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what we will do。 〃
〃I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your help；〃 Josua said sol… emnly。 〃You have saved our lives。 If Fengbald and his soldiers had caught us； we would be going back to the Hayholt in chains。 Then there would be no one to stop my brother。〃
Hotvig looked at him keenly。 〃You may think so； but you do not know the strength of the Free Thrithings if you think we would be so easily overe。〃 He hefted his long spear。 〃Already the men of the Meadow Thrithings are making things very difficult for the stone…dwellers of Nabban。〃
Father Strangyeard； who had been listening carefully； made a worried face。 〃The king is not the only one we fear； Hotvig。〃
The Thrithings…man nodded。 〃So you told me。 And I would hear more； but now I must go back for the rest of my people。 If your destination is as close as the woman says；〃 he indicated Geloe with careful respect； 〃then look for us before sunset tomorrow。 The wagons can go no faster。〃
〃But do not delay；〃 the wise woman said。 〃I did not speak lightly when I said we must make haste ahead of this storm。〃
〃No one can ride like grasslander horsemen；〃 Hotvig said sternly。 〃And our wagon…teams are not much slower。 We will be with you before tomorrow's night。〃 He laughed； again showing his missing tooth。 〃Leave it to city folk to find stone in the middle of the meadowlands； then want to make their home there。 Still；〃 he said to the prince； 〃I knew when you killed Utvart that things would never be the same for anyone。 My father taught me to trust my hand and my heart。〃 He grinned。 〃My luck； too。 I bet one of my foals on you； Josua； in your fighting with Utvart。 My friends were ashamed to best me so easily； but they took my wager；〃 He laughed loudly。 〃You won four good horses for me！〃 He turned his mount toward the south； waving。 〃Soon we will meet again！〃
〃And no arrows this time；〃 cried Deornoth。
〃Go safely；〃 Josua called as Hotvig and his men spurred away across the green lands。
Heartened by the encounter with the Thrithings…folk； the travelers rode cheerfully through the morning despite the threatening skies。 When they stopped briefly to take their midday meal and water the horses； Sangfugol even convinced Father Strangyeard to sing with him。 The priest's surprisingly sweet voice blended well with the harper's； and if Father Strangyeard did not quite understand what 〃The Ballad of Round…Heeled Moirah〃 was about； his enjoyment was the greater for it； and for the laughing praise given to him after。
When they were in the saddle once more； Deornoth found himself ridmg beside Geloe； who cradled Leieth before her on the saddle。 She rode flawlessly； as one of long experience； Deornoth found himself wondering once more what the wise woman's strange history might be。 She was also still wearing the spare clothing he had brought out of the wagon…camp； as if she had e to that fateful copse of trees naked。 After thinking for a while about why that might be； and remembering the clawed thing that had struck at him in darkness； Deornoth decided that there were some things about which a God…fearing knight should not inquire。
〃Forgive me； Valada Geloe；〃 he said； 〃but you look very grim。 Is there something important you have not told us yet？〃 He indicated Sangfugol and Strangyeard； laughing with Duchess Gutrun as they rode。 〃Are we singing in the lich…yard； as the old saying goes？〃
Geloe continued to watch the sky。 From her lap； Leieth looked at him as though he were an interesting rock。 〃I fear many things； Sir Deornoth；〃 Geloe said at last。 〃The problem with being a 'wise woman' is that sometimes you know just enough to be truly afraid； while still not having any better answers than might the youngest child。 I fear this ing storm。 The one who is our true enemy…I will not say his name here in this land； not in the open…is reaching the summit of his power。 We have already seen in this cold summer how his pride and anger speak m the winds and clouds。 Now； black weather is swirling out of the north。 I am sure it is his storm； if I am right； it will bring woe to those who resist him。〃
Deornoth found himself following her gaze。 Suddenly； the ominous clouds seemed an inky hand stretching across the sky from the north； blindly but patiently searching。 The idea of waiting for that hand to find them sent a poisonous dread twisting through him； so that he had to look down at his saddle for a moment before he could lift his eyes to Geloe's yellow stare。
〃I understand；〃 he said。
Sunlight bled fitfully through chinks in the clouds。 The wind turned； blowing into their faces； heavy and moist。 As they followed the line of the valley； a broad bend in the Stefflod revealed for the first time the old forest； the Aldheorte。 The great wood was much nearer than Deornoth would have guessed…the party's return on horseback had been far swifter than their straggling march out…across the Thrithings。 Because of their descent into the river valley； the forest now stood on the heights above them； a solid line of vegetation like dark cliffs along the valley's northern rim。
〃It is not far now；〃 Geloe said。
They rode on through the afternoon as the curtained sun slid down the sky； glowing behind the gray murk。 Another turn in the river's course brought them around a cluster of shallow hills。 They stopped short。 〃Merciful Aedon；〃 Deornoth breathed to himself。 〃Sesuad'ra；〃 Geloe said。 〃There stands the Stone of Farewell。〃 〃That's no stone；〃 Sangfugol said disbelievingly。 〃That's a mountain！〃 A great hill rose from the valley floor before them。 Unlike its low； rounded neighbors； Sesuad'ra thrust up from the meadows like the head of a buried giant； bearded with trees； crowned with angular stones that stood along the ridgeline。 Beyond the spiky stones some shimmering whiteness lay along the hill's very peak。 An immense； upward…straining slab of weathered rock and clinging brush； Sesuad'ra loomed some five hundred cubits above the river。 The uneven sunlight washed across the hill in wavering bands； so that the entire mass almost seemed to turn and watch them as they rode slowly down the watercourse。
〃It is much like Thisterborg； near the Hayholt；〃 Josua said wonderingly。 〃That's no stone；〃 Sangfugol repeated stubbornly； shaking his head。 Geloe laughed harshly。 〃It is all stone。 Sesuad'ra is a part of the very bones of the earth； thrust free of her body in the pain of the Days of Fire； but still reaching down into the very center of the world。〃
Father Strangyeard was eyeing the massive hill nervously。 〃And we are going to。。。 are going to。。。 stay there？ Live there？〃 The witch woman smiled。 〃We have permission。〃
As they neared； it became apparent that the Stone was not so sheer as distance made it seem。 A path； a lighter streak through the choking trees and brush； snaked its way around the base of the hill； then appeared again farther up； spiraling summitward around the circumference of the rock until it disappeared near the crest。
〃How can trees live on such a stone； let alone thrive？〃 Deornoth asked。 〃Can they grow in the very rock？〃
〃Sesuad'ra has been broken and worn over the eons of its existence；〃 Geloe answered。 〃P