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〃It is impolite for us to speak in a language Count Eolair does not know。 If anyone does not feel fortable speaking Hernystiri or Westerling； I will be happy to render your words for the count's understanding。〃
〃Mortal tongues and mortal strategies。 We will all have to learn；〃 Likimeya said abruptly。 〃It is a different age。 If the rules of mortals now make the world spin； then we must learn those rules。〃
〃Or decide whether it is possible to live in such a world。〃 Zinjadu's voice was deep yet strangely uninflected； as though she had learned Westerling without ever having heard it spoken。 〃Perhaps we should let the Hikeda'ya have this world of mortals that they seem to desire。〃
〃The Hikeda'ya would destroy the mortals even more readily than they would destroy us；〃 Jiriki said calmly。
〃It is one thing；〃 spoke up Yizashi Grayspear； 〃to fulfill an ancient debt； as we have just done at M'yin Azoshai。 Besides； those were mortals we routed； and the descendants of bloody Fingil's ship…men besides。 It is another thing to go to war with other Gardenborn to aid mortals to whom we owe no such debt…including those who hunted us long after we lost Asu'a。 This Josua's father was our enemy！〃
〃Then does the hatred never end？〃 Jiriki replied with surprising heat。 〃Mortals have short lives。 These are not the ones who warred on our scattered folk。〃
〃Yes； the lives of mortals are short；〃 said Yizashi dispassionately。 〃But their hatreds run deep； and are passed from parents to children。〃
Eolair was beginning to feel distinctly unfortable but did not think the time was right for him to speak up。
〃It is possible that you forget； noble Yizashi；〃 said Jiriki； 〃that it was the Hikeda'ya themselves who brought this war to us。 It was they who invaded the sanctity of the Yasira。 It was truly Utuk'ku's hand…not that of the mortal catspaw who wielded the dagger…which slew First Grandmother。〃
Yizashi did not reply。
〃There is little point in this；〃 Likimeya said。 Eolair could not help noticing how the depths of Likimeya's eyes cast the light back； glowing orange as the stare of a torchlit wolf。 〃Yizashi； I asked you and these others； the House of Contemplation； the House of Gathering； all the houses； to honor your debts to the Grove。 You agreed。 And we are set upon our course because we need to thwart Utuk'ku Seyt…Hamakha's plans； not just repay an old debt or avenge Amerasu's murder。〃
Black…browed Kuroyi spoke up。 〃The mortals have a saying； I am told。〃 His voice was measured and eerily musical； his Hernystiri somehow over…precise。 〃 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend 。。。 for a little while。' Silvermask and her kin have chosen one set of mortals to be their allies； so we will choose those mortals' enemies to be our allies。 Utuk'ku and her minions have also broken the Pact of Sesuad'ra。 I find no shame in fighting beside Sudhoda'ya until the issue is settled。〃 He raised his hand as though to ward off questions； but the circle was pletely still。 〃No one has said I must love these mortal allies： I do not； and feel sure that I will not； whatever happens。 And if I live until these days end； I will return to my high house in hidden Anvi'janya； for I have long been surfeited with the pany of others； whether mortal or Gardenborn； But until then； I will do as I have promised to Likimeya。〃
There was a long pause after Kuroyi had finished。 The Sithi again sat in silence； but Eolair had the feeling that some issue was in the air； some tension that sought resolution。 When the quiet had gone on so long that he was beginning to wonder again whether he should leave； Likimeya lifted her hands and spread them flat in the air before her。
〃So；〃 she said。 〃Now we must think about this Naglimund。 We must consider what we will do if the Hikeda'ya do not e out to fight。〃
The Sithi began to discuss the uping siege as though there had been no dispute over the honorability of fighting beside mortals。 Eolair was puzzled but impressed by their civility。 Each person was allowed to speak as long as he wished and no one interrupted。 Whatever dissension there had been…and although Eolair found the immortals difficult to faThorn； he had no doubt there had been true disagreement…now seemed vanished： the debate over Naglimund； although spirited； was calm and ap…
parently free of resentment。
Perhaps when you live so long； Eolair thought； you learn to exist by such rules…learn you must exist by such rules。 Forever is a long time to carry grudges； after all。
More at ease now； he entered the discussion…hesitantly at first； but when he saw that his opinion was to be given due weight he spoke openly and confidently about Naglimund； a place he knew almost as well as he knew the Taig in Hernysadharc。 He had been there many times： Eolair had often found that Josua's was a useful ear for introducing things into the court of his father； King John Presbyter。 The prince was one of the few people the Count of Nad Mullach knew who would listen to an idea on its own merits； then support it if he found it good； regardless of whether it benefited him。
They talked long； eventually the fire burned down to glowing coals。 Likimeya produced one of the crystal globes from her cloak and set it on the ground before her where it gradually grew bright； soon it cast its cool lunar glow all around the circle。
Eolair met Isorn on his way back from the council of the Sithi。
〃Ho； Count；〃 the young Rimmersman said。 〃Out for a stroll？ I have a skin of wine here…from your own Nad Mullach cellars； I think。 Let's find Ule and share it。〃
〃Gladly。 1 have had a strange evening。 Our allies 。。。 Isorn； they are like nothing and no one I have ever seen。〃
〃They are the Old Ones； and heathen on top of it；〃 Isorn said blithely； then laughed。 〃Apologies； Count。 I sometimes forget that you Hernystiri are 。。。〃
〃Also heathens？〃 Eolair smiled faintly。 〃No offense was taken。 I have grown used to being the outsider； the odd one； during my years in Aedonite courts。 But I have never felt so much the odd man as I did tonight。〃
〃The Sithi may be different from us； Eolair； but they are bold as thunder。〃
〃Yes； and clever。 I did not understand all that was spoken of tonight； but I think that we have neither of us ever seen a battle like the one that will take place at Naglimund。〃
Isorn lifted an eyebrow； intrigued。 〃That is something to save and tell over that wine； but I am glad to hear it。 If we live； we will have stories to amaze our grandchildren。〃
〃If we live；〃 Eolair said。
〃e； let us walk a little faster。〃 Isorn's voice was light。 〃I am getting thirsty。〃
They rode across the Inniscrich the next day。 The battlefield where Skali had triumphed and King Lluth had received his death…wound was still partially blanketed in snow； but that snow was full of irregular hummocks； and here and there a bit of rusted metal or a weathered spearhaft stuck up through the shrouding white。 Although many prayers and curses were quietly spoken； none of the Hernystiri had any great interest in lingering at the site where they had been so soundly