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〃Throw it away？〃 Elias said slowly。 His eyes were still downcast； and he replied to whatever Josua had said with the air of one who had been daydreaming。 〃Throw it away？ But I could never do that。 Not now。〃
〃For God's love and mercy； Elias！〃 Josua said desperately； 〃it is killing you！ And it is meant to do more…whatever Pryrates has told you； he plans only evil！〃
The king lifted his head； and Tiamak； though he was behind Josua and hidden by the shadows in the stairwell； could not help recoiling in horror。 The red light from the windows played across the king's colorless face； muscles writhed beneath the skin like worms。 But it was his eyes that made Tiamak choke back a shout of fear。 A dull gleam smoldered in them； an inhuman light like the pallid glare of marsh…candles；
〃Aedon save us；〃 Josua gasped。
〃But this is not Pryrates' plan。〃 Elias' lips pulled back in a stiff smile； as though he could no longer make his face work properly。 〃I am the High King； do not forget： everything moves at my will。 It is my plan。 The priest has only done my bidding； and soon I will have no further need of him。 And you 。。。〃 he rose； unfolding himself with odd jerking movements until he stood at full height； the uncertain gray thing still resting point…down on the floor； 〃。。。 you were my brother。 Once。〃
〃Once！？〃 Josua shouted。 〃Elias； what has happened to you？ You have bee something foul…something demonic！〃
He took a step back and almost fell into the hole of the stairwell； then turned Naidel's hilt in his trembling hand and made the sign of the Tree over his own breast。 Thunder growled outside and the light flickered； but the king only stared at him blankly。
〃I am no demon；〃 the king said。 He seemed to be considering the matter carefully。 〃No。 But soon I will be more…much more…than a man。 I can feel it already； feel myself opening to the winds that cry between stars； feel myself as a night sky where ets flare。。。。〃
〃May Usires the Ransomer forgive me；〃 Josua breathed。 〃You are correct； Elias。 You are no longer my brother。〃
The king's calm expression twisted into rage。 〃And whose is the fault？！ You have envied me since you were a child and have done your best to destroy me。 You took my wife from me； my beloved Hylissa； stole her and gave her to Death！ I have not had a moment's peace since！〃 The king lifted a twitching hand。 〃But that was not enough…no； cutting out my heart was not enough for you； but you would have my rightful kingship； too！ So you covet my crown； do you？〃 he bellowed。 〃Here； take it！〃 He wrenched at the dark circlet as Josua stared。 〃Cursed iron…it has burned me until I thought I would go mad！〃 Elias grunted as he ripped it free and cast it to the floor。 A seared shadow…crown of torn； blackened flesh remained on his brow。
Josua took a step back； eyes wide with horror and pity。 Tears ran down his cheeks。 〃I pray 。。。 Aedon's mercy！ I pray for your soul； Elias。〃 The prince lifted his leather…capped arm as though to push away what he saw。 〃Ah； God； you poor man！〃 He stiffened； then raised Naidel and extended it until the point trembled before the king's breast。 〃But you must surrender that cursed sword。 There are only moments before Pryrates es。 I cannot wait。〃
The king dropped his chin； peering out at Josua from beneath his eyebrows； head lolling as if his neck was broken。 A thick droplet of blood oozed from the place where the crown had been。 〃Ah。 Ah。 Is it that time； then？ I grow confused； since everything has already happened…or so it seems 。。。〃 He swept up the gray thing； and for a moment it hardened into existence； a long mottle…bladed sword； with a double guard； streaked with fiery gleams。 Tiamak quailed； but stayed where he was； unable to look away。 The blade seemed a piece of the storm…tortured sky。 〃Very well。 。。。〃
Josua leaped forward with a wordless cry； Naidel darting like lightning。 The king flicked Sorrow and knocked the blow aside； but did not return the thrust。 Josua danced back； shaking as though fevered； Tiamak wondered if merely having the gray sword touch his own made him quiver so。 The prince waded in again； and for long moments he strove to break through his brother's guard。 Elias seemed to fight in a sort of dream； moving in sudden spasms； but only enough to block Josua's attacks； waiting until the last moment each time as though he knew where the prince would strike。
Josua at last drew back； gasping for breath。 The sweat on his brow gleamed as lightning flickered in the distance。
〃You see；〃 Elias said； 〃it is too late for such crude methods。〃 He paused for a moment； a rumble of thunder gently shook the bells。 〃Too late。〃 The smoky light in his eyes flared as he lifted Sorrow。 〃But it is not too late for me to enjoy a little repayment for all the evil you have done me…my wife dead； my throne made unsafe； my daughter's heart poisoned against me。 Later I will have other concerns。 But for this time I can think on you； once…brother。〃 He stepped forward； the sword a shadowy blur。
Josua fought a desperate battle of resistance； but the king had a more than human strength。 He quickly backed Josua against the southern window； then； despite the strange stiffness of his movements； kept the prince pinned there with heavy blows that Josua only barely managed to keep from his vital spots。 Slender Naidel was not enough to hold the king away； and within instants Josua tottered against the window…ledge； unable to protect himself any longer。 Elias abruptly reached out and grasped Naidel by the blade； then yanked it from Josua's grip。 Tiamak； desperate beyond sense； clambered up out of the stairwell and flung himself at the king's back as Sorrow rose overhead。 The Wrannaman dragged at Elias' sword arm。
It was not enough to save the prince。 Josua flung up his arms to protect himself； but the gray blade hammered down at his neck。 Tiamak did not see the sword bite； but he heard the awful smash of impact and felt it shiver up the king's arm。 Josua's head jerked and he flew to one side； blood streaming from his neck。 He collapsed like an empty sack； then lay still。
Thrown off his balance； the king staggered sideways； then reached up and grasped the back of Tiamak's neck with his free hand。 For a moment the Wrannaman's hands closed on Sorrow； the sword was so cold that it burned him。 A horrible lance of chill pierced Tiamak's chest and his arms lost their feeling。 He had time only to let out a scream of anguish for his pain； for Josua； for all that had gone so terribly wrong； then the king tugged him free and threw him aside。 Tiamak felt himself skid across the bellchamber's stone floor； helpless； then something smashed against his head and neck。
He lay on his side； crumpled against the wall。
Tiamak was unable to speak or move。 His already fading vision blurred as his eyes filled with tears。 A great noise suddenly boomed through the chamber； shaking even the floor beneath him。 Red light bloomed even more brightly beyond the windows； as though flames surrounded the tower…for a moment they leaped high enough that he could see them； and see the king's fire…drawn silhouette in the window。 Then they were gone。 The bell had rung a third time。
32
The Tower
Simon paused at the throne room door。 Despite the strange calm he had felt on his trip through the Hayholt's underbelly； despite Bright…Nail hanging on his hip； his eart was thudding in his chest。 Would the king be waiting silently in the dark； as in Hjeldin's Tower？
He pushed through the doorway； one hand falling to his sword hilt。
The throne room was empty； at least of people。 Six silent figures flanked the Dragonbone Chair； but Simon knew them of old。 He stepped inside。
The heraldic banners that had hung along the ceiling had fallen； worried free by the teeth of the wind that streamed in through the high windows。 Flattened beasts and birds lay in tangled piles； a few of them even draped limply across the bones of the great chair。 Simon stepped over a waterstained pennant； the falcon stitched upon it stared； eye wide as though shocked by its tumble from the heavens。 Nearby； partially covered by other damp banners； lay a black cloth with a stylized golden fish。 As Simon looked at it； a memory came drifting up。
The tumult was growing outside。 He knew he had little time to spare； but the wisp of memory teased him。 He moved toward the black malachite statues。 The pulsing storm light made their features seem to writhe； and for a moment Simon worried that the same magics that made the entire castle shift and change might be bringing the stone kings to life； but to his relief they remained frozen； dead。
Simon stared at the figure standing just to the right of the great chair's yellowed arm。 Eahlstan Fiskerne's face was lifted as though he looked to a glory beyond the windows； beyond the castle and its towers。 Simon had gazed many times at the martyr…king's face； but this time was different。
He's the one I saw； he realized suddenly。 In the dream Leieth showed me。 He was reading his book and waiting for the dragon。 She said： 〃This is a part of your story； Simon。 〃 His eyes dropped to the thin circlet of gold around his own finger。 The fish symbol scribed on the band looked back at him。 What was it Binabik had told him the Sithi writing on the ring meant？ Dragons and death？
〃The dragon was dead。〃 That was what Leieth had whispered in that not…place； the window onto the past。
And King Eahlstan is a part of my story？ Simon wondered。 Is that what Morgenes entrusted to me when he sent this ring to me？ The greatest secret of the League of the Scroll…that its founder killed the dragon； not John？
Simon was Eahlstan's messenger； across five centuries。 It was a weight of honor and responsibility he could scarcely think of now； a richness to savor if he survived； a delicate secret that could change the lives of almost everyone he knew。
But Leieth had shown him something else； too。 She had given him a vision of Ineluki； with Sorrow in his hands。 And all Ineluki's malice was bent upon 。。。
The tower！ The peril of the present hour suddenly rushed back。 I must take Bright…Nail there。 I have been wasting time？
Simon turned to look again at Eahlstan's stone face。 He bowed to the League's founder as to a liege…lord； relishing the strangeness of it all； then turned his back on the statue…flanked throne and walked quickly across the stone tiles。
The tapestries in the standing room were gone； and the stairway to the privy was exposed。 Simon scrambled up the stairs and out through the privy's window…slit； nervous excitement struggling with terror inside him。 The bailey might be full of armed men； but they had forgotten about Simon the Ghost…Boy； who knew the Hayholt's every nook and cranny。 No； not just Simon the Ghost…Boy…Sir Seoman； Bearer of Great Secrets！
The cold wind hit him like a battering ram； almost toppling him from the ledge。 The wind threw snow almost sideways； stinging his eyes and face so that Simon could scarcely see。 He held on to the window…slit； squinting。 The wall outside the window was a pace wide。 Ten cubits below； armored men were shouting and metal clashed against metal。 Who was fighting？ Were those giants that he heard roaring； or was that only the storm？ Simon thought he could make out huge white shapes thrashing in the murk； but he dared not look too long or too closely at what waited for him if he tumbled from the wall。
He turned his eyes upward。 Green Angel Tower loomed overhead； thrusting out from the muddle of the Hayholt's roofs like the trunk of a white tree； the lord of an ancient forest。 Black clouds clung to its head； lightning split the sky。
Simon let himself down from the ledge； then inched forward along the wall on his hands and knees。 His fingers rapidly grew numb； and he cursed the luck that had lost his gloves。 He clung to the icy stone and tried to keep low so the incessant winds would not pluck him loose。
Usires on the Tree！ This wall was never so long before！
He might have been on a bridge above the pits of Hell。 Screams of pain and rage； as well as less definable sounds； drifted up from the murk； some of them loud enough to make him flinch and almo