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〃But we knew something neither of our questioners did；〃 he said finally； there was a gleam m his round eye unlike anything the surface dwellers had yet seen。 〃Do you see； our masters think the sword Minneyar never left Asu'a； and that is true。 But the one who found the sword there beneath the castle； the one you call King John Prester； had it reforged and made new。 Under the name of Bright…Nail； he carried it all across the world and back。〃
The Count of Nad Mullach whistled； a low； surprised mil。 〃So Bright…Nail was the old Scourge of the North； Fingil's Minneyar。 Strange！ What other secrets did Prester John take to his grave above the Kynslagh； I wonder？〃 He paused。 〃But； Yis…fidri； still we do not understand。。。〃
〃Patience。〃 The dwarrow showed a wintry smile。 〃You could never tend and harvest balky stone as we do； you quick…blooded Children。 Patience。〃 He took a breath。 〃The mistress of the Zida'ya told us that this sword； one of the Great Swords； was somehow much concerned with events now transpiring； and with the fate of the mortal prince named Handless Josua。。。 〃
〃Josua Lackhand。 〃
〃Yes。 But we think that is trickery； for she also said that this sword might be somehow vital against that same evil that had driven our tribesfolk out of Hikehikayo； and that the same evil soon might threaten all that walked above or below ground。 How could the fate of any mortal man affect the squabblings of immortals？〃 The dwarrow's voice quavered 〃It is another trap； to play on our fear。 She wishes us to seek her help； so we will fall into their clutch once more。 Did you not hear her？ 'e to us at Jao e…Tinukai'i ' Was ever a trap more cold…bloodedly baited before the victim's eyes？〃
〃So；〃 the count said at last； 〃somehow Josua's survival is tied to this blade？〃
Yis…fidri shot him a worried glance。 〃So she claimed。 But how could she say his fate is tied to that of Minneyar when she did not even know it had been reforged？ She said that none but us did know this thing； and that possibly many fates…perhaps the threads of all fate…were tied to three great swords； of which Minneyar was one。〃
Yis…fidri stood； a haunted look upon his face。 〃And I will tell you a terrible； terrible thing；〃 he said miserably。 〃Even though we cannot trust our once…masters； we fear that they may be telling the truth。 Mayhap a great doom has e into the world。 If so； we dwarrows may have brought it on。〃
Eolair looked around； struggling to make sense of what he had heard。 〃But why； Yis…fidri？ Bright…Nail's history might be a deep and dark secret； but you dwarrows did not tell it to anyone。 When the Shard spoke to us； we said nothing of it； because we did not know the tale。 No secrets have been told。What doom have you brought on？〃
The dwarrow was deeply pained。 〃I。。。 did not tell you all。 One last time before your arrival； the Shard called to us。 It was the fearsome stranger from Hikehikayo asking again of the sword Minneyar…that cursed sword。〃 He slumped bonelessly back onto the stool。 〃This time there was only one of us at the Site of Witness…young Sho…vennae； who you have met。 He was alone and the voice laid a great fear upon him。 It threatened； then it promised； then threatened again。〃 Yis…fidri slapped his wide palm on the table。 〃You must understand； he was afraid！ We are all afraid！ We are not what we were。〃 He lowered his eyes as if shamed； then looked up to find his wife's gaze。 He seemed to gain courage。 〃At last； Sho…vennae's terror did overwhelm him。 He told the stranger the tale of Minneyar； of how it was reforged and became Bright…Nail。〃 Yis…fidri's shook his great head。 〃Poor Sho…vennae。 We should never have let him stand watch at the Shard alone。 May the Garden forgive us。 Do you see； you Hern's folk； our former masters may have lied to us； but still we fear that no good can e out of the darkness in Hikehikayo。 If the First Grandmother of the Sithi has told the truth； who knows what power we have given to evil？〃
Maegwin hardly heard him。 She was losing the thread of Yis…fidri's speech； dully registering bits and pieces while her weary mind swirled with thoughts of her own failure。 She had misunderstood the gods' will。 She needed to be free； to have time to herself； time to think。
Count Eolair sat thinking for a long while； the room was full of brooding silence。 At last； Yis…fidri stood。
〃You have shared our table；〃 he said。 〃Let us show you our prizes； then you may go back to the bright； airy surface。〃
Eolair and Maegwin； still silent； let themselves be led across the round room and through one of the doors。 They followed the dwarrows down a long； sloping hallway before ing at last to a deeper chamber whose outer walls were as plicated as a maze； angling in and out so that everywhere Maegwin looked there were surfaces covered with carved stone。
〃In this chamber and others below it are the Patterns；〃 Yis…fidri said。 〃Long the dwarrows have delved； and widely。 Every tunnel； every deep place we dug is there。 This is the history of our folk； and we two are the keepers of it。 〃 He waved his hand proudly。 〃Maps of bright Kementari； the labyrinth of Jhina…T'senei； the tunnels beneath the mountains Rimmersmen call Vesdvegg； and those that honeyb the mountains above our heads…all here。 The catabs of Zae…y'miritha are long…buried and silent but here they live！〃
Eolair turned slowly； looking from surface to surface The interior of the great chamber was as intricate as a many…faceted stone； each facet； every angle and niche； was covered with delicate maps carved into the living stone。 〃And you said that you have maps of the tunnels that run here； throughout the Grianspog？〃 he asked slowly。
〃With certainty； Count Eolair；〃 Yis…fidri said。 Being among the Patterns seemed to have restored life to his sagging frame。 〃Those and more。
〃If we could have those； it would be a great help to us in our own struggle。〃
Maegwin turned on the count； irritation finally bubbling to the surface。 〃What； shall we carry a thousandweight of stone up to our caves？ Or climb down here to this lost place every time we must choose a fork in the path？〃
〃No；〃 said Eolair； 〃but like the Aedonite monks； we could copy them onto parchment； and so have them where we need them。〃 His eyes shone。 〃There must be tunnels we never dreamed of！ Our raids on Skali's camps will truly seem like magic！ See； Maegwin； you have brought great assistance to your people after all…a help greater than swords and spears！〃 He turned to Yis…fidri。 〃Would you allow us to do such a thing？〃
Worried； the dwarrow turned to his wife。 As the sound of their conversation chimed back and forth； Maegwin watched the count。 Eolair was walking from wall to wall； squinting up at the angled walls and their beetle…busy carvings。 She fought a rising tide of anger。 Did he think he was doing her a kindness when he plimented her on this 〃discovery？〃 She had been looking for help from the shining； legendary Sithi； not a gaggle of scarecrows with their dusty tunnel…maps。 Tunnels！ Maegwin had been the one who had rediscovered the tunnels in the first place！ How dare he try and placate her？
As she felt herself caught between fury and loneliness and