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ds of some translucent gemstone in their long； spidery fingers。 Fine； pale hair hung down around their bony faces； their features were delicate； but they wore rough clothes of fur and dusty leather； knobbed at knees and elbows。
Eolair's sword rasped out of the scabbard； gleaming pinkly in the light of the crystal rods。 〃Stand back！ What are you？〃
The being nearest took a step backward； then drew up； its thin face evidencing nervous surprise。 〃But it is you who be trespassers here。 Ah； you do be Children of Hern； as we did suspect。 Mortals。〃 He turned and said something to his fellows in a language like a murmur of song。 They nodded gravely； then all four pairs of saucer eyes turned to Maegwin and Eolair once more。 〃No； we have spoken on this； and only meet it is that you make shift to name yourselves。〃
Marveling at how the dream had turned； Maegwin steadied herself on Eolair's arm and spoke。 〃We 。。。 we are 。。。 I am Maegwin； daughter of King Lluth。 This is Eolair； Count of Nad Mullach。〃
The strange creatures' heads hobbled on their slender necks； they spoke melodically among themselves once more。 Maegwin and the count shared a look of stunned disbelief； then turned as the one who had spoken before made a discreet noise in his throat。
〃You speak with good grace。 So； be you gentlefolk among your kind； in truth？ And promise you mean no harm？ Sadly； it has been long since we have had dealings with Hern's Folk； and we are sore ignorant of their doings。 We were affrighted when you spoke to the Shard。〃
Eolair swallowed。 〃Who are you？ And what is this place？〃
The leader stared at him for a long moment； the reflection of the lamp…flame bright in his great eyes。 〃Yis…fidri am I。 My panions hight Sho…vennae； Imai…an； and Yis…hadra； who is my good wife。〃 They bowed their heads in turn as he named them。 〃This city is called Mezutu'a。〃
Maegwin was fascinated by Yis…fidri and his friends； but a nagging doubt was making itself felt at the back other mind。 They were certainly strange； but they were not what she had expected。。。
〃You cannot be the Sithi；〃 she said。 〃Where are they？ Are you their servants？〃
The strangers looked at her with alarm on their wide…eyed faces； then took a few pattering steps backward and joined briefly in chiming colloquy。 After a moment； Yis…fidri turned and spoke a little more harshly than he had before。
〃We served others once； but that was long ages agone。 Have they sent you for us？ We will not go back。〃 For all his defiant tone； there was something tremendously pathetic in Yis…fidri's wagging head and huge； mournful eyes。 〃What did the Shard tell you？〃
Eolair shook his head； confused。 〃Forgive us if we are rude； but we have never seen any like you。 We were not sent to look for you。 We didnot even know you existed。〃
〃The Shard？ Do you mean the stone？〃 Maegwin asked。 〃It said many things。 I will try to remember them。 But who are you then； if you are not the Sithi？〃
Yis…fidri did not answer； but slowly lifted his crystal； extending his spindly hand until the rod's rosy light burned heatlessly beside Maegwin's face。 〃By your aspect； Hern's people stand not so much changed since we Tinukeda'ya of the mountains last knew them；〃 he said wistfully。 〃How is it we are forgotten already…have so many generations of mortals e and gone？ Surely it was only a few turnings of the earth since your northern tribesmen； the bearded ones； did know us？〃 His thin face grew distant。 〃The northerners called us Dvernings； and brought us gifts so we would craft for them。〃
Eolair stepped forward。 〃You are the ones our ancestors called Domhaini！ But we thought they were legend only； or at least were long dead。 You are 。。。 the dwarrows？〃
Yis…fidri showed a mild frown。 〃Legend？ You do be of Hern's folk； be you not？ Who was it； think you； that taught your ancestors to mine these mountains in days agone？ We did。 As to names； what matter？ Dwarrow to some mortals； Dverning or Domhaini to others。〃 He waved his long fingers； slowly； sadly。 〃Only words。 We are Tinukeda'ya。 We came from the Garden and we can never return。〃
Eolair sheathed his sword with a clang that echoed through the cavern。 〃You sought for the Peaceful Ones； Princess！ This is as strange or stranger！ A city in the mountain's heart！ The dwarrows out of our oldest legends！ Has the world below gone as mad as the world above？〃
Maegwin was scarcely less astonished than Eolair； but found herself with little to say。 As she stared at the dwarrows； she mourned； the black cloud that had lifted for a while seemed to roll back over her mind。
〃But you are not the Sithi；〃 she said at last； voice flat。 〃They are not here。 They will not help us。〃
Yis…fidri's panions moved up； so that they formed a semicircle around the huddled pair。 Watching Maegwin and Eolair worriedly； the wide…eyed dwarrows seemed poised to bolt。
〃If you came searching for the Zida'ya…those who you name Sithi；〃 Yis…fidri said carefully； 〃then that is of deep interest to us indeed； since we brought us here to hide from them。〃 He nodded slowly。 〃Long ago did we refuse to bend any longer to their will； to their overweening injustice； and so we escaped。 We thought they had forgotten us； but they have not。 Now that we are weary and few； they seek to capture us once more。〃 A dim fire was kindled in Yis…fidri's eyes。 〃They even call to us through the Shard； the Witness which has been silent for many long years。 They mock us with their tricks； trying to lure us back。〃
〃You are hiding from the Sithi？〃 Eolair asked； confused。 〃But why？〃 〃We did serve them once； Hern's Child。 We fled。 Now they would cozen us into ing back。 They speak of swords to lure us…for they know that such crafting was always our delight； and the Great Swords some of our highest works。 They ask us of mortals we have never met nor heard of…and what would we have to do with mortals now？ You are the first we have seen in a long age。〃
The Count of Nad Mullach waited for Yis…Fidri to continue。 When it appeared he would not； Eolair asked： 〃Mortals？ Like us？ What mortals do they name to you？〃
〃The Zida'ya woman…First Grandmother； as she is called…spoke several times of。。。〃 the dwarrow conferred briefly with his fellows； 〃。。。of Handless Josua。' 〃
〃Handless。。。！ Gods of earth and stream； do you mean Josua Lackhand？ Eolair stared； astounded。 〃Oh； heaven； this is madness！〃 He sat down heavily on one of the decaying benches。
Maegwin slumped beside him。 Her mind was already reeling beneath such weariness and disappointment that she had no strength left to be surprised； but when she at last turned away from the mild； wide eyes of the puzzled dwarrows to look to Eolair； the count's face was that of a man struck by lightning in his own house。
Simon awakened from a flight through black spaces and screaming winds。 The howling continued； but a red light bloomed before his eyes as the darkness receded。
〃Vren； you little fool！〃 someone was shrieking close by。 〃There is blood in the circle！〃
When he tried to take a breath； Simon felt something pushing down on him； so that his lungs had to strain for air。 He wondered briefly if a roof had falle