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s already that morning would not go away。
〃Why？ Because Amerasu had seen into Ineluki's secret heart…and who would have been better able to do that than she？ She had discovered his design at last and was going to reveal it to her people。 Now； we may never know…or perhaps we will understand only when Ineluki sees fit to display it in all its inevitability。〃 Weariness seemed to wash through him。 〃By our Grove； Seoman； we have lost so much！ Not only Amerasu's wisdom； which was great； but we have also lost our last link with the Garden。 We are truly unhomed。〃 He lifted his eyes to the billowing ceiling； so that his angular face was bathed in pale yellow light。 〃The Hernystiri had a song of her； you know：
〃Snow…white breast； lady of the foaming sea；
She is the light that shines by night
Until even the stars are drunken 。。。〃
Jiriki took a careful breath to ease his scorched throat。 A look of surprising fury contorted his normally placid face。 〃Even from the place where Ineluki lives； from beyond death…how could he send a stranger to kill his mother！？〃
〃What will we do？ How can we fight him？〃
〃That is not for you to worry about； Seoman Snowlock。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 Simon restrained his anger。 〃How can you say that to me？ After all we've both seen？〃
〃I did not mean it in the way it sounded； Seoman。〃 The Sitha smiled in self…mockery。 〃I have lost even the basest elements of courtesy。 Forgive me。〃
Simon saw that he was actually waiting。 〃Of course； Jiriki。 Forgiven。〃 〃I mean only that we Zida'ya have our own councils to keep。 My father Shima'onari is badly wounded and Likimeya my mother must call the folk together…but not at the Yasira。 I think we will never meet in that place again。 Did you know； Seoman； that the great tree was burned white as snow？ Did you not have a dream once about such a thing？〃 Jiriki cocked his head； his gaze full of subtle light。 〃Ah； forgive me again。 I wander in thought and forget the important things。 Has anyone told you？ Likimeya has decreed that you will go。〃
〃Go？ Leave Jao e…Tinukai'i？〃 The rush of joy was acpanied by an unexpected current of regret and anger。 〃Why now？〃
〃Because it was Amerasu's last wish。 She told my parents before the gathering began。 But why do you sound so unsettled？ You will go back to your own people。 It is for the best； in any case。 We Zida'ya must mourn the loss of our eldest； our best。 This is no place for mortals； now…and it is what you wanted； is it not？ To go back to your folk？〃
〃But you can't just close yourselves off and turn away！ Not this time！ Didn't you hear Amerasu？ We all have to fight the Storm King！ It is cowardice not to！〃 Her stern； soft face was suddenly before him again； at least in memory。 Her magnificently knowing eyes。。。
〃Calm yourself； young friend；〃 Jiriki said with a tight； angry smile。 〃You are full of good intentions； but you do not know enough to speak so forcefully。〃 His expression softened。 〃Fear not； Seoman。 Things are changing。 The Hikeda'ya have killed our eldest； struck her down in our own sacred house。 They have crossed a line that cannot be recrossed。 Perhaps they meant to； but that matters less than the fact that it has happened。 That is another reason for you to leave； manchild。 There is no place for you in the war councils of the Zida'ya。〃
〃Then you're going to fight？〃 Simon felt a sudden pinch of hope at his heart。
Jiriki shrugged。 〃Yes； I think so…but how or when is not for me to say。〃
〃It's all so much；〃 Simon murmured。 〃So fast。〃
〃You must go； young friend。 Aditu will return soon from attending my parents。 She will take you to where you can find your folk。 It is best done swiftly； since it is not usual for Shima'onari or Likimeya to undo their own Words of Decree。 Go。 My sister will e to you at my house by the river。〃 Jiriki leaned down and lifted something from the mossy floor。 〃And do not forget to take your mirror； my friend。〃 He smiled slyly。 〃You may need to call me again； and I still owe you a life。〃
Simon took the gleaming thing and slid it into his pocket。 He hesitated； then leaned forward and carefully wrapped his arms around Jiriki； trying not to touch his burns as he gently embraced him。 The Sithi prince touched Simon's cheek with his cool lips。
〃Go in peace； Seoman Snowlock。 We will meet again。 That is a promise。〃
〃Farewell； Jiriki。〃 He turned and marched swiftly away without looking back。 He slowed his pace after he stumbled once in the winding hallway； a long； wind…rippled tunnel the color of sand。
Outside； immersed in a swirl of confused thoughts； Simon suddenly realized that he was feeling a curious chill。 Looking up； he saw that the summery skies over Jao e…Tinukai'i had darkened； taking on a more somber hue。 The breeze was colder than any he had ever felt there before。
The summer is fading； he thought； and was frightened again。 I don't think they'll ever get it back。
Suddenly all his petty anger toward the Sithi evaporated and a great； heavy sorrow for them overtook him。 Whatever else was here； there was also beauty unseen since the world was young； long preserved against the killing frosts of time。 Now the walls were tumbling down before a great； wintery wind。 Many exquisite things might be ravaged beyond reclaiming。
He hurried along the riverbank toward Jiriki's house。
The joumey out of Jao e…Tinukai'i passed swiftly for Simon； dim and slippery as a dream。 Aditu sang in her family's tongue and Simon held her hand tightly as the forest shimmered and changed around them。 They walked out of cool grayish…blue skies into the very jaws of winter； which had lain in wait like a stalking beast。
Snow covered the forest floor； a blanket so thick and cold that it was hard for Simon to remember that Jao e…Tinukai'i itself had not been covered； that in that one place winter was still held at bay： here outside the magical circle of the Zida'ya； the Storm King's handiwork was so terribly real。 But now； he realized； even that circle had been broken。 Blood had been spilled in the very heart of summer。
They walked through the morning and early afternoon； gradually leaving the densest part of the woods and moving toward the forest fringe。 Aditu answered Simon's few questions； but neither had the strength for much talk； as though the awful cold had withered the affection that had once flowered between them。 As unfortable as her presence had often made him； still Simon was saddened； but the world had changed somehow and he had no more strength to struggle。 He let the winter world flow over him like a dream； and did not think。
They walked for some hours beside a swift river； following it until they reached a long gentle slope。 Before them lay a vast body of water； as gray and mysterious as an alchemist's bowl。 A shadowed； tree…covered hill jutted from it like a dark pestle。
〃There is your destination； Seoman；〃 Aditu said abruptly。 〃That is Sesuad'ra。〃
〃The Stone of Farewell？〃
Aditu nodded。 〃The Leavetaking Stone。〃
The abstraction finally made real； Simon felt as though he were stepping from one dream into another。 〃But how will I get there？ Am I supposed to