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〃Seoman Snowlock； manchild；〃 Jiriki said loudly； 〃know you are e before Shima'onari； King of the Zida'ya； Lord of Jao e…Tinukai'i； and Likimeya； Queen of the Dawn…Children； Lady of the House of Year… Dancing。〃
Still kneeling； Simon looked up dizzily。 All eyes were focused on him； as though he were a singularly inappropriate gift。 Shima'onari at last said something to Jiriki； words as harsh…sounding as anything Simon had yet heard the Sithi tongue produce。
〃No； Father；〃 Jiriki said。 〃Whatever else； we must not so lightly turn our backs on our traditions。 A guest is a guest。 I beg you； speak words that Seoman can understand。〃
Shima'onari's thin face pinched in a frown。 When he spoke at last； he proved far less facile with the Westerling tongue than his son and daughter。
〃So。 You are the manchild that saved Jiriki's life。〃 He nodded his head slowly； but did not seem very pleased。 〃I do not know if you can understand this； but my son has done a very bad thing。 He has brought you here against all laws of our people…you； a mortal。〃 He straightened up； looking from face to face among the Sithi…folk that surrounded them。 〃What is done is done； my people； my family；〃 he called。 〃No harm can e to this manchild： we have not sunk so far。 We owe him honor as Hikka Staja…as bearer of a White Arrow。〃 He turned back to Simon； and a look of infinite sadness crept over his face。 〃But neither can you leave； manchild。 We cannot let you leave。 So you will stay forever。 You will grow old and die with us； here in Jao e…Tinukai'i。〃
The wings of a million butterflies murmured and whispered。
〃Stay。。。？〃 Simon turned； unprehending； to Jiriki。 The prince's usually imperturbable face was an ashen mask of shock and sorrow。
Simon was silent as they walked back to Jiriki's house。 Afternoon was slowly fading into twilight； the cooling valley was alive with the smells and sounds of untainted summer。
The Sitha did nothing to break the silence； guiding Simon along the tangled paths with nods and gentle touches。 As they approached the river that ran past Jiriki's door； Sithi voices lifted in song somewhere in the overhanging hills。 The melody that spilled echoing over the valley was an intricately constructed series of descending figures： sweet； but with a touch of dissonance winding through it； like a fox dodging in and out among rainy hedgerows。 There was something unquestionably liquid about the song； after a moment； Simon realized that the invisible musi… cians were in some way singing along with the noise of the river itself。
A flute joined in； ruffling the surface of the music like wind on the watercourse。 Simon was abruptly and painfully struck by the strangeness of this place； loneliness welled within him； an aching emptiness that could not be filled by Jiriki or any of his alien kind。 For all its beauty； Jao e…Tinukai'i was no better than a cage。 Caged animals； Simon knew； languished and soon died。
〃What will I do？〃 he said hopelessly。
Jiriki stared at the glinting river； smiling sadly。 〃Walk。 Think。 Learn how to play shent。 In Jao e…Tinukai'i； there are many ways to pass time。〃
As they walked toward Jiriki's door the water…song cascaded down from the tree…mantled hillside； surrounding them with mournful music that seemed ever…changing but unhurried； patient as the river itself。
23
Deep Waters
BY ELYSIA the Mother；〃 Aspitis Preves said； 〃what a terrible time you have had of it； Lady Marya！〃 The earl lifted his cup to drink but found it empty。 He tapped his fingers on the cloth as his pale squire hurried forward to pour more wine。 〃To think that the daughter of a nobleman should be so ill…treated in our city。〃
The trio sat around the earl's circular table as the remains of a more than adequate supper were cleared away by a page。 Flickering lamplight threw distorted shadows on the walls； outside； the wind sawed in the rigging。 Two of the earl's hounds brawled over a bone beneath the table。
〃Your Lordship is too kind。〃 Miriamele shook her head。 〃My father's barony is very small； just a freeholding； really。 One of the smallest baronies in Cellodshire。〃
〃Ah； then your father must know Godwig？〃 Aspitis' Westerling was a little difficult to understand； and not only because it was his second tongue： the goblet in his hand had been drained and filled several times。
〃Of course。 He is the most powerful of all the barons there…the king's strong hand in Cellodshire。〃 Thinking of the despicable； braying Godwig； Miriamele found it hard to keep her expression pleasant； even while looking on the goldenly handsome Aspitis。 She darted a glance at Cadrach； who was sunk in some dark mood； his brow furrowed like a thunderhead。
He thinks I'm saying too much； Miriamele decided。 She felt a flash of anger。 But who is he to make faces？ He got us into this trap； now； thanks to me； instead of us going over the side as kilpafood； we're at the master's table drinking wine and eating good Lakeland cheese。
〃But I am still astonished by your ill fortune； Lady；〃 Aspitis said。 〃I had heard that these Fire Dancers were a problem in the provinces； and I have seen a few heretical madmen preaching the Fire Dancer creed in Nabban's public places…but the idea that they would actually dare to lay hands on a noblewoman！〃
〃An Erkynlandish noblewoman； a very unimportant one；〃 Miriamele said hastily； worried she might have gone too far in her improvisation。 〃And I was dressed to travel to my new convent home。 They had no idea of my position。〃
〃That is immaterial。〃 Aspitis waved his hand airily； almost knocking over the candle on the tabletop with his trailing sleeve。 He had shed the finery he wore on the quarterdeck； choosing instead a long； simple robe like those worn by knights during their vigil。 But for a delicate gold Tree on a chain about his neck； his only adornment was the insignia of the Prevan House woven on each sleeve； the osprey wings wrapped his forearms like climbing flames。 Miriamele was favorably impressed that a wealthy young man like Aspitis would greet guests in such modest attire。 〃Immaterial；〃 he repeated。 〃These people are heretics and worse。 Besides； a noblewoman from Erkynland is no different than one of Nabban's own Fifty Families。 Noble blood is the same throughout Osten Ard； and like a spring of sweet water in an wilderness； must be protected at all costs。〃 He leaned forward and gently couched her arm through her sleeve。 〃Had I been there； Lady Marya； I would have given my life before letting one of them mishandle you。〃 He leaned back and patted the hilt of his scabbarded sword； studiedly casual。 〃But if I had been forced to make that ultimate sacrifice； I would have insisted that a few of them acpany me。〃
〃Oh；〃 said Miriamele。 〃Oh。〃 She took a deep breath； a little over… whelmed。 〃But really； Earl Aspitis； there is no need to worry。 We escaped quite safely…it's just that we had to flee to your boat and hide。 It was dark； you see； and Father Cadrach。。。〃
〃Brother；〃 the monk said sourly from across the table。 He took a draught of wine。
〃 。。。Brother Cadrach said that this would be the safest place。 So we hid ourselves in the carg