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words in any mortal tongue that are quite right。〃 He paused。 Eolair was astonished to see one of the Sithi looking so distraught； so 。。。 human。 〃They cannot e out； but we cannot enter in。 That is enough to know。〃
〃But you brought down the walls。 Could you not knock
down the stones of the keep as well？〃
〃We brought down the walls； yes； but if the Hikeda'ya had been given time earlier to do what they have now acplished； those walls would still be standing。 Only some all…important task could have kept them from doing that before we laid siege。 However； even if we now took down every stone of the keep and carried it a thousand leagues away； we still could not reach them…but they would still be there。〃
Eolair shook his head in weary confusion。 〃I do not understand； Jiriki。 If they cannot e out and the rest of Naglimund is ours； then there is no worry； is there？〃 He had reached his limit with the vague explanations of the Peaceful Ones。 He wanted only to be left in peace with Lluth's dying daughter。
〃I wish it were so。 But whatever purpose brought them here is still not understood…and it is likely that as long as they can stay in this place； close to the A…Genay'asu； they can still do what they came to do。〃
〃So this whole struggle has been for nothing？〃 Eolair let go of Maegwin's hand and rose to his feet。 Rage flared within him。 〃For nothing？ Three score or more brave Hernystirmen slaughtered…not to mention your own people…and Maegwin 。。。〃 he waved helplessly； 〃。。。like
this！ For nothing？！〃 He lurched forward a few steps； arm raised as though to strike at the silent immortal。 Jiriki reacted so swiftly that Eolair felt his wrists caught and held in a gentle yet unbreakable grip before he saw the Sitha move。 Even in his fury； he marveled at Jiriki's hidden strength。
〃Your sorrow is real。 So is mine； Eolair。 And we should not assume that all has been for naught： we may have hindered the Hikeda'ya in ways we do not yet realize。 Certainly we are alerted now； and will be on our guard for whatever the Cloud Children may do。 We will leave some of our wisest and oldest singers here。〃
Eolair felt his anger subside into hopelessness。 He slumped； and Jiriki released his arms。 〃Leave them here？〃 he asked dully。 〃Where are you going？ Back to your home？〃 A part of him hoped that it was true。 Let the Sithi and their strange magics return to the secret places of the world。 Once Eolair had wondered if the immortals still existed。 Now he had lived and fought with them； and doing so had experienced more horror and more pain than he had ever thought possible。
〃Not to our home。 Here； do you see？〃 Jiriki lifted the tent flap。 The night sky had cleared； beyond the campfires hung a canopy of stars。 〃There。 Beyond what we call the Night Heart； which is the bright star above the corner of Naglimund's outwall。〃
Puzzled and irritated； Eolair squinted。 Above the star； high in the sable sky； was another point of light； red as a dying ember。
〃That one？〃 he asked。
Jiriki stared at it。 〃Yes。 It is an omen of terrible power and significance。 Among mortal peoples； it is called the Conqueror Star。〃
The name had a disturbingly familiar sound； but in his grief and emptiness Eolair could summon no memories。 〃I see it。 What does it mean？〃
Jiriki turned。 His eyes were cold and distant。 〃It means the Zida'ya must return to Asu'a。〃
For a moment the count did not understand what he was being told。 〃You are going to the Hayholt？〃 he said finally。 〃To fight Elias？〃
〃It is time。〃
The count turned back to Maegwin。 Her lips were bloodless。 A thin line of white showed between her eyelids。 〃Then you will go without me and my men。 I have had enough of killing。 I will take Maegwin back so she may die in Henystir。 I will take her home。〃
Jiriki lifted a long…fingered hand as though he would reach out to his mortal ally。 Instead； he turned and pulled the tent flap open once more。 Eolair expected some dramatic gesture； but the Sitha only said： 〃You must do what you think best； Eolair。 You have given much already。〃 He slid out； a dark shadow against the starlit sky； then the flap fell back into place。
Eolair slid down beside Maegwin's pallet； his mind full of despair and confusion。 He could not think any more。 He laid his cheek against her unmoving arm and let sleep take him。
〃How are you； old friend？〃
Isgrimnur groaned and opened his eyes。 His head pounded and ached； but that was as nothing to the pain below his neck。 〃Dead。 Why don't you bury me？〃
〃You will outlive us all。〃
〃If it feels like this； that is no gift。〃 Isgrimnur sat a little straighter。 〃What are you doing here？ Strangyeard told me that Varellan was to surrender today。〃
〃He did。 I had business here at the monastery。〃
The duke stared at Josua suspiciously。 〃Why are you smiling？ It doesn't look a thing like you。〃
The prince chuckled。 〃I am a father； Isgrimnur。〃
〃Vorzheva has given birth？〃 The Rimmersman shot out his furry paw and clasped Josua's hand。 〃Wonderful； man； wonderful！ Boy or girl？〃
The prince sat down on the bed so that Isgrimnur would not have to stretch so far。 〃Both。〃
〃Both？〃 Isgrimnur's look turned to suspicion again。 〃What nonsense is that？〃 Realization came； if slowly。 〃Twins？〃
〃Twins。〃 Josua seemed on the verge of laughing aloud with pleasure。 〃They are fine； Isgrimnur…they are fat and healthy。 Vorzheva was right； Thrithings…women are strong。 She hardly made a noise； though it took forever for them both to e。〃
〃Praise Aedon；〃 the Rimmersman said； he made the sign of the Tree。 〃Both babies and their mother； all safe。 Praise be。〃 Moisture appeared in the corner of his eye。 He wiped it away brusquely。 〃And you； Josua； look at you。 You are practically dancing。 Who would have thought fatherhood would suit you so？〃
The prince still smiled； but something more serious was beneath。 〃I have something to live for； now； Isgrimnur。 I did not understand it would be like this。 They must e to no harm。 You should see them…perfect； perfect。〃
〃I will see them。〃 Isgrimnur began struggling with his covers。
〃You will not！〃 Josua was shocked。 〃You will not get out of that bed。 Your ribs 。。。〃
〃Are still where they're supposed to be。 They've just been dented by a tipped…over horse。 I've felt worse。 Most of the punishment was taken by my head； and that is all bone； anyway。〃
Josua had grasped Isgrimnur's broad shoulders； and for a moment it seemed that he would actually try to wrestle the duke back into bed。 Reluctantly； he let go。 〃You're being foolish；〃 he said。 〃They are not going anywhere。〃
〃Nor will I be either if I never move around。〃 Grunting with pain； Isgrimnur put his bare feet down on the cold stone floor。 〃I saw what happened to my father Isbeorn。 When he was thrown from his horse； he stayed in bed the whole winter。 After that he could never walk again。〃
〃Oh； goodness。 What is he 。。。 what is he doing？〃 Father Strangyeard had appeared in the doorway； and was staring at the duke with profound unhappiness。
〃He is getting up to see the