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The arena； three stone…throws across； was lined all about with benches of pale； crumbling chert； as though the deserted bowl had been the site of worship or vast spectacle。 A misty white light glowed in the open space of the bowl's center； like an invalid sun。
〃Cuamh and Brynioch！〃 Eolair swore quietly。 There was a distant and anxious edge to his voice。 〃What is it？〃
A great； angular crystal stood on an altar of dull granite in the middle of the arena； shimmering like a corpse…candle。 The stone was milky white； smooth…faced but rough…edged as ajagged chunk of quartz。 Its strange and subtle light slowly brightened； then died； then brightened again； so that the ancient benches standing nearest seemed almost to flicker m and out of existence with every scintillation。
Pale light washed over them as they approached the strange object； the chill air began to seem distinctly warmer。 Maegwin felt a moment of breathlessness at the queer splendor of the thing。 For long moments she and Eolair stood looking into the snowy glare； watching subtle colors chase each other through the stone's depths； mangold and coral and shy lavender； shifting like quicksilver。
〃It's beautiful；〃 she said at last。
〃Aye。 〃
They lingered； transfixed。 At last； with obvious reluctance； the Count of Nad Mullach turned away。 〃But there is nothing else here； Lady。 Nothing。〃
Before Maegwin could speak； the white stone suddenly blazed； radiance swelling and blossoming like the birth of a heaven…star； until the blinding glare seemed to fill the cavern。 Maegwin battled to orient herself in that sea of terrifying brilliance。 She reached out for the Count of Nad Mullach。 Blasted by light； Eolair's face had blurred until his features were almost indistinguishable。 His far side had vanished into absolute shadow so that he seemed but half a man。
〃What is happening？'〃 she cried。 〃Is the stone burning up？！〃
〃Lady！〃 Eolair snatched at her； trying to pull her back from the glare。
〃Are you hurt？〃
〃Ruyan's Children！〃
Maegwin reeled back in shock； stumbling unaware into Eolair's protective grasp。 The stone had spoken with the voice of a woman； a voice that surrounded them as though mouths spoke from every side。
〃Why do you not answer me？ Three times now have I called to you。 I no longer have the strength。 I will not be able to try again。〃
The words were spoken in a tongue Maegwin had never heard； but still their meaning was somehow as clear as if spoken in her own Hernystiri； as powerful as if the woman's voice were inside her head。 Was this the madness she had feared？ But Eolair； too； had clapped his hands over his ears； beset by the same unnatural voice。
〃Ruyan's Folk！ I beg you； forget our old strife； the wrongs that were done。 A greater enemy now threatens us both！〃
The voice spoke as though with a great effort。 Weariness and sorrow was in it； but something also of immense power； a strength that set Maegwin's skin to tingling。 She held her hands splay…fingered before her eyes and squinted into the heart of the glare； but could see nothing。 The light that beat out at her seemed almost to push like a strong wind。 Could some person be standing in the midst of that staggering incandescence？ Or could it somehow be the stone itself that spoke？ She found herself sorrowing for whoever or whatever should call out so desperately； even as she fought against the lunatic idea of a shouting stone。
〃Who arc you？'〃 Maegwin cried 〃Why are you in the stone？ Get out of my ears！〃
〃What？ Someone is there at last？ Praise to the Garden！〃 Unexpected hope flared in the voice； supplanting weariness for a moment。 〃Oh； ancient kindred； black evil threatens our adopted land！ I crave answers to my questions； questions that might save us all！〃
〃Lady！〃
Maegwin at last noticed that Eolair was holding tightly to her waist。 〃It will not hurt me！〃 she told him。 She moved a little closer to the stone； pulling against his strong arms。 〃What questions？〃 she shouted。 〃We are Hernystiri。 I am the daughter of King Lluth…ubh…Llythinn。 Who are you？ are you in the stone？ Are you here in the city？〃
The light from the stone dimmed and began to flicker。 There was a pause before the voice came back； more muted than before。 〃Are you Tmukeda'ya？ I hear you only faintly；〃 the woman said。 〃It is too late。 You are fading away。 If you can still hear me； and would give aid against a shared enemy； e to us in Jao e…Tinukai'i。 Some among you must know where it is。〃 Her voice grew softer still； until it was barely a whisper； tickling the insides of Maegwin's ears。 The stone had lapsed back into fitful gleaming。 〃Many are searching for the three Great Swords。 Listen！ This might he the salvation of us all； or the destruction。〃 The stone pulsed。 〃This is all the Year…Dancing Grove could tell me； all the leaves would sing。。。〃 Despair welled up in her dying voice。 〃I have failed。 I have grown too weak。 First Grandmother has failed。。。 I can see only darkness ing。。。〃
The soft words at last were gone。 The speaking stone dimmed to a smear of pale light before Maegwin's eyes。 〃I could not help her； Eolair。 〃 She felt quite empty。 〃We did nothing。 And she was so sad！〃
Eolair gently released her from his grasp。 〃We do not understand enough to help anyone； Lady；〃 he said softly。 〃We are in need of help ourselves。〃
Maegwin stepped away from him； fighting back angry tears。 Hadn't he felt the woman's goodness； her sorrow？ Maegwin felt as though she had watched a wonderful bird thrashing in a trap just beyond her reach。 Turning to Eolair； she was startled to see moving sparks in the darkness beyond。 She blinked； but it was no phantasm of her dazzled eyes。 A procession of dim lights was moving toward them； wending its way down the aisles of the shadowed arena。
Eolair followed her stare。 〃Murhagh's Shield！〃 he swore； 〃I knew I was right to mistrust this place！〃 He fumbled for his sword hilt。 〃Behind me； Maegwin！〃
〃Hide from those who will save us？〃 She darted around his restraining hand as the bobbing lights approached。 〃It is the Sithi at last！〃 The lights； pink and white； wavered like fireflies as she took a step forward。 〃Peaceful Ones！〃 she cried。 〃Your old allies need you！〃
The words that whispered out of the shadows came from no mortal throat。 Maegwin was filled with wild excitement； certain now that her dreams had spoken truly。 The new voice spoke an antique Hernystiri that had not been heard beneath the sunlight for centuries。 Oddly； there seemed also a touch of fear in its words。
〃Our allies are gone to bones and dust； now； as with most of our folk。 What kind of creatures be you； that fear not the Shard？〃
The speaker and his fellows slowly came forward into the light。 Maegwin； who had thought herself ready for anything； felt as though the bedrock swayed beneath her。 She clutched at Eolair's sword arm as the Count of Nad Mullach hissed in surprise。
It was their eyes that seemed so strange at first； great round eyes with no whites。 Blinking in the lampglare； the four newers seemed frightened creatures of the forest night。 Man…tall but achingly slender； they clutched shining rods of some translucent ge