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owed interior before shoving the door closed again。 There were some things he simply could not force himself to do： if the sword was in one of these rooms； it would have to remain unrescued。
One room that did not at first seem so dreadful held only a single small cot； oddly woven from a mesh of leather straps。 At first he thought this might be the place Pryrates slept 。。。 until he saw the hole in the stone floor and the stains beneath the cot。 He left quickly； shuddering。 He didn't think he could spend much longer in this place and keep his sanity。
On the fifth floor of the priest's storehouse of nightmares； Simon hesitated。 This was the level at which the great red windows were set： if he moved from room to room with his torch； it was quite possible someone elsewhere in the keep might notice the moving flicker of light in what should be an empty tower。 After some consideration； he set his torch in one of the high brackets on the wall。 He would have to search in near…darkness； Simon realized； but he had spent enough time below ground that he thought he might be better suited for that than almost anyone except a Sitha 。。。 or a Norn。
Only three chambers opened off the landing。 The first was another featureless room with a cot； although this one had no drain in the floor。 Simon had no problem believing that this was indeed Pryrates' sleeping place： something in the stark emptiness of the room seemed appropriate。 Simon could picture the black…eyed priest lying on his back staring up into nothing； plotting。 There was also a privy； a strangely natural possession for someone so unnatural。
The second chamber was some sort of reliquary。 The entire room was lined with shelves； and every inch of shelf space was taken up by statues。 These were not all of a type； like the silver figurines on the first floor； but all shapes and sizes； some that looked like saint's icons； others lopsided wooden fetishes that might have been carved by children or lunatics。 It was fascinating； in a way。 Had Simon not felt the terror of this strange tower all around him； the incredible risk he was taking just being here； he might have liked to take some time to look at the bizarre collection。 Some were made from wax and had candle wicks protruding from the heads； others were little more than conglomerations of bones and mud…and feathers； but each was recognizably a figure of some sort； although many seemed more animal than human。 But nowhere was there anything like a sword。 The eyes of some of the images seemed to follow Simon as he backed out again。
The last and largest room was perhaps the red priest's study。 Here the great scarlet windows were most visible； since they covered a large part of the curved wall； although with night sky outside they were dark。 The room itself was littered with scrolls and books and a collection of other objects as haphazardly odd and dispiriting as anything he had seen in any of the other chambers。 If he could not find the sword here； his only hope was the catabs beneath the tower。 The roof above was full of star…gazing equipment and other strange machinery…he had seen that late in the afternoon from one of Green Angel Tower's narrow windows； Simon doubted there would be anything so valuable hidden out there； but he would look anyway。 No sense avoiding anything that might save him a trip down below Hjeldin's monument。。。
The study was thick with shadows and extremely cluttered； almost the entire floor covered with objects； although the walls were curiously empty of furnishings or anything else。 At the room's center a high…backed chair faced away from the door toward the high windows。 It was surrounded by free…standing cabinets； each one overflowing with parchments and heavy bound books。 The wall beneath the windows； Simon saw by the faint torchlight； was covered in pale； painted runes。
He took a few steps toward the wall； then stumbled slightly。 Something was wrong： he felt an odd tingling； a faintly nauseating unsteadiness in his bones and his guts。 A moment later； a hand shot out from the darkness of the chair and fastened onto his wrist。 Simon screamed and fell down； but the hand did not let go。 The powerful grip was cold as frost。
〃What have we here？〃 a voice said。 〃A trespasser？〃
Simon could not yank himself free。 His heart sped so swiftly that he thought he would die of fear。 He was pulled slowly back onto his feet； then tugged around the chair until he could look into the pale face that gazed at him from its shadows。 The eyes that met his were almost invisible； faint smears of reflected light that nevertheless seemed to hold him just as strongly as the bony hand on his wrist。
〃What have we here？〃 his captor repeated； and leaned forward to stare at him。
It was King Elias。
17
An Ember in the Night Sky
Despite the urgency of his errand and the dull ache of his tailbone； Tiamak could not help pausing in wonder to watch the proceedings on the broad hillside。
It occurred to him that he had spent so much of his life reading scrolls and books that he had found very little chance to experience the sort of things about which they were written。 Except for his brief stay in Ansis Pellipe and his monthly forays to the Kwanitupul market； the hurly…burly of life had not intruded much on his hut in the banyan tree。 Now； in this last year； Tiamak had been caught up in the great movements of mortals and immortals。 He had fought monsters beside a princess and a duke。 He had met and spoken with one of the legendary Sithi。 He had seen the return of the greatest knight of the Johannine Age。 Now； as though the pages of one of Doctor Morgenes' dusty volumes had taken on magical life； he stood beneath cloudy skies watching the surrender of an army after a life or death struggle in the famous Onestrine Pass。 Surely any scholar worth his quill pen would give everything he had to be here。
Then why； Tiamak wondered； did he feel such intense longing to see his banyan tree again？
I am as They Who Watch and Shape have made me； he decided。 I am not a hero； like Camaris or Josua or even poor Isgrimnur。 No； I belong with Father Strangyeard and the others like us…the small； the quiet。 We do not want the eyes of people on us all the time； wailing to see what we do next。
Still； when he considered some of the things he had seen and even done； he was not quite sure that he would have passed them up； even if given a choice。
As long as I can keep dodging She Who Waits to Take All Back a while longer； that is。 I would not mind having a family some day。 I would not mind a wife and children who would fill the house with some laughter when I am old。
But that would mean finding a Wran…bride； of course。 Even had he any taste for the tall； fish…skinned women of the drylander cities； he doubted any of them would be eager to live on crab soup in a tree house in the marsh。
Tiamak's thoughts were interrupted by Josua's voice。 He started to move toward the prince to deliver his message； but found his way blocked by several large soldiers who； caught up as they were with the spectacle before them； seemed in no hurry to make room for the small man。
〃I see you are here already；〃 the prince said to someone。 The Wrannaman stood on his tiptoes； straining to see。
〃Where else would I go； Prince Josua？〃 Varellan rose to greet the victor。 Benigaris' younger brother； even with cuts and bruises on his face and his arm in a sling； looked strangely unsuited to his role as war…leader。 He was tall； and handsome enough in a thin； pale way； but his eyes were watery and his posture apologetic。 He looked； Tiamak thought； like a sapling that had not received enough sun。
Josua faced him。 The prince wore still a torn surcoat and battered boots； as though the battle had ended only moments ago instead of two full days before。 He had not left camp in that time； engaged in so many duties that Tiamak doubted he had slept more than an hour here or there。 'There is no need for shame； Varellan；〃 Josua said firmly。 〃Your men fought well； and you did your duty。〃
Varellan shook his head furiously； looking for a moment like an unhappy child。 〃I failed。 Benigaris will not care that I did my duty。〃
〃You failed in one thing；〃 Josua told him； 〃but your failure may bring more good than you know…although not much of it will e to your brother。〃
Camaris stepped up silently to stand beside the prince。 Varellan's eyes opened wider； as though his uncle were some larger…than…life monster…as； Tiamak thought； in a way he was。 〃I cannot be happy about what has happened； Prince Josua；〃 said Varellan tightly。
〃When we are finished with this； you will find out things that may change your mind。〃
Varellan grimaced。 〃Have I not heard enough of such things already？ Very well； then let us be finished。 You already took my war banner。 I would have preferred to give this to you on the battlefield as well。〃
〃You were wounded。〃 Josua spoke as though to a son。 〃There is no shame in being carried off the field。 I knew your father well： he would have been proud of you。〃
〃I wish I could believe that。〃 Varellan； made awkward by the arm sling； pulled a slender golden rod from his belt； a carving of a high…crested bird's head sat atop it。 He winced as he kneeled。 〃Prince Josua； here is my mission； the warmaster's baton of the Benidrivine House。 For those men who are in my mand； I give you our surrender。 We are your prisoners。〃
〃No。〃 A stirring of surprise went through the watchers at Josua's words。 〃You do not surrender to me。〃
Varellan looked up； puzzled and sullen。 〃My lord？〃
〃You have not surrendered your Nabbanai soldiers to a foreign army。 You have been defeated by the rightful heir of your household。 Despite your brother's patricide…I know you do not believe me yet； Varellan…the Benidrivine House still will rule； even when Benigaris is in shackles。〃 Josua stepped back。 〃It is to Camaris…sa…Vinitta you surrender； not to me。〃
Camaris seemed more surprised than Varellan。 The old knight turned questioningly to Josua； then； after a moment's hesitation； he extended a long arm and gently took the baton from the young man's hand。
〃Rise； nephew；〃 he said。 〃You have brought only honor on our House。〃
Varellan's face was a confusion of emotions。 〃How can that be？〃 he demanded。 〃Either you and Josua are lying and I have lost our most important pass to a usurper； or I have sent hundreds of brave soldiers to die in the cause of the man who murdered my father！〃
Camaris shook his head。 〃If your error was innocent； then there is no blame。〃 He spoke with a curious heaviness； and his gaze seemed fixed on something other than the suffering young man before him。 〃It is when evil is done by choice； however small or foolish the undertaking may seem； that God mourns。〃 He looked to Josua； who nodded。 The old knight then turned to face the watching soldiers and prisoners。 〃I declare that all who will fight with us to free Nabban shall themselves be free men；〃 Camaris cried； loud enough that even the most distant parts of the gathering could hear him。 He raised the baton； and for a moment the battle…light seemed to be on him again。 〃The Kingfisher House will restore its honor。〃
There was a loud shout from the men。 Even Varellan's defeated army seemed surprised and heartened by what they had seen。
Tiamak took the onset of more general celebration to elbow his way through the crowd of soldiers and sidle up to Josua； the prince was having a few quiet words with Varellan； who was still angry and bewildered。
〃Your Majesty？〃 The Wrannaman stood by the prince's elbow； unfortably conscious of his small stature in the midst of all these armored giants。 How could little Binabik and his troll…kin…none of them much more than two…thirds Tiamak's size…stand it？
Josua turned to see who had spoken。 〃A moment； please； Tiamak。 Varellan； this goes far deeper than even what your brother did at Bullback Hill。 There are things that you must hear that will seem strange beyond belief…but I am here to tell you that in these days； the impossible
has bee the actual。〃
Tiamak did not want