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think pursue you？〃
〃I。。。 I knew that；〃 Isorn muttered； abashed。 〃But I had not thought of it that way。 Their arrows and swords were real； that was all I could think of。 〃
〃As were the arrows and swords of your ancestors； Rimmersmanne； which accounts for some of the bad blood between your folk and theirs。 The difference is； though King Fingil's reavers killed many Sithi with their blades of black iron； Fingil and your other ancestors at last aged and died。 The Children of the East do not die…at least； not in such a time as you can understand…and neither do they forget old wrongs。 If they are old； they are all the more patient for it。〃 She stood up； looking about for Leieth； who had wandered off。 〃Let us go；〃 she called sharply。 〃Time to nurse wounds when we have passed through。〃
〃Passed through where？〃 Deornoth asked 〃How？ You never told us。〃
〃Nor need I waste my breath now；〃 she said 〃We will be there soon。〃
The light was fading fast and the footing was treacherous； but Geloe was an unflagging guide。 She had increased the pace； waiting only long enough for the first stragglers to catch up before pushing on again。 The sky had taken on night's earliest hues when the riverbed bent again。 A darker shape suddenly loomed before them； a shadow tall as the trees and blacker than the surrounding obscurity。 The walkers stumbled to a halt； those who could summon the breath moaning in weariness。
Geloe took an unlit brand from her bag； handing it to Einskaldir。 His sour remark died in his throat as she narrowed her yellow eyes。 〃Take this and put flint and steel to it；〃 she said 〃We will at least need some light where we are going。〃
A furlong or less from where they stood； the streambed vanished into darkness as it entered a vast hole in the hillside； an arched mouth whose dressed stones had been almost pletely engulfed by a clinging blanket of moss
Einskaldir struck with his axe head； a flint spark jumped； igniting the torch。 Its growing yellow light brought forward other stones that shone pale beneath the overgrown frontage。 Trees of great size and age had thrust out from the hillside above the arch； pushing aside the facing in their reach toward the sun。
〃A tunnel all the way through the hill？〃 Deornoth gasped。
〃The Old Ones were mighty builders；〃 Geloe said； 〃but never better than when they built around the things earth had already grown； so that city lived together with forest or mountain 〃
Sangfugol coughed。 〃It looks。。。 an abode of ghosts；〃 he whispered。
Geloe snorted。 〃Even if so； they are not the dead that you should fear。〃 She seemed about to say something else when there was a hiss and a smack。 Suddenly an arrow was shivering in the trunk of a cypress near Einskaldir's head。
〃You who would flee；〃 a cold voice called； echoing so that it was impossible to discern its source； 〃you must surrender now。 We have spared you thus far； but we may not allow you to cross through。 We will destroy you all。〃
〃Aedon preserve us！〃 Duchess Gutrun wept； her great courage finally weakening。 〃Save us； Lord！〃 She sagged down onto the wet turf。
〃It is the torch！〃 Josua said； ing up quickly。 〃Put out the torch； Einskaldir。 〃
〃No；〃 Geloe said； 〃you will never find your way in the dark。〃 She raised her voice 〃Hikeda'yei！' she cried； 〃do you know who I am？〃
〃Yes； we know you； old woman；〃 the voice said。 〃But whatever respect you might deserve was lost the moment you threw in your lot with these mortals。 The world could have spun on； leaving you undisturbed in your solitary house…but you would not let well enough alone。 Now you also are unbowed； and must go naked like a crab with no shell。 You too can die； old woman。〃
〃Douse the torch； Einskaldir；〃 Josua snapped； 〃we can light another when we have reached shelter。〃
The Rimmersman stared at the prince for a moment。 Darkness had arrived but for the torch's rippling flame； Josua would never have seen him smile。
〃Don't wait too long to follow me；〃 was all Einskaldir said。 A moment later he had dashed away down the riverbed toward the great arch； the flame held high over his head。 Arrow hissed past his panions as the Rimmersman； now only a leaping spot of light； swerved and dodged。 〃Go！ Up and run！〃Josua cried。 〃Help the one nearest you。 Run！''' Someone was shouting in an alien tongue…indeed； the whole forest seemed suddenly alive with noise。 Deornoth reached down and caught at Sanfugol's arm； dragging the wounded harper to his feet； and together they plunged through the overhanging greenery after the dwindling spark of Einskaldir's torch。
Branches slapped at their faces and snatched at their eyes with cruel talons。 Another shout of pain rang out before them and the shrill cries redoubled。 Deornoth turned to look briefly over his shoulder。 A swarm of pale shapes were sweeping forward over the misty ground； faces whose pitchy eyes filled him with despair； even from afar。
Something struck the side of Deornoth's head violently； staggering him。 He could hear Sangfugol sobbing in pain as the harper tugged at his elbow。 For a long moment it seemed to the knight that it would be easier just to lie on the ground。
〃Merciful Aedon； give me rest；〃 he heard himself praying； 〃in Your arms will I sleep； upon Thy bosom I will take my peace 。。。〃 but Sangfugol would not stop pulling at him。 Dazed； irritated； he stumbled to his feet once more and saw a scatter of stars gleaming through the treetops。
Not enough light to see under the hill； he thought； then noticed he was running again。 But running or not； Deornoth thought； he and Sangfugol were moving very slowly： the dark smear on the hillside didn't seem to be getting any closer。 He put his head down and watched his feet； dim； shadowy shapes slipping on the muddy streambed。
My head。 I've hurt my head again 。 。 。
The next thing Deornoth knew； he had plunged into darkness as abruptly as if someone had thrown a sack over him。 He felt more hands take his elbows and help him forward。 His head felt curiously light and empty。
〃There's the torch； ahead；〃 someone said nearby。
That sounds like Josua's voice； Deornoth decided。 Is he under the sack； too？
He staggered on a few steps and saw a light glowing。 He looked down； trying to make sense of it all。 Einskaldir sat on the ground； leaning against a stone wall that rose and curved overhead。 The Rimmersman held a torch in his hand。 There was blood in his beard。
〃Take this；〃 Einskaldir said to no one in particular。 〃I've got。 。 。 arrow in 。。。 back。 Can't 。 。 。 breathe 。 。 。〃 He sagged slowly forward against Josua's leg。 It looked so odd that Deornoth tried to laugh； but couldn't。 The empty feeling was spreading。 He bent forward to help Einskaldir； but instead found himself down a deep black hole。
〃Usires save us； look at Deornoth's head！〃 someone cried。 He didn't recognize the voice； and wondered who it was they were so upset about 。 。 。 Then the darkness had returned and it was hard to think。 The hole that he had fallen into seemed very deep indeed。
Rachel the Dragon； the Hayholt's Mistress of Chambermaids； lifted her bundle of wet linens higher on her shoulders； trying