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At first it seemed a temple of some sort； like the great old buildings of Nabban from the days of the Imperium； but its lines were plainer。 Its unassuming but affecting style made it seem almost to spring from the hill itself。 It was plain that this structure belonged on this windy hilltop； beneath this incredibly wide sky。 The grandeur and self…interest that spoke from every angle of houses of human worship； however finely wrought； was a language alien to whoever had built this。 The passage of unguessable years had in places brought its walls to collapse。 Unhindered for centuries； trees had thrust up through the building's very roof； or pushed their way in at the arched doorways like unwanted guests。 Still； the simplicity and beauty of the place were so plain…and at the same time so inhuman… that for a long time no one ventured to speak。
〃We are here；〃 Josua said at last； his tones solemn but exalted。 〃After all our danger and all our suffering； we have found a place where we can stop and say： we go no farther。〃
〃It is not forever； Prince Josua。〃 Geloe spoke gently； as if unwilling to break his mood； but the prince was already striding confidently across the hilltop toward the white walls。
〃It need not be forever；〃 he called。 〃But for now； we will be safe！〃 He turned and waved his hand for the others to follow； then continued turning； gazing around him on all sides。 〃I take back what I said！〃 he shouted to Geloe。 〃With a few good folk behind me； I could make a stand here and Sir Camaris himself could not defeat me； not with all the knights of my father's Great Table at his side！〃
He bounded away toward the pale walls that now showed a touch of blue。 Evening was ing on。 The others went after him； talking quietly among themselves as they passed through the swaying grass。
25
Petals in a Wind Storm
〃A FOOLISH game；〃 Simon said。 〃It doesn't make any sense。〃
Aditu lifted an eyebrow。
〃It doesn't！〃 he insisted； 〃I mean； look！ You could win if you just moved here。。。 〃 he pointed； 〃and there。。。〃 he pointed again。 Looking up； he found Aditu's golden eyes upon him； laughing； mocking。 〃Couldn't you。。。？〃 he finished。
〃Of course； Seoman。〃 She moved the polished stones across the gaming board as he had suggested； from one golden island to another over a sea of sapphire…blue waves。 The mock…ocean was surrounded by scarlet flames and murky gray clouds。 〃But then the game is over； and only the shallowest waters have been explored。〃
Simon shook his head。 He had struggled for days to learn the plex rules of shent； only to discover that what he had been taught were only the rudiments。 How could he learn a game that people did not play to win？ But Aditu did not try to lose either； as far as Simon could tell。 Instead； it seemed as though the issue was to make the game interesting by introducing themes and puzzles； most of which were as far beyond Simon's prehension as the mechanisms of the rainbow。
〃If you will not take offense；〃 Aditu said； smiling； 〃may I instead show you another way？〃 She put the markers back in their previous locations。 〃If I use these Songs of mine to build a Bridge here。。。〃…a quick flurry of movements…〃then you can cross to the Isles of the Cloud of Exile。〃
〃But why do you want to help me？〃 Somewhere； as if in the very fabric of the mutable walls； a stringed instrument began to sound； if Simon had not known that they were quite alone within the airy nectarine halls of Aditu's house； he would have thought a musician played in the next wind…shifting room。 He had stopped wondering about such things； but could not still a reflexive shudder； the music felt eerie and delicate as a small and excessively…legged something walking across his skin。 〃How can you win a game when you keep helping the other person？〃
Aditu leaned back from the gaming board。 In her own home she wore just as little as she did on the walkways of Jao e…Tinukai'i； if not less。 Simon； who still could not look fortably on the abundance of her golden limbs； stared hard at the playing pieces。
〃Manchild；〃 she said； 〃I think you can learn。 I think you are learning。 But remember； we Zida'ya have been playing this game since time before time。 First Grandmother says it came with us from the Garden that is Lost。〃 She laid a placatory hand on Simon's arm； raising goosebumps there。 〃Shent can be played to amuse； only。 I have played games that were nothing but gossip and friendly mockery； and all strategies were turned to that end。 Other games one can only win by almost losing。 1 have also experienced games where both players truly strove to lose…although it took years for one to succeed。〃 Some memory brought a flick of smile。 〃Do you not see； Snowlock； winning and losing are only the walls within which the game takes place。 Inside the House of Shent。。。〃 she paused； a frown touching her mercurial face like a shadow。 〃It is hard to say in your tongue。〃 The frown disappeared。 〃Perhaps that is why it seems so difficult for you。 The thing is； within the House of Shent it is the ing and going； the visitors…friends and enemies both…the births and deaths； all of these things that matter。〃 She gestured around her at her own habitation； the floors deep in sweet grass； the rooms tangled with the branches of tiny flowering trees。 Some of the trees； Simon had discovered； had fierce little thorns。 〃As with all dwellings；〃 she said； 〃of mortals and immortals both； it is the living that makes a house…not the doors； not the walls。〃
She rose and stretched。 Simon watched covertly； struggling to keep his frowning mask even as her graceful movements caused his heart to leap painfully。 〃We will continue our play tomorrow；〃 she said。 〃I think you are learning； although you do not know it yet。 Shent has lessons even for Sudhoda'ya； Seoman。〃
Simon knew that she was bored and that it was time for him to leave。 He was terribly conscious of never overstaying his wele。 He hated it when the Sithi were kind and understanding with him； as though he were a stupid animal that did not know better。
〃I should go； Aditu。〃
She did not ask him to stay。 Anger and regret and a sort of deep physical frustration all struggled within him as he bowed his head briefly； then turned and made his way out between the swaying blossoms。 The afternoon light glowed through the orange and rose walls； as if he moved inside the very heart of a sunset。
He stood outside Aditu's house for some time； looking out past the shimmering mist thrown up from the cataract that played beside her doorway。 The valley was umber and gold； slashed with the darker green of the tree…covered hills and the bright emerald of tended meadows。 To look at； Jao e…Tinukai'i seemed straightforward as sun and rain。 Like any other place； it had rocks and plants and trees and houses…but it also had the Sithi； the folk who lived in these houses； and Simon had grown quite sure that he would never understand them。 Like the minute and secret life that teemed in the black earth beneath the valley's placid grass； Simon now realized that Jao e…Tinukai'i was crowded with things beyond his prehension。 He had already found out how little he understood when he ha