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hen I first perceived it； I heard or felt the word 'Sumy'asu。' In the speech of the Gardenborn； that means 'The Fifth House。' 〃
〃The Fifth House？〃 repeated Tiamak； mystified。
〃Yes。〃 Aditu lay back。 〃It means nothing to me； either。 But that was the name I heard when I first encountered this powerful thing。〃
〃I will ask Strangyeard；〃 said Tiamak。 〃And I suppose we should tell Josua； too。 In any case； he will be relieved to hear you are well。〃
〃I am tired。 I think I will lie here quietly a while and think。〃 Aditu made a gesture unfamiliar to the Wrannaman。 〃My thanks to you； Tiamak。〃
〃I did nothing。〃
〃You did what you could。〃 She closed her eyes and leaned back。 〃The Ancestors may understand all this…but I do not。 I am frightened。 I would give much to speak to my kin。〃
Tiamak rose and made his way back out onto the Kynslagh's snowy shores。
The cart rolled to a stop and the wooden wheels fell silent。 The Count of Nad Mullach was certain that he would be very tired of the painful sound of their creaking by the time his journey was finished。
〃Here we say farewell；〃 he called to Isorn。 He left his horse in the care of one of the soldiers and walked through the snow to the young Rimmersman； who dismounted and embraced him。
〃Farewell； indeed。〃 Isorn looked to the cart and Maegwin's shrouded body。 〃I cannot tell you my sorrow。 She deserved better。 So do you； Eolair。〃
The count gave him a last handclasp。 〃In my experience；〃 he said with more than a touch of bitterness； 〃the gods do not seem to care much what their servants deserve…or at least the rewards they give are too subtle for my understanding。〃 He closed his eyes for a moment。 〃But enough。 She is dead； and all the lamenting in the world； all the railing against Heaven； cannot bring her back。 I will bury her with her loved ones and then I will help Inahwen and the rest of my folk do what they can to rebuild。〃
〃And after that？〃
Eolair shook his head。 〃I think that depends on whether the Sithi are able to stop Elias and his ally。 I hope you do not think I wish you ill luck if I say that we may keep the caves of the Grianspog prepared in case we need them again。〃
Isorn smiled thinly。 〃You would be a fool not to。〃
〃And you will go with them？ Your own people will be looking for help； now that Skali is gone。〃
〃I know。 But I must find my family； and Josua。 My wounds have healed well enough that I can ride； so I will go with the Sithi。 The only mortal； I will be。 It will get lonely on the way to Erchester。〃
Eolair smiled。 〃The way that Jiriki's folk ride； I do not think it will be a long journey。〃 He looked to his ragged troop of men。 He knew that they preferred crossing the blizzard…ridden Frostmarch to any more travels with the immortals。 〃But if things go in such a way that the men of Hernystir are needed； send word to Hernysadharc。 I will find a way to e。〃
〃I know。〃
〃Fare you well； Isorn。〃
Eolair turned and walked back toward his horse。 As he mounted； Likimeya and Jiriki； who had been hanging back； rode toward them。
〃Men of Hernystir。〃 Likimeya's eyes were bright beneath her black helm。 〃Know that we honor you。 Not since the days of Prince Sinnach have your folk and ours fought side by side。 Your fallen lie with our own dead； both here and in your home country。 We thank you。〃
Eolair wanted to ask the stern…faced Sitha what value there had been in the deaths of four score Hernystiri； but this was not the time to remence such an argument。 His men stood； nervous but silent； wanting only to be on their way。
〃You freed Hernystir from a great scourge；〃 he replied dutifully。 There were observances that had to be made。 〃We thank you and honor you； as well。〃
〃May you find some peace at the end of your journey； Count Eolair；〃 said Jiriki。 His dark blade Indreju hung at his hip。 He； too； was armored and looked every bit as much a strange warrior god as his mother。 〃And when you find it； may it last。〃
〃May Heaven preserve you。〃 Eolair swung up into his saddle； then waved his arm； signaling the carter。 The wheels slowly began to turn。 Maegwin's shroud rippled in the stiff； sharp wind。
And as for me； he thought； may the gods from this moment leave me alone。 They have broken my people and my life。 Let them now turn their attention elsewhere so we can begin to build anew。
When he looked back； the Rimmersman and the Sithi still stood motionless； outlined by the rising sun。 He raised his arm； Isorn returned the gesture of leavetaking。
Eolair looked west across the snows。 〃e； my countrymen；〃 he called to his tattered band。 〃We are going home。〃
26
Song of the Red Star
〃Here； drink。〃 The troll held out a water skin。 〃I am Binabik of Mintahoq。 Ookequk was my master。 And you are Padreic。 He was speaking of you many times。〃
〃Padreic is dead；〃 the monk gasped。 He took a sip of water； letting some run down his chin。 He was clearly exhausted。 〃I am a different man now。〃 He put up a trembling hand to push the bowl away。 〃By all the gods； old and new； that was a powerful ward on the door。 I have not tried to defeat such a thing in two decades。 I think it almost killed me。〃 He shook his head。 〃Better if it had； perhaps。〃
〃Listen to you！〃 Miriamele cried。 〃You appear from nowhere； but you are still spouting the same nonsense。 What are you doing here？〃
Cadrach would not meet her eye。 〃I followed you。〃
〃Followed me？ From where？〃
〃All the way to Sesuad'ra…then followed after you when you fled。〃 He looked at the dwarrows； who had closed the stone door and now stood in huddled colloquy at the far end of the cavern； peering at the newer as though he might be a Norn in disguise。 〃And there they are…the domhaini。〃 He grimaced。 〃I thought I felt their clever hand in that door…ward； but I couldn't be sure。 I had never encountered one of theirs so new…minted。〃
Miriamele would not be distracted。 〃What are you doing here； Cadrach？ And who is following you？〃
The monk turned his gaze down to his own hands； which were clenched in the folds of his tattered robe。 〃I fear I have brought the Norns down on you and your allies。 The white monsters have been following me almost since I descended through the catabs。 I have been hard…pressed to stay ahead of them。〃
〃So you led them to us？〃 Miriamele still did not know what she felt about seeing Cadrach again。 Since he had deserted her and the rest of the pany in the Lake Thrithing； she had done her best to put him out of her mind。 She still felt shame about the argument over Tiamak's parchment。
〃They will never take me again；〃 the monk said fervently。 〃If I had not been able to force the door； I would have thrown myself down the Tan'ja Stairs before falling into their hands。〃
〃But now the Norns are outside； you say； and the cav… ern has only one door for leaving；〃 Binabik pointed out。 〃This is not much good you have done for yourself； Cadrach or Padreic or whichever name you now wear。〃 Binabik had heard many stories about the monk from her and from Simon。 Miriamele could see his respect for what the Hernystirman had once been warring with distrust of anyone who could betray one of