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uivering leg； then the cold metal of the sword。
〃Mine；〃 Guthwulf said reflexively。 His voice was muddy with fatigue。 〃This； too。 Safe。〃
At that moment； Simon no longer cared about the sword； about Pryrates or any soldiers who might be following； or even whether the Storm King and Elias might bring the whole world tumbling down around his ears。 Every breath burned； and his arms and legs were a…twitch with agonizing cramps。 His head hammered like the bells in Green Angel Tower。
Simon found a place of his own amid the scattered rags； then surrendered to the dark pull。
25
Living in Exile
Jiriki took his hands off the dwarrow…stone。
Eolair did not need to be told。 〃She is gone。〃 The count stared at Maegwin's pale face； relaxed now as though in sleep。 〃Gone。〃 He had been preparing himself for this moment； but still felt as though a huge emptiness had opened inside him； a void that would never be filled。 He reached out and grasped her hands； which were still warm。
〃I am sorry；〃 said Jiriki。
〃Are you？〃 Eolair did not look at him。 〃What can the short life of a mortal mean to your kind？〃
The Sitha did not speak for a moment。 〃The Zida'ya die； just as mortals do。 And when those we held in our hearts have passed from us； we； too； are unhappy。〃
〃Then if you understand；〃 Eolair said； struggling for control； 〃please leave me alone。〃
〃As you wish。〃 Jiriki stood； a catlike unfolding from his seat on the pallet。 He seemed about to say something more； but instead went silently out of the tent。
Eolair stared at Maegwin for a long time。 Her hair； damp with sweat； lay in tight curls across her forehead。 Her mouth seemed to hint at a smile。 It was almost impossible to believe that life had left her。
〃Oh； the gods have been cruel masters；〃 he groaned。 〃Maegwin； what did we do to be so ill…treated？〃 Tears started in his eyes。 He buried his face in her hair； then kissed her cooling cheek。 〃It has all been a cruel； cruel trick。 It has all been for nothing； if you are dead。〃 His body was shaken by sobs。 For a while he could only rock back and forth； clutching her hand。 The dwarrow…stone was still in her other palm； held against her breast as though to keep it from theft。
〃I never knew。 I never knew。 You foolish woman； why did you tell me nothing？ Why did you pretend？ Now all is gone。 All is lost。。。。〃
Jiriki； white hair streaming in the wind； was waiting for him when he emerged。 Eolair thought he looked like a storm…spirit…like a harbinger of death。
〃What do you want？〃
〃As I said； Count Eolair； I am very sorry。 But there are things I think you should know…things that I discovered in the last moments of the Lady Maegwin's life。〃
Oh； Brynioch preserve me； he thought wearily。 The world was too much for Eolair； and he did not think he could bear any more Sithi riddles。
〃I am tired。 And we must leave tomorrow for Hernystir。〃
〃That is why I wish to tell you now；〃 Jiriki said patiently。
Eolair stared at him for a moment； then shrugged。 〃Very well。 Speak。〃
〃Are you cold？〃 Jiriki asked this with the careful solicitousness of one who had learned that although he never suffered from the elements； others did。 〃We can walk to one of the fires。〃
〃I will survive。〃
Jiriki nodded slowly。 〃That piece of stone was given to Maegwin by the Tinukeda'ya； was it not？ By those you call domhaini？〃
〃It was a gift from the dwarrows； yes。〃
〃It was much like the great stone you and I visited in Mezutu'a beneath the mountain…the Shard； the Master Witness。 When I touched this small stone； I felt much of Maegwin's thought。〃
Eolair was disturbed by the idea of the immortal being with Maegwin in her last moments； being with her in a way he could not。 〃And can you not leave those thoughts in peace…let them go with her to her barrow？〃
The Sitha hesitated。 〃It is difficult for me。 I do not wish to force things upon you。 But there are things I think you should know。〃 Jiriki laid his long fingers against Eolair's arm。 〃I am not your enemy； Eolair。 We are all hostages to the whims of a mad power。〃 He let his hand fall。 〃I cannot claim to know for certain all that she felt or thought。 The ways of the Dream Road…the path that Witnesses such as the dwarrow…stone open…are very confusing these days； very dangerous。 You remember what happened when I touched the Shard。 I was reluctant even to risk the Other Pathways； but felt that if there was a chance I could help； I should。〃
From a mortal Eolair would have found this self…serving； but there was something about the Sitha that suggested an almost frightening sincerity。 Eolair felt a little of his anger slip away。
〃In that muddle of thoughts and feelings；〃 Jiriki continued； 〃I did understand two things； or at least I am fairly sure that I did。 I believe that at the end her madness lifted。 I did not know the Maegwin that you knew； so I cannot be certain； but her thoughts seemed clear and unmuddied。 She thought of you。 I felt that very strongly。〃
Eolair took a step backward。 〃She did？ You do not say that to soothe me； as a parent might to a child？〃
The Sitha's smooth face momentarily showed surprise。 〃Do you mean tell you something that is not true； deliberately？ No； Eolair。 That is not our way。〃
〃She thought of me？ Poor woman！ And I could do nothing for her。〃 The count felt tears returning； but made no attempt to hide them。 〃This is no favor； Jiriki。〃
〃It was not meant to be。 These are things you deserve to know。 Now I must ask you a question。 There is a young mortal named Seoman who is linked to Josua。 Do you know him？ More importantly； did Maegwin know him？〃
〃Seoman？〃 Eolair was bewildered by the sudden shift of the conversation。 He thought for a moment。 〃There was a young knight named Simon； tall； red…haired…is that who you mean？ I think I heard some call him Sir Seoman。〃
〃That is him。〃
〃I doubt very much that Maegwin knew him。 She never traveled to Erkynland； and I believe that was where the young man lived before running away to serve Josua。 Why？〃 Eolair shook his head。 〃I do not understand this。〃
〃Nor do I。 And I fear what it might mean。 But in those last moments； it seemed Maegwin thought also of young Seoman； almost as though she had seen him or spoken with him。〃 Jiriki frowned。 〃It is our ill luck that the Dream Road is so murky now； so unrewarding。 It was all I could do to glean that much。 But something is happening in Asu'a…the Hayholt…and Seoman will be there。 I fear for him； Count Eolair。 He is 。。。 important to me。〃
〃But that is where you are going anyway。 That is fortunate； I suppose。〃 Eolair did not want to think any more。 〃I wish you luck finding him。〃
〃And you？ Even if Seoman had some significance for Maegwin？ Even if she had some message from him； or for him？〃
〃I am done with that…and so is she。 I will take her back to Erkynland to be buried on the mountain beside her father and brother。 There is much to do to rebuild our country； and I have been absent too long。〃
〃What help can I give you？〃 Jiriki asked。
〃I want no more help。〃 Eolair spoke more sharply than he had intended。 〃We mortals are very good at burying our dead。〃
He turned and walked away； pulling his cloak tight against the flurrying snows。
Isgrimnur limped out onto the deck； cursing his aching body and his halting progress。 He did not notice the shadowy figure until he had nearly stumbled into it。
〃Greetings； Duke Isgrimnur。〃 Aditu turned and regarded him for a moment。 〃Is it not chill weather for one of your folk to be out in the wind？〃
Isgrimnur hid his startlement by an elaborate readjustment of his gloves。 〃Perhaps for the southern folk like Tiamak。 But my people are Rimmersmen； my lady。 We are hardened to the cold。〃
〃Am I your lady？〃 she said with amusement。 〃I certainly hold no mortal title。 And I cannot believe that Duchess Gutrun would approve of any other meaning。〃
He grimaced； and was suddenly grateful for the chill wind on his cheeks。 〃It is just politeness； my la 。。。〃 He tried again。 〃I find it difficult to call by their first name someone who 。。。 who 。。。〃
〃Who is older than you are？〃 She laughed； a not unpleasant sound。 〃Another problem for which I am to blame！ I truly did not e to you mortals to disfort you。〃
〃Are you really？ Older than me？〃 Isgrimnur was not sure if it was a polite question…but after all； she had brought it up。
〃Oh； I should think so 。。。 although my brother Jiriki and I are both accounted quite young by our folk。 We are both children of the Exile； born since Asu'a fell。 To some； like my uncle Khendraja'aro； we are barely even real people； and certainly not to be trusted with any responsibility。〃 She laughed again。 〃Oh； poor Uncle。 He has seen so many outrageous things happen in these last days…a mortal brought to Jao e…Tinukai'i； the breaking of the Pact； Zida'ya and humans fighting side by side again。 I fear that he will finish his present duty to my mother and Year…Dancing House and then simply let himself die。 Sometimes it is the strongest who are the most brittle。 Do you not think so？〃
Isgrimnur nodded。 For once； he understood what the Sitha…woman meant。 〃I have seen that； yes。 Sometimes those who act the strongest are really the most frightened。〃
Aditu smiled。 〃You are a very wise mortal； Duke Isgrimnur。〃
The duke coughed； embarrassed。 〃I am a very old； very sore mortal。〃 He stared out across the choppy bay。 〃And tomorrow we make landfall。 I am glad we have been able to shelter here in the Kynslagh…I don't think most of us could have taken much more of the storms and the kilpa on the open sea； and God knows I hate boats…but I still don't understand why Elias has not lifted a hand in his own defense。〃
〃He has not yet；〃 Aditu agreed。 〃Perhaps he feels that his Hayholt walls are defense enough。〃
〃Could be。〃 Isgrimnur voiced the fear that others in the prince's fleet shared。 〃Or perhaps he is expecting allies…the kind of allies he had at Naglimund。〃
〃That could also be true。 Your people and my people have both wondered much about what is intended。〃 She shrugged； a sinuous gesture that might have been part of a ritual dance。 〃Soon it will not matter。 Soon we will learn first hand； as I think you say。〃
They both fell silent。 The wind was not strong； but its breath was bitterly cold。 Despite his rugged heritage； Isgrimnur found himself pulling his scarf higher on his neck。
〃What happens to your fairy…folk when they get old？〃 Isgrimnur asked suddenly。 〃Do they just get wiser？ Or do they turn silly and mawkish； as some of ours do？〃
〃 'Old' means something different to us； as you know；〃 Aditu replied。 〃But the answer is： there are as many different answers as there are Zida'ya； as is no doubt true with mortals。 Some grow increasingly remote； they do not speak to anyone； but live entirely in their own thoughts。 Others develop fondnesses for things others find unimportant。 And some begin to brood on the past； on wrongs and hurts and missed chances。
〃The oldest one of all； the one you call the Norn Queen； has grown old in that way。 She was known once for her wisdom and beauty； for grace beyond measurement。 But something in her was balked and grew bent； and so she curled inward into malice。 As the years almost beyond counting rolled past； all that was once admirable became twisted。〃 Aditu had suddenly bee serious in a way that Isgrimnur had not seen before。 〃That is perhaps the greatest sorrow of our folk； that the ruin of the world should be brought about by two who were among the greatest of the Gardenborn。〃
〃Two？〃 Isgrimnur was trying to reconcile the stories he had heard of the silver…masked queen of ice and darkness with Aditu's description。
〃Ineluki 。。。 the Storm King。〃 She turned back to look across the Kynslagh； as though she could see the old Asu'a looming beyond the darkness。 〃He was the brightest…burning flame ever kindled in this land。 Had the mortals not e…had your own ancestors not e； Duke Isgrimnur…and attacked our great house with iron and fire； he might have led us out of the shadows of exile and back into the light of the living worl