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。 Simon could feel him trembling。
〃I can't。。。 go much longer。〃 Simon clung to the rough stone。 〃I have to stop。〃
〃Almost。〃 Guthwulf took another stumbling step along the slender track。 Simon forced himself away from the wall； struggling to retain his clutch on the blind man。
They trudged on。 Simon felt several openings in the stone wall pass beneath his fingers； but Guthwulf did not turn。 When the tunnel began to resonate with loud voices； Simon wondered if he were sliding into Guthwulf's madness； but after a short while he saw a gleam of amber torchglow on the cavern wall and realized that someone was ing down the sluiceway behind them。
〃They're after us！ I think it's Pryrates。〃 He slipped and released his hold on the blind man to steady himself。 When he reached out again； Guthwulf was gone。
A moment of plete panic ended when Simon found the opening to a spur tunnel。 Guthwulf was just inside。 〃Almost；〃 the earl panted。 〃Almost。 The voices…Aedon； they're screaming'…but I have the sword。 Why are they screaming？〃
He headed down the tunnel； lurching against the wans。 Simon kept his hand against the earl's back as Guthwulf turned several more times。 Soon Simon could no longer remember all the turnings。 That was hopeful…whoever followed them should find it no easier。
The trudge through blackness seemed to go on and on。 Simon felt bits of himself drifting away； until he thought himself a spirit again； an unhomed ghost like the one that had roamed the gray spaces alone。
Alone except for Leieth。 And Maegwin。
Thinking of those who had helped him there； he reached down for a last increment of resolve and struggled on。
Walking in a daze； he did not notice that they had stopped until he felt Guthwulf abruptly drop forward； when Simon's hand found him again； the blind man was crawling。 When Guthwulf stopped； Simon reached down and felt crumpled cloth strewn across the stone。 A nest。 Letting his hand travel farther across the floor； Simon touched the earl's quivering leg； then the cold metal of the sword。
〃Mine；〃 Guthwulf said reflexively。 His voice was muddy with fatigue。 〃This； too。 Safe。〃
At that moment； Simon no longer cared about the sword； about Pryrates or any soldiers who might be following； or even whether the Storm King and Elias might bring the whole world tumbling down around his ears。 Every breath burned； and his arms and legs were a…twitch with agonizing cramps。 His head hammered like the bells in Green Angel Tower。
Simon found a place of his own amid the scattered rags； then surrendered to the dark pull。
25
Living in Exile
Jiriki took his hands off the dwarrow…stone。
Eolair did not need to be told。 〃She is gone。〃 The count stared at Maegwin's pale face； relaxed now as though in sleep。 〃Gone。〃 He had been preparing himself for this moment； but still felt as though a huge emptiness had opened inside him； a void that would never be filled。 He reached out and grasped her hands； which were still warm。
〃I am sorry；〃 said Jiriki。
〃Are you？〃 Eolair did not look at him。 〃What can the short life of a mortal mean to your kind？〃
The Sitha did not speak for a moment。 〃The Zida'ya die； just as mortals do。 And when those we held in our hearts have passed from us； we； too； are unhappy。〃
〃Then if you understand；〃 Eolair said； struggling for control； 〃please leave me alone。〃
〃As you wish。〃 Jiriki stood； a catlike unfolding from his seat on the pallet。 He seemed about to say something more； but instead went silently out of the tent。
Eolair stared at Maegwin for a long time。 Her hair； damp with sweat； lay in tight curls across her forehead。 Her mouth seemed to hint at a smile。 It was almost impossible to believe that life had left her。
〃Oh； the gods have been cruel masters；〃 he groaned。 〃Maegwin； what did we do to be so ill…treated？〃 Tears started in his eyes。 He buried his face in her hair； then kissed her cooling cheek。 〃It has all been a cruel； cruel trick。 It has all been for nothing； if you are dead。〃 His body was shaken by sobs。 For a while he could only rock back and forth； clutching her hand。 The dwarrow…stone was still in her other palm； held against her breast as though to keep it from theft。
〃I never knew。 I never knew。 You foolish woman； why did you tell me nothing？ Why did you pretend？ Now all is gone。 All is lost。。。。〃
Jiriki； white hair streaming in the wind； was waiting for him when he emerged。 Eolair thought he looked like a storm…spirit…like a harbinger of death。
〃What do you want？〃
〃As I said； Count Eolair； I am very sorry。 But there are things I think you should know…things that I discovered in the last moments of the Lady Maegwin's life。〃
Oh； Brynioch preserve me； he thought wearily。 The world was too much for Eolair； and he did not think he could bear any more Sithi riddles。
〃I am tired。 And we must leave tomorrow for Hernystir。〃
〃That is why I wish to tell you now；〃 Jiriki said patiently。
Eolair stared at him for a moment； then shrugged。 〃Very well。 Speak。〃
〃Are you cold？〃 Jiriki asked this with the careful solicitousness of one who had learned that although he never suffered from the elements； others did。 〃We can walk to one of the fires。〃
〃I will survive。〃
Jiriki nodded slowly。 〃That piece of stone was given to Maegwin by the Tinukeda'ya； was it not？ By those you call domhaini？〃
〃It was a gift from the dwarrows； yes。〃
〃It was much like the great stone you and I visited in Mezutu'a beneath the mountain…the Shard； the Master Witness。 When I touched this small stone； I felt much of Maegwin's thought。〃
Eolair was disturbed by the idea of the immortal being with Maegwin in her last moments； being with her in a way he could not。 〃And can you not leave those thoughts in peace…let them go with her to her barrow？〃
The Sitha hesitated。 〃It is difficult for me。 I do not wish to force things upon you。 But there are things I think you should know。〃 Jiriki laid his long fingers against Eolair's arm。 〃I am not your enemy； Eolair。 We are all hostages to the whims of a mad power。〃 He let his hand fall。 〃I cannot claim to know for certain all that she felt or thought。 The ways of the Dream Road…the path that Witnesses such as the dwarrow…stone open…are very confusing these days； very dangerous。 You remember what happened when I touched the Shard。 I was reluctant even to risk the Other Pathways； but felt that if there was a chance I could help； I should。〃
From a mortal Eolair would have found this self…serving； but there was something about the Sitha that suggested an almost frightening sincerity。 Eolair felt a little of his anger slip away。
〃In that muddle of thoughts and feelings；〃 Jiriki continued； 〃I did understand two things； or at least I am fairly sure that I did。 I believe that at the end her madness lifted。 I did not know the Maegwin that you knew； so I cannot be certain； but her thoughts seemed clear and unmuddied。 She thought of you。 I felt that very strongly。〃
Eolair took a step backward。 〃She did？ You do not say that to soothe me； as a parent might to a child？〃