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〃Then let us go down。 I think the rains are returning； in any case。〃 Tiamak turned from the rail。 〃We will warm some of your wine…a drylander custom I have e to appreciate…and think more about the swords。〃 He took the priest's elbow and led him toward the cabin door。
〃Surely this is better；〃 Strangyeard said。 He braced himself against the wall as the ship dipped into a trough between the waves； then handed the sloshing cup to the Wrannaman。 〃I had better cover the coals。 It would be terrible if the brazier tipped over。 Goodness！ I hope everyone else is being careful； too。〃
〃I think Sludig is allowing few others to have braziers； or even lanterns； except on deck。〃 Tiamak took a sip of the wine and smacked his lips。 〃Ah。 Good。 No； we are the privileged ones because we have things to read and time is short。〃
The archivist lowered himself to the pallet on the floor； pitching gently with the motion of the ship。 〃So I suppose we should be back at our work again。〃 He drank from his own cup。 〃Forgive me； Tiamak； but does it not seem futile to you sometimes？ Hanging all our hopes on three swords； two of which are not even ours？〃 He stared into his wine。
〃I came late to these matters； in a way。〃 Tiamak made himself fortable。 The rocking of the ship； however pronounced； was not that different from the way the wind rattled his house in the banyan tree。 〃If you had asked me a year ago what chance there was that I would be aboard a boat sailing for Erkynland to conquer the High King…that I would be a Scrollbearer； that I would have seen Camaris reborn； been captured by the ghants； saved by the Duke of Elvritshalla and the High King's daughter 。。。〃 He waved his hand。 〃You see what I am saying。 Everything that has happened to us is madness； but when we look back； it all seems to have followed logically from one moment to the next。 Perhaps someday capturing and using the swords will seem just as clear in its sense。〃
〃That is a nice thought。〃 Strangyeard sighed and pushed his eyepatch； which had shifted slightly； back into place。 〃I like things better when they have already happened。 Books may differ； one from the other； but at least most every book claims to know the truth and set it out clearly。〃
〃Someday we will perhaps be in someone else's book；〃 Tiamak offered； smiling； 〃and whoever writes it will be very certain about how everything came to pass。 But we do not have that luxury now。〃 He leaned forward。 〃Now where is the part of the doctor's manuscript that tells of the forging of Sorrow？〃
〃Here； I think。〃 Strangyeard shuffled through one of the many piles of parchment scattered about the room。 〃Yes； here。〃 He lifted it to the light； squinting。 〃Shall I read something to you？〃
Tiamak held out his hand。 He had an immense fondness for the Archive Master； a closeness he had not felt to anyone since old Doctor Morgenes。 〃No；〃 he said gently； 〃let me read。 Let us not put your poor eyes to any more work tonight。〃
Strangyeard mumbled something and gave him the sheaf of parchment。
〃It is this bit about the Words of Making that sticks in my head；〃 Tiamak said。 〃Is it possible that all these swords were made with these same powerful Words？〃
〃But why would you think so？〃 Strangyeard asked。 His face became intent。 〃Nisses' book； at least as Morgenes quotes it； does not seem to say that。 All the swords came from different places； and one was forged by mortals。〃
〃There must be something that links them all together；〃 Tiamak replied； 〃and I can think of nothing else。 Why else should possessing them all give us such power？〃 He shuffled through the parchments。 〃Great magic went into their forging。 It must be this magic that will bring us power over the Storm King！〃
As he spoke； the song of a Niskie rose outside； piercing the mournful sound of the winds。 The melody throbbed with wild power； an alien sound even more disturbing than the distant rumble of thunder。
〃If only there were someone who knew of the swords' forging；〃 Tiamak murmured in frustration； his eyes stared at Morgenes' precise； ornate characters； but did not really see them。 The Niskie song rose higher； then vibrated and fell away on a note of keening loss。 〃If only we could speak to the dwarrows who made Minneyar…but Eolair says they were far to the north； many leagues beyond the Hayholt。 And the Nabbanai smiths who forged Thorn are centuries dead。〃 He frowned。 〃So many questions we have； and still so few answers。 This is tiring； Strangyeard。 It seems that every step forward takes us two paces back into confusion。〃
The archivist was silent while Tiamak looked for the well…thumbed pages that described Ineluki creating Sorrow in the forges below Asu'a。 〃Here it is；〃 he said at last。 〃I will read。〃
〃Just a moment；〃 said Strangyeard。 〃Perhaps the answer to one is the answer to both。〃
Tiamak looked up。 〃What do you mean？〃 He dragged his thoughts away from the page before him。
〃Your other idea was that somehow we have been purposely kept in confusion…that the Storm King has played Elias and Josua off against each other while he pursued some goal of his own。〃
〃Yes？〃
〃Perhaps it is not just some secret goal he has that he wishes to conceal。 Perhaps he also tries to hide the secret of the Three Swords。〃
Tiamak felt a glimmer of understanding。 〃But if all the contention between Josua and the High King has been arranged just to keep us from understanding how to use the swords； it might mean that the answer is quite simple…something we would quickly see if we were not distracted。〃
〃Exactly！〃 Strangyeard； in pursuit of an idea； had lost his usual reticence。 〃Exactly。 Either there is something so simple that we could not fail to see it if we were not caught up in the day…to…day struggle； or there is someone or someplace vital to us that we cannot reach as long as this war between brothers continues。〃
They Who Watch and Shape； marveled Tiamak； it is good to have someone to share my thoughts with…someone who understands； who questions； who searches for meaning！ For a moment he did not even miss his home in the swamp。 Aloud； he said： 〃Wonderful； Strangyeard。 It is something well worth considering。〃
The archivist colored； but spoke confidently。 〃I remember when we were first fleeing Naglimund； Deornoth said that the Norns seemed to wish to keep us from going certain directions…at that time it was deeper into Aldheorte。 Instead of trying to kill us； or capture us； they seemed to try to 。。。 drive us。〃 The priest wiped absently at his chill…reddened nostrils； not yet recovered from the sojourn on deck。 〃I think perhaps they were keeping us from the Sithi。〃
Tiamak put the pages he was holding down： there would be time enough for them later。 〃So perhaps there is something the Sithi know…perhaps even they do not realize it！ He Who Always Steps on Sand； how 1 wish we had questioned young Simon more closely about his time with the immortals。〃 Tiamak stood up and moved toward the cabin door。 〃I will go tell Sludig that we wish to talk to Aditu。〃 He stopped。 〃But I do not know how she could cross from one ship to another。 The seas are so dangerous now。〃 Strangyeard shrugged。 〃It w