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up of water； which she held to Simon's lips with her own hands。 He drank thirstily。 The water was cold and sweet； with just a savor of wood and earth； as though it had been scooped from the trunk of a hollow tree。 In her white robe； Simon thought； Amerasu looked like some pale and radiant saint from a church picture。
〃What。。。 did you do？〃 he asked as he sat up。 There was a buzzing sound in his ears and small shining flecks dancing before his eyes。
〃I learned what I needed to learn；〃 Amerasu said。 〃I knew that I had seen you in Jiriki's mirror； but I thought that a fluke； a mischance。 The Road of Dreams has changed much of late； and has bee as obscure and unpredictable to even the experienced as it once was for those who only traveled it in sleep。 I see now that our earlier meeting was no accident of fate。〃
〃Do you mean that your meeting with Simon was intended by someone； First Grandmother？〃 Jiriki said。
〃No。 I mean only that the boundaries between those worlds and ours are beginning to weaken。 Someone like this manchild； who has been pulled one way and another； who through true chance or some unimaginable design has been dragged into many powerful and dangerous connections between the dream world and the waking 。。。〃 She trailed off； seating herself carefully once more before continuing。 〃It is as though he lived on the edge of a great wood。 When the trees begin to spread outward； it is his house that first has roots across the threshold。 When the wolves of the forest begin to grow hungry； it is beneath his window that they first e howling。〃
Simon struggled to speak。 〃What did you learn。。。 from my memories？ About。。。 about Ineluki？〃
Her face became impassive。 〃Too much。 I believe I now understand my son's terrible； subtle design； but I must think a while longer。 Even in this hour； I must not be frightened into foolish haste。〃 She lifted a hand to her brow。 〃If I am correct； our danger is graver than we ever guessed。 I must speak to Shima'onari and Likimeya。 I only hope they listen…and that time has not passed us by。 We may be starting to dig the well as our houses burn down。〃
Jiriki helped Simon sit up。 〃My father and mother must listen。 Everyone knows your wisdom； First Grandmother。 〃
Amerasu smiled sadly。 〃Once； the women of the House Sa'onserei were the keepers of lore。 The final word belonged to the eldest of the house。 When Jenjiyana of the Nightingales saw the right of things； she spoke and it was so。 Since the Flight； things have changed。〃 Her hand fluttered in the air like a bird alighting。 〃1 am certain your mother will listen to reason。 Your father is good； Jiriki； but in some ways he dwells even more deeply in the past than I do。〃 She shook her head。 〃Forgive me。 I am weary and I have much to think about。 Otherwise； I would not talk so uncarefully； and especially in front of this boy。〃 She extended her hand toward Simon； brushing his cheek with her fingertip。 The pain of his old burn became less。 As he looked at her solemn face and the weight she seemed to carry； he reached up and touched her retreating hand。
〃Jiriki spoke to you truthfully； manchild；〃 she said。 〃For better or for worse； you have been marked。 I only wish I could give you some word to help you on your journey。〃
The light faded again。 Simon let Jirki lead him out in darkness。
26
Painted Eyes
MIRIAMELE leaned against the railing； watching the bustle and activity of the docks。 Vinitta was not a large island； but its ruling Benidrivine house had provided Nabban's final two Imperators； as well as its three dukes under Prester John's kingship。 It had also been the birthplace of the legendary Camaris； but even so great a knight was accorded only a middling…high place in Vinitta's luminous； hero…studded history。 The port was a busy one： with Benigaris on the ducal throne； the fortunes of Vinitta still ran high。
Aspitis Preves and his captain had gone down into the town to acplish their business。 What that might be； Miriamele could not say。 The earl had intimated that he had some important mission direct from Duke Benigaris； but that was as far as he would discuss the subject。 Aspitis had bade both Miriamele and Cadrach stay on board until he returned； suggesting that the port was not the place for a noble lady to wander； and that he had not enough men…at…arms available to handle his own affairs safely less still detach a pair of soldiers for their protection。
Miriamele knew what this meant。 Whatever Aspitis thought of her； however he valued her beauty and pany； he did not intend to give her the chance to slip away。 Perhaps he harbored some doubts about her story； or simply worried that she might be persuaded to leave by Cadrach； who had made little attempt to disguise his growing hatred of the Earl of Eadne and Drina。
She sighed； gazing sadly at the rows of tented booths that ran along the dockfront； each one festooned with flags and crammed with goods for sale。 Hawkers cried their wares as they shuffled along the road； carrying their stock on their backs in huge； overstuffed bags。 Dancers and musicians performed for coins； and the sailors of various boats mingled with Vinitta's residents in a shouting； laughing； swearing throng。 Despite the dark skies and intermittent flumes of rain； the crowds that swarmed the waterfront seemed bent on making a cheerful ruckus。 Miriamele's heart ached to join them。
Cadrach stood beside her； pink face paler than usual。 The monk had not spoken much since Aspitis' pronouncement； he had watched the earl's party leave the Eadne Cloud with much the same sour expression as he now leveled on the activity below。
〃God；〃 he said； 〃but it makes a man sick to see such heedlessness。〃 It was not exactly clear what his remark addressed； but Miriamele felt it rankle nonetheless。
〃And you；〃 she snapped。 〃You are better？ A drunkard and coward？〃
Cadrach's large head came around； moving as ponderously as a millwheel。 〃It is my very heedfulness that makes me so。 Lady； I have watched too carefully。〃
〃Watched what？ Oh； never mind： I am not in the mood for one of your roundabout lectures。〃 She shivered with anger； but could nor summon the sense of righteousness she sought。 Cadrach had grown more remote over the last few days； observing her from what seemed a disapproving distance。 This irritated her； but the continuing flirtation between herself and the earl made even Miriamele somewhat unfortable。 It was hard to feel truly justified in her irritation； but it was harder still to have Cadrach's gray eyes staring at her as though she were a child or a misbehaving animal。 〃Why don't you go and plain to some of the sailors？〃 she said at last。 〃See how well they'll listen to you。〃
The monk folded his arms。 He spoke patiently； but did not meet her eyes。 〃Will you not listen to me； Lady？ This last time？ My advice is not half so bad as you make out and you know it。 How long will you listen to the honeyed words of this。。。 this court beauty？ You are like his little bird that he takes from the cage to play with； then puts back。 He does not care for you。〃
〃You are a strange person to talk of that； Brother Cadrach。 The earl has given us