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the mask of his helm； he was instead some subtler； more feline predator； a creature of fierce but quiet joy。 He felt the freezing night on his face and knew that nothing that lived beneath the black sky could escape him for long。
Ingen Jegger slid the crystalline dagger from his sleeve and held it before him； staring at it as though it were a mirror in which he could see himself； the Ingen who had feared to die in obscurity。 Catching some hardy beam of moonlight or starshine； the translucent blade burned with a chilly blue fire； its carvings seemed to writhe like serpents beneath his fingers。 This was all he had dreamed； and more。 The Queen in the Silver Mask had set him a great task； a task befitting the making of a legend。 Soon…he felt it with a certainty that made him tremble…soon that task would be acplished。 Ingen let the dagger slide back into his sleeve。
〃Go； Niku'a；〃 he whispered； as though the hidden stars might betray him if they heard。 〃It is time to hunt our prey to ground。 We will run。〃
Ingen vaulted into the saddle。 His patient mount stirred as if awakening。
The snow swirled； blowing through the empty night where a moment before a man； a horse； and a dog had stood。
The afternoon light was failing； the translucent walls of Jiriki's house gradually growing darker。 Aditu had brought a meal of fruit and warm bread to Simon's room； an act of kindness for which he would have been even more appreciative had she not stayed to annoy him。 It was not that Simon did not enjoy Aditu's pany or admire her exotic beauty： it was； in fact； her very beauty and shamelessness that disturbed him； making it especially difficult to concentrate on such mundane tasks as eating。
Aditu trailed a finger up his backbone once more。 Simon nearly choked on a mouthful of bread。
〃Don't do that！〃
The Sitha…woman made an interested face。 〃Why not？ Does it cause you pain？〃
〃No！ Of course not。 It tickles。〃 He turned away sulkily； inwardly regretting his lack of manners…but not much。 He was feeling； as he usually did around Aditu； quite flummoxed。 Jiriki； for all his alien ways； had never made Simon think of himself as a cloddish mortal： beside Aditu； Simon felt himself to be made of mud。
She was attired today in little but feathers and jeweled beads and a few strips of fabric。 Her body gleamed with scented oils。
〃Tickles？ But is that bad？〃 she asked。 〃I do not wish to hurt you or make you unfortable； Seoman。 It is just that you are so…〃 she searched for the proper word； 〃…so unusual； and I have seldom been near your kind。〃 She seemed to be enjoying his disfiture。 〃You are very wide here。。。〃 She ran a finger from one of his shoulders to the other； sighing as this occasioned another muffled yelp。 〃It is clear you are not made like our folk。〃
Simon； who had slid out of reach once more； grunted。 He was unfortable around her； that was a simple fact。 Her presence had begun to make him feel as though he had some kind of damnable itch； and in his solitude he had e to both yearn for and yet fear her arrivals。 Every time he stole a glance at her slim body； displayed with an immodesty that still shocked him to the depths of his being； he found himself remembering the thundering sermons of Father Dreosan。 Simon was astonished to discover that the priest； whom he had always thought an idiot； had been right after all…the devil did make snares for the flesh。 Just watching Aditu's lissome； catlike movements filled Simon with a squirming consciousness of sin。 It was the more terrible； he knew； because Jiriki's sister was not even of his own kind。
As the priest had taught； Simon tried to keep the pure face of Elysia the Mother of God before him when he was confronted by the temptation of flesh。 Back in the Hayholt Simon had seen that face in hundreds of paintings and sculptures； in countless candlelit shrines； but now he was alarmed to find his memory turning traitor。 In recollection； the eyes of Usires' sainted mother seemed more playful and more feline than could possibly be proper or holy。
Despite this disfort； in his loneliness he was still grateful to Aditu for all her attentions； however perfunctory he sometimes thought them to be； and however careless of Simon's feelings her teasing sometimes became。 He was most grateful for the meals。 Jiriki was seldom at home of late； and Simon was more than a little uncertain about which of the fruits； vegetables； and less familiar plants growing in the prince's extensive forest gardens could be safely eaten。 There was no one but the prince's sister on whom he could rely。 Even among the first family…the 〃Root and Branch〃 as Jiriki had phrased it…there seemed to be nothing like servants。 Everyone tended for themselves； as befitted the Sithi's solitary habits。 Simon knew that the Sithi kept animals； or rather； that the valley was full of animals that came when they were called。 The goats and sheep must allow themselves to be milked for the meals Aditu brought him often included fragrant cheeses； but the Sithi seemed to eat no meat。 Simon often thought longingly about all those trusting animals wandering the paths of Jao e…Tinukai'i。 He knew he would never dare do anything about it； but… Aedon'…wouldn't a leg of mutton be a fine thing to have！
Aditu poked him again。 Simon stolidly ignored her。 She got up and walked past the nest of soft blankets that was Simon's bed； stopping before the billowing blue wall。 The wall had been scarlet when Jiriki first brought him； but Simon's Sitha host had somehow changed its color to this more soothing cerulean。 When Aditu brushed it with her long… fingered hand； the fabric slid away like a drawn curtain； revealing another； larger room beyond。
〃Let us return to our game；〃 she said。 〃You are too serious； manchild。〃
〃I will never be able to learn it；〃 Simon muttered。
〃You do not apply yourself。 Jiriki claims you have a good mind… although my brother has been wrong before。〃 Aditu reached into a fold in the wall and produced a crystal sphere which began to glow at her touch。 She placed it on a simple tripod of wood； letting its light spread through the darkened room； then took a carved wooden case from beneath the colorful shent board and removed the polished stones that served as playing pieces。 〃I think I had just made myself an acre of Woodlarks。 e； Seoman； play and don't pout。 You had a good idea the other day； a very clever idea…fleeing that which you truly sought。〃 She stroked his arm； making the hairs stand up； and gave him one of her strange Sithi smiles； full of impenetrable significance。
〃Seoman has other games to play tonight。〃
Jiriki stood in the doorway； dressed in what appeared to be ceremonial attire； an intricately embroidered robe in varied shades of yellow and blue。 He wore soft gray boots。 His sword Indreju dangled at his hip in a scabbard of the same gray stuff； and three long white heron feathers were braided into his hair 〃He has received a summons。〃
Aditu carefully set the pieces on the board。 〃I shall have to play by myself； then…unless you are staying。 Willow…switch。〃 She gazed from beneath lowered lids。
Jiriki shook his head。 〃No； sister I must be S