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w dare he try and placate her？
As she felt herself caught between fury and loneliness and loss； a sudden realization cut through her confused thoughts like a knife。 Eolair must go away。
She could have no peace； she could never understand what the gods meant her to do； as long as he was around。 His presence turned her into a child； a whining； moody thing unfit to lead her people out of these dangerous straits。
Yis…fidri turned at last。 〃My wife and I must speak with our people before anything can be decided。 This would be a new thing； and could not be done lightly。〃
〃Of course；〃 said Eolair。 His voice was calm； but Maegwin could hear the suppressed excitement。 〃Of course； whatever may be best for your people。 We will go away now and e back to you in a day or two； or whenever you say。 But tell them that it will perhaps save Hern's folk。 whom the dwarrows often helped before。 The Hernystiri have never thought anything but good of you。〃
Maegwin had another thought。 〃Are there tunnels near the Hayholt？〃 Yis…hadra nodded。 〃Yes。 Asu'a； as we call it； was delved deep as well as built high。 Now its bones lie beneath the castle of mortal kings； but the earth underneath that castle is still alive with our diggings。〃
〃And are those maps here； too？〃
〃Of course；〃 the dwarrow replied proudly。
With a satisfied nod； Maegwin turned on the Count of Nad Mullach。 〃There；〃 she said。 〃That is the final answer I sought。 A course lies open before us： we would be traitors to our own folk not to take it。〃 She lapsed into grave silence。
Eolair rose to the bait。 〃What do you mean； Princess？〃
〃You must find Josua； Count Eolair；〃 she said abruptly。 She was pleased at the calm authority in her voice。 〃You heard what Yis…fidri said at the table。 This matter of the sword is of utmost importance。 I was already thinking that Prince Josua must be informed； in case there is a chance this knowledge can be used to defeat Elias。 You and I know that as long as the High King prospers； Skali Sharp…nose will remain at our necks like a knife。 Go find Josua and tell him the secret of the sword。 That will be the deed that saves our people。〃
In truth； Maegwin did not quite remember all the details of the dwarrow's tale…she had been occupied with her own dire thoughts…but she remembered that it had something to do with Josua and his father's sword。
Eolair was astonished。 〃Go to Josua？！ What do you say； Lady？ We have no idea where he is； or if he even lives。 Do you ask me to leave our people in their need to go rabbiting off on such a fool's mission？〃
〃You claimed you heard that he was alive；〃 she responded coldly。 〃Only a short while ago you were lecturing me on the chance of his survival。 Can we afford to assume he is dead？〃
It was hard to tell from his practiced expression what he was thinking。 Maegwin took a breath before beginning again。 〃In any case； Count Eolair； you fail to see the full importance of what these folk have told us。 Maps of our tunnels are important； yes…but we can now send to Josua maps of Elias' stronghold； and of the secret entrances that could be the High King's undoing。〃 Listening to herself； it did suddenly seem like a good plan。 〃You know that Skali will never loosen his grip on our land as long as Elias rules at his back in the Hayholt。〃
Eolair shook his head。 〃To many questions； my lady； too many questions。 There is merit in what you say； certainly。 Let us think about it。 It will take us days to make semblances of all these maps。 Surely it will be better if we consider it carefully； if we talk with Criobhan and the other knights。〃
Maegwin wanted to set the hook now； while Eolair was hesitating。 She feared that more time would mean time for the count to think of another solution； and for her to sink back into her inclarity of purpose。 Being near him made her heart heavy as stone。 She needed him to go away…she felt it now as a deep longing。 She wanted him gone； so the pain and confusion would stop。 How was it he could cloud her wits this way？
She made her face cold。 〃I do not like your resistance； Count。 In fact； vou seem to be doing precious little here； if you have time to follow me down holes in the ground。 You might be better employed on a task that has some chance of saving us from our current situation。〃 Maegwin smiled； purposefully mocking。 She was proud of how well she hid her true feelings； but this cruelty； however necessary； filled her with horror。
What kind of creature am I being； she wondered even as she carefully watched Eolair's reaction。 Is this statecraft？ She felt a moment of panic。 Am I being a fool？ No； if is better he goes away… but if this is how kings and queens must see their wills acplished； Bagba's Herd； what a terrible thing！
Aloud； she added； 〃Besides； Count； you are pledged to my father's house…just in case you had forgotten。 If you wish to flaunt the first request Lluth's daughter has made of you； I cannot prevent you； but the gods will know and judge。〃 Eolair started to speak。 Maegwin lifted a hand to stop him…a very dirty hand； she could not help noticing。 〃I will not argue with you； Count Eolair。 Do as you are told； or do not。 That is all。〃
Eolair's eyes narrowed； as though he saw her truly for the first time and did not like what he now saw。 His contemptuous expression leaned against her heart like an impossibly heavy stone； but there was no turning back。
The count waited a long time before answering。 〃Very well； Lady；〃 he said quietly； 〃I will do as you mand。 I do not know where this sudden fancy…fancy？ It seems a kind of madness！…has e from。 If vou had asked my counsel in this thing and treated me as your family's friend instead of a vassal； I would have heeded your wish happily。 Instead you will have my obedience； but there will be little love with it。 You thought to act the queen； but instead you have proved yourself only a callow child after all。〃
〃Be silent；〃 she said hoarsely。
The dwarrows stared at Eolair and Maegwin curiously； as if they performed a quaint but inscrutable pantomime。 The lights of the Pattern Hall dimmed for a moment； and shadows grew monstrously tall among the labyrinthine walls of stone。 A moment later the pale light flared once more； illuminating the darker ers； but a certain shadow had taken up residence in Maegwin's heart and would not be dismissed。
The Eadne Cloud's crew did not handle Miriamele and Cadrach gently as they routed the pair from the hold； but neither were they especially brutal。 The sailors seemed more than a little amused by such an unexpected couple of stowaways。 As the captives appeared beneath the lightening sky； the crewmen jeered mockingly； speculating on the vices of monks who took young women as panions； and on the virtue of young women who allowed themselves to be so taken。
Miriamele stared back defiantly； undaunted by their rough manners。 Despite the well…known sailor's custom of going bearded； many of the Cloud's crew were smooth…cheeked； not yet old enough to grow whiskers： she herself had seen more in a year； she felt sure； than these youths had seen in their whole lives。
Still； it was clear the Eadne Cloud was no ploddi