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the missed wounding in the front may take a life in the rear。〃
Einskaldir grunted。 〃So we make us an unmissable target…cannot shoot one without shooting more。 Madness！〃
Josua turned on him sharply。 〃You are not answerable for the lives of this pany； Einskaldir。 I am！ If you would fight your own way； then go！ If you would remain with us； then be silent and do as I say。〃
Several among the pany who had been talking fell silent； waiting。 The Rimmersman stared at Josua for a moment； his eyes blank； his bearded jaw twitching。 Then he smiled in grim admiration。
〃Hola…yes； Prince Josua；〃 was all Einskaldir said。
The prince put a hand on Deornoth's shoulder。 〃We can do nothing else； even when hope is gone； but struggle on 。 。 。〃
〃There is still hope； if you will hear it。〃
Deornoth turned； expecting to find Duchess Gutrun standing by…for it had seemed an older's woman's voice； deep and a little hoarse…but Gutrun was tending the harper Sangfugol and was too far away to have been the source。
〃Who speaks？〃 Josua said； staring away from his panions； out into the forest。 He drew his slender sword from its scabbard。 Those around him fell silent； sensing his alarm。 〃I said； who speaks？〃
〃I do；〃 the voice replied in a matter…of…fact way。 The accent was that of one not native to the Westerling speech。 〃I did not want to catch you unaware。 There is hope； i said。 I e as a friend。〃
〃Norn tricks！〃 Einskaldir snarled； hefting his axe as he tilted his head to locate the source of the voice。
Josua raised his hand to hold him back and called： 〃If you are a friend； then why do you not e forward？〃
〃Because I have not finished changing and I do not want to frighten you。 Your friends are my friends…Morgenes of the Hayholt； Binabik of Yiqanuc。〃
Deornoth felt the hair stirring on his neck at the invisible being's words。 To hear those names here； in the middle of unknown Aldheorte！ 〃Who are you？〃 he cried。
There was a rustling in the shadowed undergrowth。 A strangely…shaped figure stepped toward them through the rising fog。 No； Deornoth realized； there were two figures； one large and one small。
〃In this part of the world；〃 the taller one said； with what sounded like a touch of amusement in her harsh voice； 〃I am known as Geloe。〃
〃Valada Geloe！〃 Josua breathed。 〃The wise woman。 Binabik spoke of you。〃
〃Some say wise； some say witch；〃 she answered。 〃Binabik is small but polite。 Such things we may talk about later； however。 Now it grows dark。〃
She was not tall or particularly large； but there was something in her posture that spoke of strength。 Her short…cropped hair was mostly gray； her nose prominent and sharp； with a downward curve。 Geloe's most arresting feature was her eyes： wide and heavy…lidded； they caught the dying sun with a peculiar yellow gleam； reminding Deornoth of nothing so much as a hawk or owl。 So striking were they that it was some time before he noticed the young girl whose hand she held。
This one was small； perhaps eight or nine years； and pale of face。 Her eyes； although an unexceptional shade of dark brown； had much of the curious intensity of the older woman's。 But where Geloe's gaze seized attention like an arrow quivering on a drawn string； the little girl looked starkly into nothingness； her stare as objectless as a blind beggar's。
〃Leieth and I are here to join you；〃 Geloe said； 〃…and to lead you if we may； at least for a short while。 If you try to climb that hill； some of you will die。 None of you will reach the summit。〃
〃What do you know about it？〃 Isorn demanded。 He looked confused。 He was not the only one。
〃This。 The Norns are reluctant to slay you…this is obvious； or a party like yours on foot would not have gotten a tenth this far into the forest。 But if you cross that hill； you will have crossed over into territory through which the Hikeda'ya cannot follow。 If there are any of you they do not need alive…and surely not all of you are valuable to them； if that is even the reason the Norns have let you get so far…they will take the risk of trying to kill the dispensable ones to frighten the rest off the slopes。〃
〃So what are you telling us； then？〃 Josua asked stepping forward。 Their eyes locked。 〃Over this hill safety lies； but we dare not go there？ What； should we lay down and die？'
〃No；〃 Geloe responded calmly。 〃I only said you should not climb the hill。 There are other ways。〃
〃Fly？〃 Einskaldir snarled。
〃Some do。〃 She smiled as at a quiet joke。 〃But all you need do is follow us。〃 Taking the girl's hand again； she started off along the edge of the gulley。
〃Where are you going？〃 Deornoth cried； and felt a pang of fear at being left behind as the pair began to fade into the twilit shadows。 〃Follow；〃 Geloe called back over her shoulder。 〃Darkness is growing。〃 Deornoth turned to stare at the prince； but Josua was already helping Duchess Gutrun onto her feet。 As the rest hurried to pick up their meager belongings； Josua walked briskly to where Vorzheva sat and extended his hand。 She ignored him and got to her feet； then strode down into the gulley with head held high； like a queen in procession。 The others followed limping after her； whispering wearily among themselves。
Geloe stopped to wait for the farthest…trailing stragglers。 At her side Leieth disconcertingly stared off into the forest； as if she expected someone。
〃Where are we going？〃 Deornoth asked as he and Isorn rested； scraping the slimy mud of the streambed from their boots。 The harper Sangfugol； who could not walk without someone at either shoulder； was sitting on his own for a moment； breathing heavily。
〃We are not leaving the forest；〃 the witch woman said； inspecting the bit of purple sky that could be seen through the willow branches。 〃But we will pass beneath the hill into a part of the old woods once known as Shisae'ron。 As I said； the Hikeda'ya are not likely to follow us there。〃 〃Pass under the hill？ What can that mean？〃 Isorn demanded。 〃We walk in the bed of Re Sun'em； an ancient river；〃 Geloe said 〃When I first came here； the forest was a lively country； not the dark tangle it has bee。 This river was one of many that spanned the great woods； carrying all manner of things and all manner of folk from Da'ai Chikiza to high Asu'a。〃
〃Asu'a？〃 Deornoth wondered。 〃Was that not the Sithi name for the Hayholt？〃
〃Asu'a was more than the Hayholt ever will be；〃 Geloe said sternly； her eyes searching for the last of the wandering line。 〃Sometimes you men are like lizards； sunning on the stones of a crumbled house； thinking 'what a nice basking…spot someone built for me ' You stand in the sad mud of what was a wide； beautiful river； where the boats of the Old Ones skimmed and flowers grew。〃
〃This was a fairy river？〃 Isorn's attention had been wandering now； startlement on his broad face； he peered around as though the streambed itself might exhibit signs of treachery。
〃Idiot！〃 Geloe said scornfully。 〃Yes； it was a 〃fairy river〃 ' This entire land was…as you would put it…a fairy country。 What sort of creatures do you think pursue you？〃
〃I。。。 I knew that；〃 Isorn muttered； abashed。 〃But I had not thought of it t