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Eolair shook his head helplessly。 〃I do not know。 Bagba bite me； I do not know anything； Isorn。〃
As continual as the noise of the ocean； the voices of the Sithi washed across the camp。
Jiriki came in the dark before dawn。 The slumbering coals picked out his sharp features in scarlet light。
〃This morning；〃 he said； then squatted； staring at the embers。 〃Before noon。〃
Eolair robbed his eyes； trying to bring himself fully awake。 He had been sleeping fitfully； but sleeping nonetheless。 〃This。。。 this morning？ What do you mean？〃
〃The battle will begin。〃 Jiriki turned and gave Eolair a look that on a more familiar face might have betokened pity。 〃It will be dreadful。〃
〃How do you know that the battle will start then？〃
〃Because that is what we have been working toward。 We cannot fight a siege…we are too few。 Those you call Norns are fewer than we are； but they sit inside a great shell of stone； and we do not have the engines mortals make for such battles nor the time to build them。 So we will do it our way。〃
〃Does it have something to do with the singing？〃
Jiriki nodded in his oddly avian way。 〃Yes。 Make your men ready。 And tell them this： whatever they may think or see； they are fighting against living creatures。 The Hikeda'ya are like you and like us…they bleed。 They die。〃 He fixed Eolair with an even； golden stare。 〃You will tell them that？〃
〃I will。〃 Eolair shivered and leaned closer to the fire； warming his hands before the dreaming coals。 〃Tomorrow？〃
Jiriki nodded again； then stood。 〃We will have our best chance while the sun is high。 If we are lucky； it will be over before the darkness es。〃
Eolair couldn't imagine rugged Naglimund being brought down in so short a time。 〃And if it's not over？ What； then？〃
〃Things will be 。。。 difficult。〃 Jiriki took a step backward and vanished into the mist。
Eolair sat before the coals for a little while； clenching his teeth to keep them from chattering。 When he was sure he would not embarrass himself； he went to waken Isorn。
Buffeted by brisk winds； the gray and red tent rode the peak of the hill like a sailing ship breasting a high wave。 A few other tents shared the hilltop； many more were scattered down the slope and clustered in the valley。 Beyond them lay Lake Clodu； a vast blue…green mirror； still as a contented beast。
Tiamak stood outside the tent； lingering despite the chill breeze。 So many people； so much movement； so much life！ It was disturbing to look down on that great sea of people； frightening to know that he was so close to the grinding stones of History； but still it was somehow hard to turn away。 His own little story had been quite swallowed up by the great tales that stalked through Osten Ard in these days。 It sometimes seemed that a sack full of the mightiest dreams and nightmares had been emptied out。 That Tiamak's own small acplishments； fears； and desires seemed likely to be ignored was the best he could hope for。 An equally strong possibility was that they might be trampled entirely。
Shivering a little； he finally lifted the tent flap and stepped through。
It was not； as he had feared when Jeremias brought him the prince's summons； a council of war。 Such things made him feel pletely useless。 Only a few waited…Josua； Sir Camaris； Duke Isgrimnur； all seated on stools； Vorzheva propped up in her bed； and the Sitha…woman Aditu； cross…legged on the floor at Vorzheva's side。 The only other person in the tent was young Jeremias； who had apparently been very busy this afternoon。 Just now； he was standing before the prince； trying to look attentive while gasping slightly for air。
〃Thank you for your haste； Jeremias；〃 said Josua。 〃I understand pletely。 Please just go back and tell Strangyeard to e when he can。 After that； you are released。〃
〃Yes； your Highness。〃 Jeremias bowed； then headed for the door。
Tiamak； who was still standing in the doorway； smiled at the approaching youth。 〃I did not have a chance to ask you before； Jeremias； how is Leieth？ Is there any change？〃
The youth shook his head。 He tried to keep his voice even； but the pain was obvious。 〃Just the same。。 She never wakes up。 She drinks a little water； but takes no food。〃 He rubbed fiercely at his eye。 〃No one can do anything。〃
〃I am sorry；〃 said Tiamak gently。
〃It's not your fault。〃 Jeremias moved unfortably from one foot to the other。 〃I have to go take Josua's message back to Father Strangyeard。〃
〃Of course。〃 Tiamak stepped out of the way。 Jeremias slipped past him and was gone。
〃Tiamak；〃 the prince called； 〃please e and join us。〃 He pointed to an empty stool。
When the Wrannaman was seated； Josua looked around。 〃This is very difficult；〃 he said at last。 〃I am going to do a terrible thing and I apologize for it now。 Nothing can excuse it but the strength of our need。〃 He turned to Camaris。 〃My friend； please forgive me。 If I could do this some other way； I would。 Aditu feels that we should know whether you went to the Sithi home of Jao e…Tinukai'i； and if you did； why。〃
Camaris raised his tired eyes to Josua's。 〃Is a man permitted no secrets？〃 he asked heavily。 〃I promise you； Prince Josua； that it is nothing to do with this struggle against the Storm King。 On the honor of my knighthood。〃
〃But someone who does not know all the history of our people…and Ineluki was one of us； once…may not know all the ties of blood and fable。〃 Aditu spoke without Josua's reluctance； clearly and forcefully。 〃Everyone here knows you are an honorable man； Camaris； but you may not realize whether what you have seen or learned is useful。〃
〃Will you not tell just me； Camaris？〃 Josua asked。 〃You know I hold your honor as high as my own。 You certainly need not spill all your secrets to a room full of people； if that is what you fear； even though they are your friends and allies。〃
Camaris looked at him for a moment。 His gaze seemed to soften； he struggled visibly with some impulse； but after a moment he shook his head violently。 〃No。 A thousand pardons。 Prince Josua； but to my shame I cannot。 There are some things that even the Canon of Knighthood cannot drive me to。〃
Isgrimnur was wringing his large hands together； clearly pained by Camaris' disfort。 Tiamak had not seen the Rimmersman so unhappy since they had left Kwanitupul。 〃And me； Camaris？〃 the duke asked。 〃I have known you longer by far than anyone here。 We both served the old king。 If it is something to do with Prester John； you can share it with me。〃
Camaris sat straighter； but it seemed to be weak opposition to something that was bending him down inside。 〃I cannot； Isgrimnur。 It would put too great a burden on our friendship。 Please； ask me not。〃
Tiamak felt the tension in the room。 The old knight seemed to be backed into a er no one else could see。
〃Can you not leave him alone？〃 Vorzheva's voice was raw。 She draped her hands over her round belly as though to protect the child from so much unpleasantness and sorrow。
Why am I here？ Tiamak wondered。 Because I traveled with him when he was witless？ Because I am a Scrollbearer？ With Geloe dead and Binabik gone； the League is a sorry collection just now。 And where is Strangyeard？
A thought suddenly came to him。 〃Prince Josua？〃
The prince looked up。 〃Yes； Tiamak？〃
〃Forgive me。 This is not my place； and I do not know all the customs 。。'。〃 he hesitated； 〃but you Aedonites have a tradition of confession； do you not？〃
Josua nodded。 〃Yes。〃
He Who Always Steps on Sand； Tiamak prayed silently； let me walk the right path now！
The Wrannaman turned to Camaris。 The old knight； for all his dignified bearing； looked back at him with the eyes of a hunted animal。 〃Could you not tell your story to a priest；〃 Tiamak asked him； 〃…perhaps Father Strangyeard； if he is the proper kind of holy man？ That way； if I understand things rightly； your story would be between you and God。 But also； Strangyeard knows as much about the Great Swords and our struggle as any man living。 He could at least tell the rest of us whether we should truly look elsewhere for answers。〃
Josua slapped his hand on his knee。 〃You are indeed a Scrollbearer； Tiamak。 You have a subtle mind。〃
Tiamak stored Josua's pliment away to be appreciated later and kept his gaze on the old knight。
Camaris stared。 〃I do not know；〃 he said slowly。 His chest rose and fell as he took a long breath。 〃I have not told this story； even in the confessional。 That is part of my shame…but not the greatest part。〃
〃Everyone has shame； everyone has done wrong。〃
Isgrimnur was obviously growing a little impatient。 〃We do not want to drag this out of you； Camaris。 We only wish to know whether any dealings you might have had with the Sithi can answer some of our questions。 Damn it！〃 he added as an afterthought。
A wintry smile moved across Camaris' face。 〃You were always admirably forward； Isgrimnur。〃 The smile fell away； revealing a terrible； trapped emptiness。 〃Very well。 Send for the priest。〃
〃Thank you； Camaris。〃 Josua stood up。 〃Thank you。 He is praying at young Leieth's bedside。 I will fetch him myself。〃
Camaris and Strangyeard had walked far down the hill together。 Tiamak stood in the doorway of Josua's tent and watched them； wondering despite the praise of his cleverness if he had done the right thing。 Perhaps something he had heard Miriamele say was correct： they might have done Camaris no favor by waking him from his witless state。 And forcing him to dredge up such obviously painful memories seemed no kinder。
The pair； the tall knight and the priest； stood for a long time on the windy hillside…long enough for a long bank of clouds to roll past and finally reveal the pale afternoon sun。 At last Strangyeard turned and started back up the hill； Camaris remained； staring out across the valley to the gray mirror of Lake Clodu。 The knight seemed carved in stone； something that might wear away to a featureless post but would still be standing in that spot a century from now。
Tiamak leaned into the tent。 〃Father Strangyeard is ing。〃
The priest struggled up the hill hunched over； whether against the cold or because he now bore the burden of Camaris' secrets； Tiamak could not guess。 Certainly the look on his face as he made his way up the last few ells bespoke a man who had heard things he would have been happier not knowing。
〃Everyone is waiting for you。 Father Strangyeard；〃 Tiamak told him。
The archivist nodded his head distractedly。 His eye was cast down； as though he could not walk without watching where he set his feet。 Tiamak let him pass； then followed him into the parative warmth of the tent。
〃Wele back； Strangyeard；〃 said Josua。 〃Before you begin； tell me： how is Camaris？ Should we send someone to him？〃
The priest looked up in startlement； as though it was a surprise to hear a human voice。 The look he gave Josua was curiously fearful； even for the timid archivist。 〃I 。。。 I do not know。 Prince Josua。 I do not know much。。。 much of anything at this moment。〃
〃I'll go see to him；〃 Isgrimnur grumbled； levering himself up off the stool。
Father Strangyeard raised his hand。 〃He 。。。 wishes to be alone； I think。〃 He fidgeted with his eye…patch for a moment； then ran his fingers through his sparse hair。 〃Oh； merciful Usires。 Poor souls。〃
〃Poor souls？〃 said Josua。 〃What are you saying； Strangyeard？ Can you tell us anything？〃
The archivist wrung his hands。 〃Camaris was in Jao e…Tinukai'i。 That much 。。。 oh； my 。。。 that much he told me before he asked for the seal of confession； knowing that I would tell you。 But the reason； and what happened there； are locked behind the Door of the Ransomer。〃 His stare wandered around the room as if it hurt him to look at anything too long。 Then his eye fell on Vorzheva； and for some reason lingered there as he talked。 〃But this much I can say； I believe： I do not think that his experiences have aught to do with the present situation； nor is there anything to be learned from them about the Storm King； or the Three Great Swords； or any of the other things you