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〃Who pursues you？〃
Miriamele shook her head。 Spray arched high over the bow as the ship nosed down into another trough。 〃I cannot say； but I am in terrible danger。 That's why I had to hide on the boat。〃
〃And the monk？ Your learned guardian？ Is he not in danger； too？〃
Miriamele was brought up short by Gan Itai's question。 There was much she had not had time to think about。 〃Yes； I suppose he is。〃
The Niskie nodded； as if satisfied。 〃Fear not。 Your secret is safe with me。〃
〃You won't tell Aspitis 。 。 the earl？〃
Gan Itai shook her head。 〃My own allegiances are more plex than you can know。 But I cannot promise you he will remain ignorant。 He is a clever one； Eadne Cloud's master。〃
〃I know。〃 Miriamele's reply was heartfelt。
The mounting storm flung down another wash of rain。 Gan Itai leaned forward； staring out into the wind…tossed sea。 〃House of Ve； they do not stay down long！ Curse them； but they are strong！〃 She turned to Miriamele。 〃I think it is time for me to sing once more。 It would probably be good for you to get below deck。〃
Miriamele awkwardly thanked the Niskie for her panionship； then stood and made her way down the slippery ladder and off the forecastle。 Thunder growled like a beast hunting them through the darkness。 She wondered suddenly； desperately； if she had been a fool to open her heart to this strange creature。
At the hatchway she stopped； cocking her head。 In the black night behind her； Gan Itai's song had been lifted against the storm once more； a slender ribbon offered to hold back the angry sea。
24
Dogs of Erchester
JOSUA'S pany rode north along the banks of the river Stefflod； heading upstream from the juncture with the Ymstrecca through grassland rumpled with low hills。 Soon the downs began to rise higher on either side； so that the prince's folk found themselves traveling through a meadowed river…valley； a wide trough of land with the watercourse at its center。
The Stefflod wound along beneath the somber sky； shining dully as a vein of tarnished silver。 Like the Ymstrecca； its song at first seemed muffled； but Deornoth thought this river had a queer undertone to its murmuring； as though it hid the voices of a great whispering throng。 Sometimes the noise of the water seemed to rise in what was almost a thread of melody； clear as a succession of pealing bells。 A moment later； as Deornoth strained to hear what it was that had captured his attention； nothing sounded but the mutter and rush of moving water。
The light playing upon the Stefflod's surface was just as dreamily inconstant。 Despite the overcast； the water glimmered at times as though cold…burning stars were rolling and bumping along the river's bottom。 At other moments the gleam heightened to a sparkle like a froth of jewels。 Then…just as suddenly； whether the sun was showing or cloud…hidden… the waterway would again bee dark and unreflective as lead。
〃Strange； isn't it？〃 Father Strangyeard said。 〃For all the things we've seen； my goodness； the world still has more to show us； doesn't it？〃
〃There's something very。。。 alive about it。〃 Deornoth squinted。 A curl of light seemed to wriggle on the river's agitated skin； like a radiant fish struggling against the current。
〃Well； it is all 。。。 hmmm 。。。 all part of God；〃 Strangyeard said； making the sign of the Tree on his breast； 〃so of course it is alive。〃 He squinted too； frowning slightly。 〃But I do know what you mean； Sir Deornoth。〃
The valley that had gradually risen around them seemed to take much of its character from the river。 Willow trees stood sleepily beside the water…course； shivering as they bent to the cold water like women washing their hair。 As the riders traveled farther； the river widened and slowed。 Thickets of reeds appeared along the banks； resplendent with birds who shrieked from their bowers to warn all their tribe that strangers walked the land。
Strangers； Deornoth thought。 That is what we suddenly seem here。 As if we have passed out of the lands meant for our folk and crossed over into someone else's domain。 He remembered Geloe's words on that night； weeks back； when they had first met her in the forest：
〃Sometimes you men are like lizards； sunning on the stones of a crumbled house； thinking： 'what a nice basking spot someone built for me。' 〃 The witch woman had frowned as she spoke。
She told us we were in Sithi lands； he recalled。 Now we are again entering their fields； that is all。 That is why things seem so strange。
Somehow this did not dispel his unsettled feeling。
They made camp in a meadow。 The low grass was dotted here and there with fairy…rings； as the woman Ielda had called them； perfect circles of small white toadstools that shone faintly against the dark turf as twi… light came on。 Duchess Gutrun did not like the idea of sleeping so near to these rings； but Father Strangyeard sensibly pointed out that the people of Gadrinsett said the whole of this land belonged to the 〃fairies；〃 so the proximity of a mushroom ring meant little。 Gutrun； more concerned for the safety of the child Leieth than herself； gave in with reservations。
A small fire； made with willow branches they had gathered during the journey； helped to dispel some of the strangeness。 The prince's party ate and talked quietly long into the evening。 Old Towser； who had been sleeping so long and so deeply during the journey that he hardly seemed one of their pany anymore； but more like a piece of baggage； awak… ened and lay staring at the night sky。
〃The stars aren't right；〃 he said at last； so quietly that none heard him。 He repeated himself more loudly。 Josua came to kneel beside him； taking the jester's trembling hand in his。
〃What is it； Towser？〃
〃The stars； they aren't right。〃 The old man pulled his fingers free from the prince's grip and gestured upward。 〃There's the Lamp； but it's got one star more than it should。 And where's the Crook？ It shouldn't be gone 'til harvest time。 And there's others there I don't know at all。〃 His lip quivered。 〃We're all dead。 We've gone through into the Shadow Land like my grandmother used to tell of。 We're dead。〃
〃e； now；〃Josua said gently。 〃We are not dead。 We are simply in a different place； and you have been in and out of dreams。〃
Towser fixed him with a surprisingly sharp eye。 〃It is Anitul…month； is it not？ Don't think I am crazy…old yet； no matter what I have been through。 I have stared at summer skies for nearly twice your lifetime； young prince。 We may be in a different place； but all Osten Ard shares the same stars…does it not？〃
Josua was silent for a while。 A thin babble of voices rose from the campfire behind him。 〃I did not mean to say you had lost your wits； old friend。 We are in a strange place； and who knows what stars may shine upon us？ In any case； there is nothing to be done about it。〃 He took the old man's hand again。 〃Why do you not e and sit closer to the fire？ I think it would be forting to have us all together； at least for a little while。〃
Towser nodded and let Josua help him rise。 〃A little warmth would not go amiss； my prince。 I feel a growing cold in my bones。。。 and I don't