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ed free of Josua's embrace。 〃You have stood and walked too long。 If you die before we marry； it will spoil everything。〃 Her look was softer； but still some trace of apprehension re… mained； an edge of fear that would not go away。 Josua took her hand and lifted it to his lips。 They turned and walked slowly back toward the encampment； as carefully as if they were both very； very old。
〃I must leave；〃 Geloe announced that evening。 Josua's people huddled around the fire as fierce winds strummed at the walls of their makeshift shelter。
〃I hope you do not mean that；〃 Josua said。 〃We have need of your wisdom。〃
Deornoth felt himself both glad and sorry at the thought of the witch woman leaving。
〃We will all meet again； and soon；〃 she said。 〃But I must go ahead to the Stone of Farewell。 Now that you are safe； there are things I must do there before you e。〃
〃What things？〃 Deornoth heard the edge of suspicion in his own voice and was embarrassed by his lack of charity； but no one else seemed to notice。
〃There will be。。。〃 Geloe searched for words； 〃。。。shadows there。 And sounds。 And faint traces like the ripples left behind when a pebble drops into a stream。 It is vital that I try to read these before people e tramping around。〃
〃And what will these things tell you？〃 Josua asked。
Geloe shook her graying head。 〃I do not know。 Perhaps nothing。 But the Stone stands in a special and powerful place； it may be that there are things I can learn。 We face an immortal enemy； perhaps we can find some clue toward his defeat among the vestiges of his immortal people。〃 She turned to Duchess Gutrun； who cradled sleeping Leieth in her lap。 〃Will you keep the child until you see me again？〃
Gutrun nodded。 〃Of course。〃
〃Why do you not take her with you？〃 Deornoth asked。 〃You said she helped to 。。。 to center your skills in some way。〃
Firelight glinted in Geloe's great eyes。 〃True。 But she cannot travel in the way I must travel。〃 The witch woman stood； tucking her breeches into her heavy boots。 〃And I will do best traveling by night。〃
〃But you will miss our marriage！〃 Vorzheva exclaimed。 〃Father Strangyeard is to marry Josua and me at morning…time。〃
Those who had not yet heard offered congratulations； Josua received all as calmly and graciously as if he stood again in his throne room at Naglimund。 Vorzheva's smiles at last dissolved into what were surely happy tears； which she cried on Gutrun's acmodating shoulder。 Leieth； who had awakened and rolled out of the duchess' lap to stare silently at the ruckus； was quickly scooped up into the thin arms of Father Strangyeard。
〃This is good news； Vorzheva； Prince Josua； but I cannot stay；〃 Geloe said。 〃I do not think you will miss me。 I am not much for entertainments or merrymaking and I am feeling particularly pressed。 I had wished to leave yesterday； but stayed to see that you actually claimed your horses。〃 She gestured out toward the darkness beyond the shelter； where the prince's new steeds shifted and snorted in their own enclosure。 〃Now I can wait no longer。〃
After brief private conversations with Josua and Strangyeard and a few words whispered into Leieth's ear…words which the little girl received as impassively as if listening to the ocean's voice echoing in a sea shell… Geloe said her brisk farewells and strode out into the night； threadbare cloak snapping in the brisk wind。
Deornoth； who sat closest to the edge of the shelter； leaned his head out a short time later。 He had heard a mournful echo sweeping down from the wind…raked sky； but when he looked up he caught only a momentary glimpse of some shadowy； winged thing passing before the gelid moon。
Deornoth was standing his watch…they had not bee so trusting of the Thrithings…men that they had lost their sense…when Josua limped out to join him。
〃The stars have barely swung around；〃 Deornoth whispered。 〃Look； there is the Lamp； scarcely moved。〃 He pointed to a dim flare in the cloudy night sky。 〃It is not your turn for hours； Highness。 Go back to bed。〃
〃I cannot sleep。〃
Deornoth was sure his smile was invisible in the darkness。 〃It is not unmon to have worries and doubts on the night before a wedding； sire。〃
〃It's not that； Deornoth。 My worries and my self…doubts； as once you so correctly pointed out； are trivial。 There are larger matters to think of。〃
Deornoth wrapped the collar of his cloak tighter around his neck during the moment of silence。 The night had grown very chill。
〃I am happy to be alive；〃 Josua said at last； 〃but I do feel a bit like a mouse that the cat has allowed to run into the corner。 Alive； yes； but for how long？ Far worse than even my brother's evil； now the Hand of the North is reaching out。〃 He sighed。 〃Once I nurtured a hope that Jarnauga's tale was untrue； despite all the evidence； but the moment I saw those white faces staring up at me from before the walls of Naglimund； something within me died。 No； do not worry； good Deornoth；〃 the prince said hastily； 〃I am not about to run maundering； as I know you secretly dread。 I have taken your admonitions to heart。〃 He laughed sourly。 〃But at the same time； I tell only the truth。 There are hatreds that run through this world like blood； hot and lively。 All my studies of evil with the Usirean brothers； all their learned considerations of the Devil and his work； never made that so clear as one instant staring into those black eyes。 The world has a dark underbelly； Deornoth。 I wonder if maybe it is better not to seek after knowledge。〃
〃But surely God put such things on the earth to test our faith； Prince Josua；〃 Deornoth ventured at last。 〃If no one ever saw evil； who would fear Hell？〃
〃Who indeed？〃 The prince's tone changed。 〃But this is not why I came out to speak to you。 Leave it to Josua to turn any conversation into a dour and doomful one。〃 He laughed again； this time it seemed more cheerful。 〃Actually； I came to ask you to stand for me when Vorzheva and I are married in the morning。〃
〃Prince Josua； I am honored。 Gladly…1 will do it gladly。〃
〃You have been the most loyal of friends； Deornoth。〃
〃You are the best lord a man could have。〃
〃I did not say 'liege man' or 'knight；' Deornoth。〃 Josua spoke firmly； but with a hint of good humor in his voice。 〃I said 'friend'…but do not think that standing for me is an honor bereft of responsibility。 It is not。〃 He became serious。 〃I have not had a splendid history of caring for those dear to me； Deornoth my friend。 You may protest； but it is a simple fact。 Thus； if something happens to me； 1 want your word that you will look after Vorzheva and our child。〃
〃Of course； my prince。〃
〃Say it。〃 Then； more gently： 〃Swear it to me。〃
〃I swear by the honor of Blessed Elysia that I will protect the welfare of Lady Vorzheva and the child she carries as if they were my own family。 I will lay down my life without hesitation； if need be。〃
Josua clasped the knight's wrist and held it for a moment。 〃Good。 Many thanks。 The Lord bless you； Deornoth。〃
〃May He bless you； too； Prince Josua。〃
The prince sighed。 〃And all the rest as well。 Did you know； Deornoth； that tomorrow is the f