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queen…for who else could it be？…was as dreadful as any nightmare vision of She Who Waits to Take All Back。
Likimeya nodded her head。 She held herself stiffly； as though even speaking took much effort。 〃So； Eldest。 You have found a way to reach the Pool of Three Depths。 That does not mean that you can use it。〃
The masked figure did not move； but Tiamak felt something almost like triumph emanate from it。 〃I silenced Amerasu…I broke her before my huntsman dispatched her。 Do you think you are her equal； child？〃
〃By myself； no。 But I have others here with me。〃
〃Other children。〃 A pale gloved hand lifted； wavering as the mist swirled。
Tiamak was dimly aware of movement on the edge of the circle of figures around him； but could not tear his eyes away from the shimmering silver mask。
〃Camaris！〃 Josua cried。 〃He is leaving。〃
〃Go；〃 said Jiriki。 〃And you； too； Tiamak。 Follow him。〃
〃But what of you？〃 The prince's voice cracked。 〃And how will we find our way？〃
〃He is going where he is drawn。〃 Jiriki moved closer to his mother； who already seemed locked in some silent struggle with the Norn Queen。 The muscles of Likimeya's face were rippling。 〃And that is where you must go； too。 This is our struggle here。〃 Jiriki turned to face the pool。
〃Go！〃 said Aditu urgently。 She tugged at Tiamak's sleeve； pulling him off…balance and sending him stumbling toward Josua。 〃We will call on the power of the Oldest Tree and hold her at bay as long as we can； but we cannot defeat their plan here。 Utuk'ku is already drawing on the Master Witness。 I can feel it。〃
〃But what is she doing？ What is happening？〃 Tiamak heard his voice rising in terror。
〃We cannot see that；〃 Aditu moaned。 Her teeth were clenched。 〃We have all we can do to hold her back。 You and the others must acplish whatever remains。 This is our battle。 Now go！〃 She turned away from him。
The pulsing radiance of the pool grew stronger； and lavender flames kindled along the walls； leaping as though in a fierce wind。 The entire chamber felt tight as a drumhead。 Tiamak thought he could feel himself shrinking； twisting； being slowly crushed by the forces now unleashed。 Something powerful； yet without form or substance； was beating out at him from the misty shape that hovered over the water。
Fumbling as though they were battered by gale winds； the Sithi formed into a line before the pool and linked their hands； then began to sing。
As the immortals' strange music rose； the lights of the pool flickered wildly。 Tiamak stared helplessly at the glowing mists； unable to remember how to move。 The walls around the pool seemed to bend inward and then push out again； bend in and push out； as though the chamber breathed。 On the rim of the pool Aditu staggered and slumped forward； but her brother； who stood beside her； pulled her upright； the song of the Sithi faltered for a moment； then resumed。
In response to their wailing music； something else began to form in the mists of the pool； something that rapidly became entangled with the pate shadow of the Norn Queen。 Tiamak saw it as a dim； dark shape with a wide trunk； swaying branches； and phantom leaves that fluttered as though a wind caressed them。 Aditu had said 〃the Oldest Tree〃； Tiamak could sense this huge thing's antiquity； its deep roots and spreading； nurturing strength。 For a moment he felt something like hope。
As if in response； the blue lights in the water began to burn even more fiercely； until the glare filled the chamber with blinding radiance。 The tree shape grew less substantial。 The Wrannaman felt himself sinking down to the ground as Utuk'ku's choking； freezing might surged out from the Pool of Three Depths。
〃Tiamak！〃
The voice was distant and far behind him； it meant little。 Nothing could push through the fog that was filling his ears； his heart； his thoughts。。。 。
High above the center of the pool； the Norn Queen seemed a creature made entirely of ice； but something black pulsed at the heart of her； and jagged flares of purple and blue played about her head and glinted from her shining mask。 She spread her arms； then clenched her gloved fists。 Kuroyi abruptly shrieked and fell away from the rest of the Sithi to writhe on the ground。 The dark…haired Sitha began to deform into impossibly swift…changing shapes； as though invisible hands kneaded him like dough。 The other Sithi slumped and fell back； the ghost…tree vanished pletely。 After a few moments Aditu and her kin recovered themselves and began fighting to close the gap where Kuroyi had been。 They struggled as though immersed in deep water； striving to join hands once more。 The fallen Sitha had stopped struggling and lay still。 There was no longer anything manlike in his form。
Something jerked at Tiamak's arm； then jerked again。 He turned slowly。 Josua was screaming at him。 but he could not hear the words。 The prince pulled him up onto his feet and dragged him； stumbling； away from the pool。 Tiamak's heart was rattling as though it might burst。 His legs did not want to support him； but Josua kept tugging until Tiamak could move on his own； then the prince turned and lurched away in pursuit of Camaris。 The old knight was several score paces ahead； walking stiff…legged toward the dark passages at the far side of the wide chamber。 Tiamak limped slowly after them both。
The song of the Dawn Children rose again behind him； more raggedly this time。 Tiamak did not dare look back。 Blue light throbbed all across the cavern ceiling； and the shadows bloomed and vanished and then bloomed again。
Despite the strange shifting that seemed to be going on around him； despite the bodiless voices that sometimes shrieked or gibbered in the blackness； Simon did not surrender to fear。 He had survived the wheel and then had passed over into the void and returned。 He had won back his life； but he did not hold it as tightly as he once had； and so； in a way； his grip on it was more sure。 What were little things like hunger or momentary blindness？ He had been hungry before。 He had wandered without light。
The cat padded silently ahead； turning at intervals to rub against him before moving on； leading him slowly through the twisting tunnels。 He had long since given his safety over into the animal's care。 There was nothing else to do； and no use worrying about it。
Something was happening around him； although he could not tell exactly what that something was。 The ghostly presences and strange distortions were even stronger than before； and seemed to e now as regularly as waves dashing themselves upon a beach； sweeping all before them； then ebbing away again。 He hardened himself to the sensations as he had hardened himself to his own aches。
Simon felt his way along the black corridors； Bright…Nail scraping the walls like a beetle's feeler； his fingers trailing through dust and dank moss and cobwebs and other things less pleasant。 He could do nothing but what he was doing。 He had faced the ice…dragon and shouted his name at it； had wandered the emptiness beyond dreams and clung to himself。 He could not turn back from the task that was before him； and he would not。
Bright…Nail seemed to change along with his lightless surroundings。 One moment it was a simple blade slapping against his hip； then a moment later it seemed to throb in time with the convulsions of the castle depths； being for a moment a living thing； at those times； it was hard to tell whether one of them was master； or whether Simon and the sword were； as he and the cat were； two creatures traveling the darkness together in strange partnership。
At such times； he could begin to hear its call in his thoughts； it was a faint presence； only a hint of the song that Guthwutf had seemed to hear； but it was growing steadily stronger。 For brief moments he could almost understand it； as though it spoke to him in a language he had forgotten long ago； but which was slowly surfacing from the place in his memory where it had been buried。 But Simon did not think he wanted to understand what the blade sang。 Perhaps if he wandered long enough； he thought； he would indeed bee like Guthwulf； and hear almost nothing but the sword's pelling music。
He hoped he would not be…in darkness that long。
There came a time when the cat stopped and did not go on。 It wreathed itself around his shins as though it wished to be stroked； when he bent to touch it； it pushed at his fingers with its muzzle； but did not continue on its way。 He waited； finally wondering if he had not put far too much trust in a mere beast。
〃Where next？〃 he said。 His voice scarcely echoed： they were still in one of the narrower passages。 〃Go on； now。 I'm waiting。〃
The cat rubbed against him； purring。 After a few moments； Simon put his hands out and began searching carefully along the walls； looking for something…perhaps a doorway of some kind that did not reach the floor…which might have stopped their progress。 Instead； on a shelf of rock set into the wall； nearly head high； he found a plate and a covered bowl。
I've been here before； he realized。 Unless some madman is leaving food all across the tunnels。 But if so； bless him； bless him anyway。
Simon said a prayer of thanks as he took the bread and dried meat and small wedge of cheese from the plate； then sat down and ate enough of each to feel happier and more prosperous than he had in a long while。 He drank half the bowl of water； then after a moment's consideration； finished it off。 He regretted the lack of a water skin； but if he had to carry the water without one； it might as welt be inside him。
The cat was at him again； butting and purring。 Simon broke off a sizable piece of the jerked meat to share with his guide…the cat took it so quickly its sharp teeth scraped his fingers…then put the remainder in the pocket of his shirt。 He stood。
P 'raps he won't want to lead me anymore； he thought。 This may have been all the little creature wanted。
But the cat； as though some ritual had been successfully observed； slithered in and out between his ankles for a few moments； then started off again。 Simon bent and felt first its head； then its back； then its tail pass beneath his fingers。 He smiled an invisible smile and followed it。
It was so faint at first as to be almost unnoticeable； but gradually Simon realized that the walls around him were slowly being visible。 The light was so dim that for hundreds of paces he thought it was only his eyes playing tricks on him； but eventually he realized that he was seeing the rough surfaces across which he dragged his hands。 The cat； too； had bee a real thing instead of just an idea； a hint of movement on the tunnel floor before him。
He followed the shadow…cat up through the coiling tunnels。 These were rougher hewn than those which traversed the ruins of Asu'a； and he felt a growing certainty that he was back in the mortal castle once more。 As he turned another bend； the dim netherlight became a torch in a wall bracket at the far end of a long passageway。
Light！ Back again！ He fell to his knees； unmindful for a moment of his aching limbs； and pressed his forehead against the stone floor。 He stayed there； trembling。 Light！ He was in the world again。
Thank you； Maegwin。 Bless you。 Thank you； Guthwulf。
The cat was a gray shape against the gray stone。 Something else tugged at his memory。
I've seen that cat before…or have I？ The Hayholt was full of cats。
The air abruptly contracted and the walls shivered and then bowed inward as though to trap him。 An image passed before his mind's eye； a great tree shivering in storm winds； its branches torn loose and spinning away。 For a moment Simon felt as though he had been turned inside…out。 Even when the vision had gone and all was as it had been； he remained on his knees for long moments； panting。
His four…footed guide stopped and looked around to see if he was still following； then continued on； as though the strange slippage was beneath a cat's notice。 Simon clambered to his feet。
The creature paused in an archway。 Simon saw a narrow staircase climbing up into darkness。 The cat bumped his shin but did not move on。
〃Should I go up here？〃 he whis