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an example： carved from mon wood and fletched with the feathers of ordinary birds； yet each one is a talisman of great worth。
〃Other objects take their power from the stuff of their making。 The great swords alluded to in Nisses' lost book are examples here。 All feem to derive their worth from their materials； although the crafting of each was a mighty task。 Minneyar； King Fingil's sword； was made of the iron keel of his boat； iron brought to Osten Ard by the Rimmersman sea…raiders out of the lost west。 Thorn； most recently the sword of Prester John's noblest knight； Sir Camaris； was forged from the glowing metals of a fallen star…like Minneyar 's iron； something foreign to Osten Ard。 And Sorrow； the sword that Nisses claims Ineluki of the Sithi used to slay his own father the Erl…king； was made of Sithi witchwood and iron； two elements long thought to be antithetical and unmixable。 Thus； such objects derive their strength primarily； it would seem； from the unearthly origins of their substance。 Stories tell； however； that powerful Spells of Making were also wound in the forging of all these three blades； so the power of the Great Swords may e from both their substance and their making。
〃Ti…tuno； the hunting horn crafted in fabled Mezutu'a from the tooth of the dragon Hidohehbi； is another clear example of how sometimes an object of power may be made by both the crafting and the materials crafted。。。〃
Strangyeard broke off。 〃It goes on to talk of other things。 It is all fascinating； of course…what a scholar that man was'…but I thought the section on the swords might be interesting。〃
Geloe nodded her head slowly。 〃It is。 I wondered about these three swords that have bee the object of our hopes。 Morgenes seems to make a good argument as to the reason for their value。 Perhaps they will indeed be useful against Ineluki。 It is good that you found that； Strangyeard。〃
The priest's pink cheeks went a deeper red。 〃Too kind。 You're too kind。〃
Geloe cocked her head。 〃I hear the others。 Are you posed； Vorzheva？〃
Vorzheva nodded her head。 〃I am not such a fool as you think me；〃 she said quietly。
The witch woman laughed。 〃I do not think you a fool； particularly。 I think most people are foolish…and I count myself as well； for here I am without a roof； wandering over the grasslands like a stray heifer。 Some… times obvious foolishness is the only answer to grave problems。〃
〃Hmmm；〃 said Strangyeard； baffled。 〃Hmmm。〃
The ragged band continued out onto the fog…ridden meadowlands； heading south toward the river Ymstrecca； which meandered along the breadth of the High Thrithings。 They made camp on the open plain； shivering in the rain…sodden wind； huddling close to their small fire。 Geloe made a soup of herbs and roots she had gathered。 It was filling and warmed the stomach； but Deornoth mourned the absence of something more toothsome。
〃Tomorrow let me go farther afield； my lord；〃 he implored Josua as they sat by the fire。 All the others but Geloe had wrapped themselves in their cloaks to sleep； bundled close together like a family of sleeping kittens。 The witch woman had gone a…wandenng。 〃I know I could find a hare or two； and the underbrush must be full of grouse； even in this cold summer。 We have had no meat for several days！〃
Josua permitted himself a chilly smile。 〃I wish I could say yes； faithful friend； but I need your strong arms and good wit close by。 These people can scarcely walk another step…those who can still walk； that is。 No； a brace of hares would be tasty indeed； but I must keep you here。 Besides； Valada Geloe tells me that one can live years without tasting meat。〃
Deornoth grimaced。 〃But who would want to？〃 He studied his prince carefully。 Josua's already slender frame had grown even thinner； the play of his bones was plain beneath the skin。 With what little fat he had worn long gone； the prince's high forehead and pale eyes made him seem a statue of some ancient philosopher…monk； his gaze fixed always upon the infinite while the busy world spun on before him； ignored。
The fire hissed； working away at the damp wood。 〃One other question； then； my lord；〃 Deornoth said softly。 〃Are we so sure of this Stone of Farewell that we should drag these sick； wounded people across the Thrithings in search of it？ I speak no ill of Geloe； who is plainly a good…hearted soul； but to go so far？ The edge of Erkynland is only a few leagues to the west。 Surely we could find a loyal heart in one of the towns of the Hasu Vale…even if they were too frightened of your brother the king to give us shelter； we could find food and drink and warmer clothing for our wounded； surely。〃
Josua sighed and rubbed his eyes。 〃Perhaps； Deornoth； perhaps。 Believe me； the thought has occurred to me。〃 He stretched his long legs before him； nudging at the edge of the coals with his boot heel。 〃But we cannot risk it； nor can we spare the time。 Every hour we walk in the open means more time for one of Ellas' patrols to find us； or something worse to catch us unprotected。 No； the only place that it seems we can go is Geloe's Stone of Farewell； so the sooner we do； the better。 Erkynland is lost to us…at least for now； perhaps forever。〃
The prince shook his head and fell into thought once more。 Deornoth sighed and poked at the fire。
They reached the banks of the Ymstrecca in the morning of their third day on the grasslands。 The wide river shone faintly beneath the gray sky； a dim streak of silver passing like a dream through the dark； damp meadows。 The water's voice was as muted as its sheen； a faint murmur like distant conversation。
Josua's people were content to pause and rest a while on the riverbanks； enjoying the sound and sight of the first swiftly…moving waters they had seen since deep in Aldheorte Forest。 When Gutrun and Vorzheva made known their plan to follow the river downstream a short distance to where they could bathe their limbs in privacy； Josua was quick to object； worried for their safety。 When Geloe offered to go with them； the prince reluctantly consented。 It was difficult to think of a situation beyond the witch woman's enormous petence。
〃Ah； it is somehow as if I never left；〃 Vorzheva said； dangling her feet in the current。 They had chosen a sandy bank where a stand of birch trees in midstream widened the rivercourse； shielding them from the view of their distant fellow travelers。 Her voice was careless； though her face belied her。 〃It is like when I was a little girl。〃 She frowned as she splashed water on the numerous scratches covering her legs。 〃But it is so cold！〃
Duchess Gutrun had loosened the neck of her garment。 She stood a little way out from the bank； the river eddying around her plump calves as she splashed water on her throat and scrubbed at her face。 〃It is not so bad；〃 she laughed。 〃The river Gratuvask that runs by our home in Elvritshalla… now that is cold water！ Every year at spring the maidens of the town go down to the river to bathe…I did when I was young。〃 She straightened up； staring at nothing。 〃The men must stay inside all morning； on penalty of a beating； so the maidens can splash in the Gratuvask。 And cold！ The river is born f