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e core across the grassy verge。 Beside him； Jiriki was toying with the stem that remained from his own。 This was Simon's fifteenth evening in Jao e…Tmukai'i…or was it the sixteenth？ 〃Stay here until I die？ That's madness！〃 He had not； of course； told Jiriki of his failed attempt at escape； but neither could he pretend to be satisfied with his captivity。
Jiriki made what Simon had e to recognize as an unhappy face； a subtle thinning of the lips； a hooding of his upturned； feline eyes。 〃They are my parents；〃 the Sitha said。 〃They are Shima'onari and Likimeya； Lords of the Zida'ya； and what they decide is as unchangeable as the wheel of seasons。
〃But then why did you bring me here？ You broke that rule！〃
〃There was no rule to break。 Not truly。〃 Jiriki twitched the stem once more between his long fingers； then flicked it into the pond。 A tiny circle spread to show where it had fallen。 〃It was always an unspoken law； but that is different than a Word of mand。 It is traditional among the Dawn Children that we may do what we please unless it goes against a Word of mand； but this business of bringing a mortal here cuts to the heart of the things that have divided our people since time out of mind。 I can only ask you to forgive me； Seoman。 It was a risk； and I had no right to gamble with your life。 However； I have e to believe that for once… and hear me； only this once…you mortals may be right and my folk may be wrong。 This spreading winter threatens many things beside the kingdoms of the Sudhoda'ya。〃
Simon lay back； staring up at the brightening stars。 He tried to smother the feeling of desperation that rose inside him。 〃Might your parents change their minds？〃
〃They might；〃 Jiriki said slowly。 〃They are wise； and would be kind if they could。 But do not let your hopes rise too high。 We Zida'ya never hasten to decisions； especially difficult ones。 What might seem to them a reasonable time to ponder could be years； and such waiting is hard for mortals to bear。〃
〃Years！〃 Simon was horrified。 He suddenly understood the beast that would gnaw off its own leg to escape a trap。 〃Years！〃
〃I am sorry； Seoman。〃 Jiriki's voice was hoarse as though with great pain； but his golden features still showed little emotion。 〃There is one hopeful sign； but do not read too much into it。 The butterflies remain。〃
〃What？〃
〃At the Yasira。 They gather when great decisions are to be made。 They have not flown； so there are things still unresolved。〃
〃What things？〃 Despite Jiriki's warning； Simon felt a surge of hope。
〃I do not know。〃 He shook his head。 〃Now is the time for me to stay away。 At this moment； I am not my father's and mother's favored voice； so I must wait before I go to them again to make my arguments。 Fortunately； First Grandmother Amerasu seems to have concerns about my parents' actions…my father's； especially。〃 He smiled wryly。 〃Her words carry great weight。〃
Amerasu。 Simon knew that name。 He inhaled deeply of the night。 Suddenly it came back to him： a face more beautiful and yet undeniably more ancient than even those of Jiriki's ageless parents。 Simon sat up。
〃Do you know； Jiriki； I saw her face once in the mirror…Amerasu； the one you call First Grandmother。〃
〃In the mirror？ In the dragon…scale mirror？〃
Simon nodded。 〃I know I wasn't supposed to use it unless I was calling for your help； but what happened。。。 it was an accident。〃 He proceeded to describe his strange encounter with Amerasu and the terrifying appearance of silver…masked Utuk'ku。
Jiriki seemed to have entirely forgotten the crickets； despite the splendor of their song。 〃I did not forbid you to use the mirror； Seoman；〃 he said。 〃What is surprising is that you were able to see anything but natural reflection。 That is odd。〃 He made an unfamiliar gesture with his hand。 〃I must talk to First Grandmother about this。 Very odd。〃
〃May I e？〃 Simon asked。
〃No； Seoman Snowlock；〃 Jiriki smiled。 〃No one goes to see Amerasu the Ship…Born without her invitation。 Even Root and Bough…what you would call her nearest kin…must ask very respectfully for such a favor。 You do not know how astonishing it is that you saw her m my mirror。 You are a menace； manchild。〃
〃A menace？ Me？〃
The Sitha laughed。 〃Your presence is what I refer to。〃 He touched Simon lightly on the shoulder。 〃You are without precedent； Snowlock。 pletely unknown and unforeseen。〃 He rose。 〃I will move on this。 I am anxious myself for something to do。〃
Simon； who had never been good at waiting； was left alone with the pond； the crickets； and the unreachable stars。
It all seemed so strange。 One moment he had been fighting for his life； perhaps even for the survival of all Osten Ard； struggling against bone…weanness and dark magic and terrible odds； a moment later he had been snatched out of winter and dropped headlong into summer； out of hideous danger and into。。。 boredom。
But； Simon realized； it was not even so simple as that。 Just because he had been removed from the world did not mean that the problems he had left behind were solved。 On the contrary； somewhere out there； living or dead in the snowy woods beyond Jao e…Tinukai'i； was his horse Homefinder and its terrible burden…the sword Thorn； for which Simon and his fnends had crossed hundreds of leagues and shed precious blood。 Men and Sithi alike had died to find that blade for Josua。 Now； with the sword perhaps lost in the forest； Simon had been imprisoned as offhandedly as Rachel had once locked him in one of the Hayholt's dark pantries for some trifling misdeed。
Simon had told Jiriki about the lost sword； but the Sitha had only shrugged； infuriatingly placid。 There was nothing to be done。
Simon looked up。 He had wandered far up the riverbank in the stillness of early afternoon； Jiriki's house； with its tapestry of knots； had fallen out of sight behind him。 He sat down on a stone and watched a white egret stilt out into one of the river's shallow backwaters； bright eye staring obliquely； pretending disinterest to allay the fears of any wary fish。
He was sure that at least three weeks had passed since he had e to the valley。 For the last few days his imprisonment had seemed almost a sort of terribly dull joke； one that had gone on too long and now threatened to spoil everyone's enjoyment。
〃What can I do？ 〃 In frustration； he scrabbled up a twig from the dirt and sent it spinning out onto the water。 〃There's no way to leave。〃'
Thinking back on the grand failure of his first escape and the other confirming experiments that had followed； Simon made a noise of disgust and threw another twig out onto the river。 Every attempt to find his way out had left him back in the center of Jao e…Tinukai'i。
How could I have been such a mooncalf？ he thought sourly。 Why should I think it would he so easy to walk away from here； when Aditu and I had to walk clear out of winter to arrive？ The stick whirled for a moment； spinning like a weathervane； then was sucked under by the gentle current。
That's me； he thought。 That's what I'll be like as far as these Sithi…folk are concerned。 I'll be around for a little while； then before they even realize I'm get