withes； tied up with an ornate cord that Mark remembered seeing among the contents of Indosuaros' pack。
Mitspieler went on。 〃If truly your Sword needs no further treatment to function well inside this realm of magic； then it should repel the twigs when I strike it with them … thus。。。〃
There was a bright flash that startled even Mark； who had been more or less expecting some spectacular effect。 Mitspieler yelled； and dropped the sheathed Sword to the grass。 He threw away the twig bundle； which on contact with Wayfinder had burst violently into flame。 Then he went after the twigs； and kicked the bundle angrily； to the acpaniment of Doon's loud laughter； until it plunged into the quenching stream。
Mark did not wait to see if Indosuaros might be angry about the burning of his fancy cord； but instead went on to talk to Ariane and Ben。 He told them what he had seen and heard of the incident； and it made them smile。 But presently they went back to looking grim； as they had when Mark first approached。
Ariane was still taking care of the monkbird； and it sat either on her shoulder； or on a low branch nearby； while she talked。
〃It doesn't like this realm of magic any more than I do；〃 Ben observed about the animal。
The girl said： 〃I wish that I could let it go … I feel that I'm holding it a prisoner； and I know what it is like to be one of those。〃
〃But it has nowhere else to go；〃 said Ben。 Then； with a glance at Mark； he asked her： 〃Why did you delay me at the leap？ You put your hand on my arm just as I was about to jump； and I think you saved my life。〃
〃If I did that … I really don't remember why。 I'm very glad； of course； if I saved your life； but。。。 my powers just work like that。 When they work at all。〃
Mark said： 〃I'm sure that Doon is counting on them； to help us somehow later on。 But I don't know how； or when。〃
〃I wish I could count on them；〃 the girl answered in a sad whisper。 〃I wanted to e here and look for treasure。 I thought it would be。。。 I don't know what I thought。 Something easy and swift； I suppose； like breaking into a beehive and getting away with the honey。〃
Mark's face cracked in a smile； as if reluctantly。 He asked her： 〃Have you done that？〃
Ariane almost smiled in turn。 〃I was not raised in a palace。 Or even in a house； really。 The people who had me in their charge were rough； in many ways。 But。。。 maybe someday I'll tell you the story。 I knew I was a queen's daughter； but mine was not the kind of life that I suppose most queen's daughters have。〃
They rummaged in their packs and began to share some food。 They talked of inconsequential things； until presently they heard the Baron's voice； warning everyone that it was time to get ready and move on。
Doon； in good spirits again； took Sword in hand and determined which direction to go next。 Wayfinder directed them promptly into the forest； at an angle to their right； away from the uneven line of the cliffs。 There was no path at all to be seen along their route； and Mark routinely began to store up minor landmarks in his memory； to provide a means of finding his way back； as he would have done on entering any unknown wood。 They walked through grass and wildflowers； past widely scattered bushes and an occasional upstanding red…rock boulder。 The land sloped downward； very gradually； in the same direction they were walking。 The stream had sought its own slope； curving away behind them； and was now out of sight。 Now there was on