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； trying to hide her fright。 〃If you mean me no harm； then take me back to my friend。 He is in danger。〃
The saucer…eyed creature looked mournful。 He made a melodious sound and one of the other dwarrows stepped forward with a stone bowl。 'Take of this and drink。 It is water； as you asked。〃
Miriamele sniffed at it suspiciously for a moment； then realized that if they could bring her here so easily the dwarrows had little need to poison her。 She drank； savoring the feel of the chill； clean water on her dry throat。 〃Will you take me back to him？〃 she asked again when she had finished。
The dwarrows looked nervously at each other； heads wavering like poppies in a windy field。 〃Please； mortal woman； ask not for that；〃 Yis…fidri said at last。 〃You were in a perilous place…more perilous than you can know… and you carried something there which you should not have。 The balance is exceeding delicate。〃 The words sounded stilted and almost ical； but his reluctance was very clear。
〃Perilous！？〃 A spark of indignation kindled。 〃What right do you have to snatch me away from my friend？ I will decide what is perilous for me！〃
He shook his head。 〃Not for you…or not for you only。 Dreadful things are in the balance； and that place 。。。 it is not good。〃 He seemed very unfortable； and the other dwarrows swayed a little behind him； humming nervously to themselves。 Despite her unhappiness； Miriamele almost laughed at the odd spectacle。 〃We cannot let you go there。 We are deeply sorry。 Some of our number will return and look for your friend。〃
〃Why didn't you help him？ Why couldn't you bring him with us if it was so important that we not be there？〃
〃We were sorely afraid。 He did fight with an Unliving One； or so it seemed。 And the balance is very delicate there。〃
〃What does that mean？'〃 Miriamele stood up； for a moment more angry than fearful。 〃You cannot do this！〃She began to edge toward a shadowy place on the cavern wall that she thought might be a tunnel mouth。 Yis…fidri reached out and caught at her wrist。 His thin fingers were callused and hard as stone。 There was deceptive strength； great strength； in this slender dwarrow。
〃Please； mortal woman。 We will tell you all that we are able。 Content yourself for now to stay with us。 We will seek for your friend。〃
She struggled； but it was hopeless。 She might have been pulling against the weight of the earth。
〃So；〃 she said at last。 Fright was turning to hopelessness。 〃I have no choice。 Tell me what you know； then。 But if Binabik is hurt because of what you've done； I'll 。。。 I'1l find a way to punish you； whoever you are。 I will。〃
Yis…fidri hung his great head like a dog being scolded。 〃It is not our wont to force others against their will。 We have ourselves suffered too much at the hands of bad masters。〃
〃If I must be your prisoner； at least call me by my name。 I'm Miriamele。〃
〃Miriamele； then。〃 Yis…fidri let go of her arm。 〃Forgive us； Miriamele； or at least judge us not until all we have to
say is heard。〃
She lifted the bowl and took another drink； 〃Tell me； then。〃
The dwarrow looked around at his fellows； at the circle of huge dark eyes； then began to talk。
〃And how is Maegwin？〃 Isorn asked。 His bandage gave him a strange； swollen…headed appearance。 Icy air crept past the tent flap to ripple the flames of the small fire。
〃I had thought she might be ing back to us；〃 Eolair sighed。 〃Last night she began to move a little and take deeper breaths。 She even spoke a few words； but they were whispered。 I could make no sense of them。〃
〃But that is good news！ Why are you so long…faced？〃
〃The Sitha woman came to see her。 She said it was like a fever…that sometimes the sufferer es near to the surface； like a drowning man ing up for air one last time； but that does not mean 。。。〃 Eolair's voice shook。 He made an effort to control himself。 〃The healer said that she was still just as close to death； if not closer。〃
〃And you believe the Sitha？〃
〃It is not an illness of the flesh； Isorn；〃 the count said quietly。 〃It is a wound to her soul； which was already damaged。 You saw her in the last weeks。〃 He twined his fingers； then untwined them。 〃And the Sithi know more of these things than we do。 Whatever happened to Maegwin left no marks； no broken bones or bleeding cuts。 Give thanks that your own injury is something that can be mended。〃
〃I do； by my faith。〃 The young Rimmersman frowned。 〃Ah； Merciful Usires； Eolair； that is more grim news； then。 And is there nothing anyone can do？〃
The count shrugged。 〃The healer says it is beyond her powers。 She can work only to make Maegwin fortable。〃
〃A cursed fate for such a good woman。 Lluth's family is haunted somehow。〃
〃No one would have said so before this year。〃 Eolair bit his lip before continuing。 His own sorrow grew until it seemed it must escape or kill him。 〃But； Murhagh's Shield； Isorn； no wonder that Maegwin sought the gods！ How could she not think they had deserted us？ Her father killed； her brother tortured and hacked to pieces； her people driven into exile？〃 He fought for a breath。 My people！ And now poor Maegwin； maddened and then left dying in the snows of Naglimund。 It is more than the absence of the gods…it is as though the gods were determined to punish us。〃
Isorn made the sign of the Tree。 〃We can never know what Heaven plans； Eolair。 Perhaps there are greater designs for Maegwin than we can understand。〃
〃Perhaps。〃 Eolair pushed down his anger。 It was not Isorn's fault that Maegwin was slipping away； and everything he said was kind and sensible。 But the Count of Nad Mullach did not want kindness and sense。 He wanted to howl like a Frostmarch wolf。 〃Ah； Cuamh bite me； Isorn； you should see her！ When she is not lying still as death； her face stretches in terror； and her hands clutch；〃 he raised his own hands； fingers curled； 〃like this； as if she sought something to save her。〃 Eolair slapped his palms against his knees in frustration。 〃She needs something； and I cannot give it to her。 She is lost； and I cannot find her to bring her back！〃 He gasped raggedly。
Isorn stared at his friend。 The light of understanding kindled in his eyes。 〃Oh； Eolair。 Do you love her？〃
〃I don't know！〃 The count put his hands to his face for a moment before continuing。 〃I thought once I might be ing to it； but then she turned harsh and cold to me； pushing me away whenever she could。 But when the madness came over her； she told me that she had loved me since she was a child。 She was certain I would scorn her； and did not like to be pitied； so she kept me ever at bay so I would not discover the truth。〃
〃Mother of Mercy；〃 Isorn breathed。 He reached out his freckled hand and grasped Eolair's。 The count felt the broad strength of the contact and held on for a long moment。
〃Life is already a confounding maze without wars between immortals and such。 Ah； gods； Isorn； will we never have peace？〃
〃Someday；〃 said the Rimmersman。 〃Someday we must。〃
Eolair gave his friend's hand a parting squeeze before he let it go。 〃Jiriki said the Sithi plan to leave within two days。 Will you go with them； or back to Hernystir with me？〃
〃I am not sure。 The way my head feels； I cannot ride at anything like speed。〃
〃Then go with me；〃 the count said as he rose。 〃We are in no hurry； now。〃
〃Be well； Eolair。〃
〃And you。 If you like； I'll e back later with some of that Sithi wine。 It would do you miles of good； and take the sting of that wound away。〃
〃It will take more than that away；〃 Isorn laughed。 〃My wits will go； too。 But I do not care。 I am going nowhere； and am expected to do nothing。 Bring the wine when you can。〃
Eolair patted the younger man's shoulder； then pushed out through the door flap into the biting wind。
As he reached the place where Maegwin lay； he was struck again by the power of Sithi craft。 Isorn's small tent was well…made and sturdy； but cold air crept in on all sides and melting snow seeped through at the base。 Maegwin's tent was of Sithi make； since Jiriki had wished her to rest in as much fort as she could； and though its glistening cloth was so thin as to be translucent； stepping across the threshold was like walking into a well…built house。 The storm that gripped Naglimund could have been leagues away。
But why should that be so； Eolair wondered； when the Sithi themselves seemed almost unaware of cold or damp？
Kira'athu looked up as Eolair entered。 Maegwin； stretched out on the pallet beneath a thin blanket； was moving restlessly； but her eyes were still closed and the deathlike pallor had not left her face。
〃Any change？〃 Eolair asked； knowing the answer already。
The Sitha gave a small； sinuous shrug。 〃She is fighting； but I do not think she has the strength to break the grip of whatever has her。〃 The Sitha seemed emotionless； her golden eyes unrevealing as a cat's； but the count knew how much time she spent at Maegwin's side。 They were just different； these immortals； it was senseless trying to judge them by their faces and even voices。 〃Has she spoken any words to you？〃 Kira'athu asked suddenly。
Eolair watched as Maegwin's fingers clawed at the blanket； scrabbling for something that was not there。 〃She has spoken； yes； but I could not hear her well。 And what I did hear was only babble。 There were no words in it I recognized。〃
The Sitha raised a silvery eyebrow。 〃I thought I heard 。。。〃 She turned to look at her ward； whose mouth now moved soundlessly。
〃Thought you heard what？〃
〃The speech of the Garden。〃 Kira'athu spread her hands； curving the fingers to meet the thumbs。 〃What you would call Sithi speech。〃
〃It is possible that she learned some in the time we have all traveled and fought together。〃 Eolair moved closer。 It tugged at his heart to see Maegwin's hands searching restlessly。
〃It is possible；〃 the healer agreed。 〃But it seemed spoken as the Zida'ya would speak it 。。。 almost。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 Eolair was confused and more than a little irritated。
Kira'athu rose。 〃Forgive me。 I should speak to Jiriki and Likimeya about it rather than trouble you。 And it matters little； in any case； I think。 I am sorry； Count Eolair。 I wish I could give you happier news。〃
He sat down on the ground at Maegwin's side。 〃It is not your fault。 You have been very kind。〃 He reached out his hand so Maegwin could grip it； but her cold fingers moved skittishly away。 〃Bagba bite me； what does she want？〃
〃Is there something she usually carries with her or wears about her neck？〃 Kira'athu asked。 〃Some amulet or other thing that gives her fort？〃
〃I can think of nothing like that。 Perhaps she needs water。〃
The Sitha shook her head。 〃I have given her to drink。〃
Eolair leaned down and began fumbling absently in the saddlebags that contained the strew of Maegwin's belongings。 He took out a scarf of warm wool and pressed it into her hands； but Maegwin only held it a moment before pushing it away。 Her hands began to search again as she murmured wordlessly in her throat。
Desperate to give Maegwin some kind of fort； he began to pull other things out of the bags； placing them one at a time beneath her fingers…a bowl； a wooden bird that had apparently e from the Taig's Hall of Carvings； even the hilt of a sheathed knife。 Eolair was not very happy to find this last。 Afraid that with her mind clouded she might do herself an injury； he had forbidden her to bring it from Hernysadharc。 Maegwin had apparently flouted his orders。 But none of these things； nor the other small objects he gave to her； seemed to soothe her。 She pushed them away； the movements of her hands angry and abrupt as a small child's； although her face was still empty。
His fingers closed on something heavy。 He lifted it out and stared at the chunk of cloudy stone。
〃What is that？〃 Kira'athu was surprisingly sharp。
〃It was a gift from the dwarrows。〃 He lifted it so she could see its face。 〃See； Yis…fidri carved Maegwin's name upon it…or so he told me。〃
Kira'athu took the stone from him and turned it in her s