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Demesne to do what I should have done in the first place。 He would have none of it。
〃For the love of Divine Didir； Peter； sit down and be still。 If there were anything you could do； I would have you do it in a moment。 There is nothing。 Believe me； nothing。 Just now the most important thing you can do is what you were intending to do anyhow； find Mavin and tell her what has happened here。 Give me a moment with these people and I'll talk to you about it。
So I sat and waited； with ill grace and badly concealed hurt。 It was quite bad enough to remember that I had e away when I was needed； it was worse now to be denied return when I was eager to help。 At last Mertyn had all his minions scattered to his satisfaction； and he came back to me； sitting beside me to take my hand。
〃Thalan； put your feelings aside。 No…I know how you feel。 You could not have failed to love old Windlow。 All who know him do。 As for Himaggery； it is hard not to like him； admire him； even when he is most infuriating。 So； you want to help。 You can。 Hear me； and pay utmost attention。
〃For some time there have been disappearances。 Gamesmen of high rank。 Wizards。 Almost always from among those we would call 'progressive。' Many have been Windlow's students over the years。 It can't be mere happenstance； coincidence。 We suspect the cause but have no proof。
〃Are those who have vanished dead？ If they are； then some among the powerful Necromancers should be able to raise them； query them； find out what has happened。 So； Necromancer after Necromancer has called into the dust of time； but none of the vanished rise。 Instead； for some few of the searchers； it has been Necromancer Nine； highest risk； and they have vanished as well。 Gone。 Not dead； Or； if dead； dead in a way no others have ever died。〃 He shivered as though cold。 〃If not dead； then where？ Demon after Demon has sought them； and for some of them it has been Demon's Eyes Nine； they have disappeared as well。 Are they imprisoned？ Pursuivant after Pursuivant has searched； Rancelmen have delved。 We find nothing。 Those who vanish are simply gone。
〃Yet still we pursue our goal； our studies。 Himaggery。 His allies。 Windlow's old students。 Though our allies vanish； our numbers continue to grow…slowly； too slowly。 I warned Himaggery to draw no attention to himself。 Bannerwell was a mistake； though we had to do it。 As Windlow would say； it was morally correct but tactically wrong。 So it has happened。 Old Windlow evidently had some foreknowledge of it； he told you I would be needed。 Well； I will go and try to hold things together while you seek out Mavin because we need her。 We need her clever mind； her hidden ways； her sense of strategy。 You can help most by finding her； which you would have done in any case。〃
I could not be so discourteous as to argue against that。 He meant what he said。 It was no mere sop for my fort。 I swallowed my pride and assented； sorrowing that I had refused help earlier and that it was now too late。 He pulled me close； whispering。
〃Thalan； mark me。 You have the eidolon of Dorn。 I know you dislike using it； but if you have chance to do so； query among the dead for Himaggery and Windlow。 If you…by any chance…use others of those Talents…no； don't say anything； boy…seek for Himaggery and Windlow。 Even half answers are better than no answers at all。〃
He kissed me and went。 I was left in his place alone； among the tumble of packing； things half out of boxes； paper scattered upon his table； maps curling out of their cases； a disorder which spoke more harshly than words of his state of mind。 I spent an hour setting it right； then went to make my own preparations and to take farewell of Chance。
It was not easy。 He did not accept that I would have to go alone。 He could accept only that Mertyn had so ordered； and he was as bound by that order as I。 At the end he told me he would go back to the Bright Demesne to await my return。 He said that two or three times； to await my return； as though by saying it he could assure it would be so。 It forted me more than it did him； I'm sure。 Perhaps he intended it so。 I was very uncertain of what was to happen next； so preoccupied I paid no attention at all to Karl Pig…face and by my contemptuous silence （for so he and his followers interpreted it） did his unpleasant reputation grave and permanent harm。 At the time； I didn't think of him at all。
I rode out of Schooltown at first light。 It was a three…day trip to Bannerwell from the town。 I made it in two； riding late and rising early； paying no attention to the scenery and eating in the saddle。
Havajor Dike lay just east of the fortress of Bannerwell。 I came upon it at evening； late； with only an afterglow in the sky where the high clouds still shed a little reflected light。 A star shone above the clouds； only one； trembling like a tear in the sadness of dusk with its blue…brown scent of dark； bat…twittered and hesitant。 I saw one lonely figure upon the Dike； black against the glow； and rode up to ask what housing might be available for the night。 As I came closer； I saw that it was Riddle； Tossa's father； that lean Immutable who had e to Bannerwell with Chance and Yarrel at the very end of the battle； making battle unnecessary。
It struck me when he turned to face me that he showed no fear at all。 No stranger had confronted me since I had left the Bright Demesne without showing some shrinking from me。 perhaps a curious； awed stare followed； more times than not； by the 〃ward…of…evil；〃 by an over…the…shoulder stare as he hurried away。 Riddle had no fear； but it was a few moments before I realized that he did not know who I was and that it did not matter。 He was an Immutable。 They did not fear the Talents of Gamesmen； not even of Necromancers。
〃Do I know you？〃 he asked； leaning on the wall； gaze burrowing at my gauze…wrapped face。 〃Have we met？〃
〃It's Peter； Riddle；〃 I said； pulling the hood from my head and running dirty fingers through my dirtier hair。 〃I should have spoken。〃
〃Peter。〃 He gave me his oddly kind smile； reached out to touch my face as though I had been his child or close friend。 〃To see you dressed so。 I had forgotten you had this Talent。 I thought it was something to do with 。 。 。 changing shape。〃
I started to say something about the Gamesmen of Barish； caught myself and said nothing。 No one knew of the Gamesmen but Windlow and Himaggery； Silkhands； Chance…one or two others who would say nothing about them。 Instead of explaining； I shrugged the question away。 〃Small reason for you to remember。 I did not stay long here at Havajor Dike once Bannerwell was overthrown。 Have you played jailor here alone since then？〃 I knew the Immutables had intended to stay at Bannerwell long enough to assure there would be no more of Mandor's particular kind of threat； but I had not expected Riddle himself to stay among them。 He was said to be their leader； though I had never heard him claim any such title。
〃No；〃 he replied。 〃They sent for me after Mandor died。〃
〃Dead？ Mandor？〃 I could not imagine it； even though I had foretold it myself。 I had known he could not long withstand the pain of a disfigurement visible to everyone； of loss of power； of the absence of adoration； not