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The featureless corridor soon opened up into a large； high…ceilinged room that； but for the instability of its walls； looked much like a room in any fine house。 The turquoise hue of the cloth near the entrance shaded imperceptibly into ultramarine。 A low table of dark wood stood near one wall； with cushions scattered all around it。 On the table sat a board painted in many colors； Simon thought it a map until he recognized it as a place to play the game called shent； which he had seen Jiriki do in his hunting lodge。 He remembered Aditu's challenge。 The pieces； he guessed； were in the intricate wooden box sitting beside it on the table top。 The only other item on the table was a stone vase containing a single branch from a flowering apple tree。
〃Sit down； Snowlock； please。〃 Aditu waved her hand。 〃I believe Jiriki has a visitor。〃
Before Simon could follow her suggestion； the room's far wall began to billow。 A section flew up as if it had torn free。 Someone dressed in bright green； whose braided hair was a jarringly contrasting shade of red； stepped through。
Simon was surprised at how quickly he recognized Jiriki's uncle； Khendraja'aro。 The Sitha was muttering gruffly in what seemed to be fury…seemed； because Simon could see no discernible emotion on his face at all。 Then Khendraja'aro looked up and spotted Simon。 His angular face blanched； as though the blood had run out of him like water from an upended pail。
〃Sudhoda'ya！ hi…isi'ye…a Sudhoda'ya！〃 he gasped； his voice full of an anger so astonished as to seem like something else altogether。
Khendraja'aro dragged his slender； beringed hand slowly across his eyes and face as if trying to wipe away the sight of gangly Simon。 Unable to do so； Jiriki's uncle hissed in almost feline alarm； then turned on Aditu and began to speak to her in rapid； quietly liquid Sithi that nonetheless strengthened the suggestion of spitting rage。 Aditu absorbed his tirade expressionlessly； her deep； gold…shot eyes wide but unfrightened。 When Khendraja'aro had finished； she answered him calmly。 Her uncle turned and regarded Simon once more； making a series of strangely sinuous gestures with his splayed fingers as he listened to her measured response。
Khendraja'ro took a deep breath； letting a preternatural calm overtake him until he stood motionless as a pillar of stone。 Only his bright eyes seemed alive； burning in his face like lamps。 After several moments of this overwhelming stillness he walked from the room without a word or sideways glance； padding silently down the corridor to the door of Jiriki's house。
Simon was shaken by the unmistakable force of Khendraja'aro's anger。
〃You said something about breaking rules。。。？〃 he asked。
Aditu smiled strangely。 〃Courage； Snowlock。 You are Hikka Staja。〃 She brushed her fingers through her hair； a curiously human gesture； then pointed to the flap where her uncle had entered。 〃Let us go in to my brother。〃
They stepped through into sunlight。 This room； too； was made of fluttering cloth； but the fabric of one long wall had been rolled and drawn up to the ceiling； beyond this opening the hill dropped away for some dozen paces。 Below lay a shallow； peaceful backwater of the same river that passed before Jiriki's front door； a wide pond with a narrow inlet neck； surrounded by reeds and quivering aspens。 Little red…and…brown birds hopped about on the rocks at the center of the pond； like conquerors strutting the battlements of a captured stronghold。 At pond's edge a bale of turtles basked in the sun streaming down through the trees。
〃In the evening the crickets are quite splendid here。〃
Simon turned to see Jiriki； who had apparently been standing in the shadows at the opposite end of the room。
〃Wele to Jao e…Tinukai'i； Seoman；〃 he said。 〃We are well…met。〃
〃Jiriki！〃 Simon sprang forward。 Without thinking； he grasped the slender Sitha in a tight embrace。 The prince tensed for a moment； then relaxed。 His firm hand patted Simon's back。 〃You never said farewell；〃 Simon said； then pulled away； embarrassed。
〃I did not；〃 Jiriki agreed。 He wore a long； loose robe of some thin blue cloth； belted at the waist with a wide red band； his feet were bare。 His lavender hair descended in braids before either ear； and was gathered atop his head with a b of pale； polished wood。
〃I would have died in the woods if you had not helped me；〃 Simon said abruptly； then gave an awkward laugh。 〃If Aditu had not e； that is。〃 He turned to look at her； Jiriki's sister was watching intently。 She nodded her head in acknowledgment。 〃I would have died。〃 He realized as he spoke that it was absolutely true。 He had begun the process of dying when Aditu had found him； growing more distant each day from the business of life。
〃So。〃 Jiriki folded his arms before him。 〃I am honored I could help。 It still does not discharge my obligation； however。 I owed you two lives。 You are my Hikka Staja； Seoman； and so you will remain。〃 He looked over to his sister。 〃The butterflies have gathered。〃
Aditu replied in their lyric tongue； but Jiriki held up his hand。
〃Speak in a way that Seoman can understand。 He is my guest。〃
She stared at him for a moment。 〃We met Khendraja'aro。 He is not happy。〃
〃Uncle has not been happy since Asu'a fell。 No plans of mine are likely to change that。〃
〃It is more than that； Willow…switch； and you know it。〃 Aditu stared hard at him； but her face remained dispassionate。 She turned to look briefly at Simon； for a moment； embarrassment seemed to darken her cheeks。 〃It is strange to speak this tongue。〃
〃These are strange days； Rabbit…and you know that。〃 Jiriki lifted his hands toward the sunlight。 〃Ah； what an afternoon。 We must go； now； all of us。 The butterflies have gathered； as I said。 I speak lightly of Khendraja'aro； but my heart is uneasy。〃
Simon stared at him； pletely baffled。
〃First allow me to take off this ridiculous clothing；〃 Aditu said。 She slipped away through another hidden door so quickly that she seemed to melt into shadow。
Jiriki led Simon toward the front of his house。 〃We will wait for her below。 You and I have much to speak about； Seoman。 but first we must go to the Yasira。〃
〃Why did she call you 。 。 。 Willow…switch？〃 Of all his countless questions； this was the only one he could put into words。
〃Why do I call you Snowlock？〃 Jiriki looked closely at Simon's face； then smiled his charming； feral smile。 〃It is good to see you well； manchild。〃
〃Let us be off；〃 Aditu said。 She had e up behind Simon so soundlessly that he gasped in surprise。 When he turned a moment later； he gasped again。 Aditu had shed her heavy snow…clothing for a dress that was little more than a wisp of glimmering； nearly transparent white cloth belted with a ribbon of sunset orange。 Her slim hips and small breasts were clearly silhouetted beneath the loose garment。 Simon felt his face grow hot。 He had grown up with the chambermaids； but they had moved him out many years before sending him to sleep with the other scullions。 Such near…nakedness was more than disconcerting。 He realized he was staring and turned hurriedly