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As the battle slackened； the count ordered his Hernystirmen back。 The dozen who still stood were dull…eyed and sagging with weariness； but they demanded to see the battle through to the end； Eolair felt a fierce love for them even as he cursed their idiocy out loud。 This was the Sithi's fight now； he told them： long weapons and swift reflexes were needed； and the staggering mortals had nothing left to offer but theic failing bodies and brave hearts。 Eolair held to his call for retreat； sending his men toward the relative safety of Naglimund's outwall。 He was desperate to bring some of them out of this nightmare alive。
Eolair remained to hunt for Isorn； who had not answered the war horn's summons。 He stumbled along the outskirts of the struggle； ignored by the Sithi warriors trying to force the giant out of the shelter of the arched doorway； where he was inflicting terrible injuries even in his dying moments。 The Sithi seemed in a desperate hurry； but Eolair could not understand why。 All but a few of the defenders were dead； those who remained were protecting the doors to the inner keep； but whoever was still inside seemed content to let them die doing so rather than try to bring them inside。 Eventually； the Sithi would pick them off…Jiriki's folk had few arrows left； but several of the Norns had lost their shields； and the giant； half…concealed behind one of the arch pillars； already had a half…score of feathered shafts lodged in his shaggy hide。
Where Eolair walked； the bodies of mortals and immortals alike lay scattered as if the gods had flung them down from heaven。 The count passed by many faces he recognized； some of them young Hernystirmen with whom he had sat at the campfire only the night before； some Sithi whose golden eyes stared up into nothing。
He found Isorn at last； on the far side of the keep。 The young Rimmersman was lying on the ground； limbs awkwardly splayed； his helmet tumbled beside him。 His horse was gone。
Brynioch of the Skies！ Eolair had spent hours in the freezing wind； but when he saw his friend's body； he went colder still。 The back of Isorn's head was soaked with blood。 Oh； gods； how will I tell his father？
He hurried forward and grasped Isorn's shoulder to turn him over。 The young Rimmersman's face was a mask of mud and fast…melting snow。 As Eolair gently wiped some of it away； Isorn choked。
〃You live！〃
He opened his eyes。 〃Eolair？〃
〃Yes； it's me。 What happened； man？ Are you badly wounded？〃
Isorn took in a great rasping wheeze of breath。 〃Ransomer preserve me； I don't know…it feels like my head is split open。〃 He lifted a shaking hand to his head； then stared at his reddened fingers。 〃One of the Hunen struck me。 A great hairy thing。〃 He sagged back and closed his eyes； giving Eolair another fright before he opened them again。 He looked more alert； but what he said belied it。
〃Where's Maegwin？〃
〃Maegwin？〃 Eolair took the young man's hand。 〃She is in the camp。 You are inside Naglimund； and you've been hurt。 I'll go find some folk to help me with you 。。。〃
〃No；〃 Isorn said； impatient despite his weakness。 〃She was here。 I was chasing her when 。。。 when the giant clubbed me。 He did not strike me full。〃
〃Maegwin 。。。 here？〃 For a moment it was as though the northerner had begun speaking another tongue。 〃What do you mean？〃
〃Just as I said。 I saw her walk past the outskirts of the fighting； right through the courtyard； heading around the keep。 I thought I was seeing things in the mist； but I know she's been strange。 I followed； and saw her just 。 。 。 there 。。。〃 he winced at the pain as he pointed toward the far corner of the blocky keep； 〃and followed。 Then that thing caught me from behind。 Before I knew it； I was lying here。 I don't know why it didn't kill me。〃 Despite the chill； sweat beaded on his pale forehead。 〃Perhaps some of the Sithi came up。〃
Eolair stood。 〃I'll get help for you。 Don't move any more than you have to。〃
Isorn tried to smile。 〃But I wanted to take a walk in the castle gardens tonight。〃
The count draped his cloak over his friend and sprinted back toward the front of the keep； skirting the siege of the keep's great doors。 He found his Hernystirinen huddled beside a gap in the outwall like sheep terrified of thunder； and took four of the healthiest back to carry Isorn to the camp。 As soon as he saw they had him safe； he returned to his search for Maegwin； it had taken all the restraint he possessed to see his friend out of harm's way first。
It did not take him long to find her。 She was curled on the ground at the back of the keep。 Although he could see no marks of violence on her anywhere； her skin felt deathly cold to his touch。 If she breathed； he could find no sign of it。
When his wits returned sometime later； he was carrying Maegwin's limp body in his arms； staggering across the camp at the base of the hill below Naglimund。 He could not remember how he had gotten there。 Men's faces looked up as he approached； but at that moment their expressions had no more meaning for him than the bright eyes of animals。
〃Kira'athu says that she is alive； but very close to death；〃 said Jiriki。 〃I bring you my sorrow； Eolair of Nad Mullach。〃
As the count looked up from Maegwin's pale； slack face； the Sitha healer rose from the far side of the pallet and went quietly past Jiriki and out of the tent。 Eolair almost called her back； but he knew that there were others who needed her help； his own men among them。 It was clear that there was little more she could do here； although Eolair could not have said what exactly the silver…haired Sitha woman had done； he had been too busy willing Maegwin to live to pay attention； clutching the young woman's cold hand as though to lend her some of his own feverish warmth。
Jiriki had blood on his face。 〃You've been hurt；〃 Eolair pointed out。
〃A cut； no more。〃 Jiriki made a flicking movement with his hand。 〃Your men fought bravely。〃
Eolair turned so he could speak without craning his neck； but he retained his grip on Maegwin's fingers。 〃And the siege is over？〃
Jiriki paused for a moment before replying。 Eolair； even in the depth of his mourning； felt a sudden fear。 〃We do not know；〃 the Sitha finally said。 〃What does that mean？〃
Jiriki and his kin had a quality of stillness in them at all times that marked them off from Eolair and his mortal fellows； but even so it was clear that the Sitha was disturbed。 'They have sealed the keep with the Red Hand still inside。 They have sung a great Word of Changing and there is no longer a way in。〃
〃No way in？ How can that be？〃 Eolair pictured huge stones pushed against the inside of the entrance。 〃Is there no way to force the doors？〃
The Sitha moved his head in a birdlike gesture of negation。 'The doors are there； but the keep is not behind them。〃 He frowned。 〃No； that is misleading。 You would think us mad if I told you that； since the building clearly still stands。〃 The Sitha smiled crookedly。 〃I do not know if I can explain to you。 Count。 There are not words in any mortal tongue that are quite right。〃 He pau