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Isorn made a weary bow。 〃Everything I can tell you I will； Josua。 Is there something to eat here？ And somewhat to drink； too？〃
〃e。〃 Isgrimnur put his arm about bis tall son。 〃Let your old father lean on you for just a few minutes…I was smashed beneath my horse in Nabban； did you know？ But I am not finished yet！ We will all break fast together。 Aedon has blessed us this morning。〃
The afternoon had turned dark and the wind had risen； clawing at the walls of the tent。 Silent Sithi had put out shining globes of light which were now warming into full brightness like small suns。
Duke Isgrimnur was beginning to feel restless。 His back was giving him no peace； and he had been sitting propped on cushions…and how did a war party of Sithi manage to carry cushions； he could not help wondering…so long that he did not think he could rise to his feet without help。 Even the presence of Isorn sitting nearby was not enough to keep his thoughts from turning sour。
The Sithi had destroyed Skali and his men…that was the first news Isorn had given him。 The immortals had brought the Thane of Kaldskryke's head back to Hernysadharc in a sack。 Isgrimnur knew he should rejoice that the man who had stolen his dukedom and brought so much unhappiness to Rimmersgard and Hernystir was dead； but he felt mostly his own age and infirmity； as well as a certain angry shame。 The revenge he had sworn so loudly at Naglimund had been taken by someone else。 If he regained Elvritshalla； it would be because the Sithi had earned it for him。 That did not sit well。 The unhappy duke was having trouble paying attention to the things that seemed to fascinate Josua and the immortals。
〃All this talk of Houses and Stars is very well；〃 he said crossly； 〃but what exactly are we going to do？〃 He folded his arms across his broad chest。 Someone had to hasten things along。 These Sithi were like an army of golden…eyed Josuas； seemingly content to talk and ponder until The Day of Weighing…Out…but the reality of the Hayholt would not go away。 〃We have siege engines； if you know what those are。 We can knock the gates down eventually； or maybe even burrow under the walls。 But the Hayholt was built stronger than anything in Osten Ard； and it won't happen fast。 In the meantime； your Conqueror Star is right overhead。〃
Likimeya； who Isgrimnur supposed was the queen of the Sithi； though no one seemed to call her by that title； turned her faintly serpentine gaze on him。 It was all the Rimmersman could do to meet her stare。
This one chills my blood。 And I thought Aditu was strange。
〃You are correct； mortal。 If our understanding； and the lore of your Scrollbearers is true； we have very little time。〃 She turned to Josua。 〃We brought down Naglimund's walls in days…but that did not stop the Hikeda'ya from doing what they wished； or at least we do not think it did。 We cannot afford to make that mistake here。〃
Prince Josua lowered his head； thinking。 〃But what else can we do？ As Isgrimnur pointed out to me last night； we cannot fly over the walls。〃
〃There are other ways into the castle you call the Hayholt；〃 said Likimeya。 The tall； black…haired Sitha beside her nodded。 〃We could not send an army in through those passages； nor would we wish to； but we can； and should； send a sufficient force。 Ineluki has a hand in all this； he or your mortal enemies have doubtless made sure that these ways are guarded。 But if we keep our foes' attention on what happens out here before the walls； we might succeed in getting a small troop inside。〃
〃What 'other ways' do you mean？〃 Josua asked； frowning。
〃Tunnels；〃 said Camaris suddenly。 〃Ways in and out。 John knew them。 There is one on the cliffside below the Sea Gate。〃 The old man had a slightly wild look； as though any moment he might begin raving again。
Likimeya nodded。 The strings of polished stones braided into her hair clinked。 〃Just so…although I think we can choose a better entrance than the caves along the cliff。 Do not forget。 Prince Josua： Asu'a was ours once； and many of us were alive when it was still the great house of the Zida'ya。 We know its hidden paths。〃
〃The sword。〃 Camaris rubbed his hand back and forth across Thorn's pommel。 〃It wants to go inside。 It has been 。 。 。〃 He broke off and fell silent。 He had been strangely subdued through the entire day； but Isgrimnur could not help noticing that he seemed less daunted by the Sithi than any of the other mortals assembled in Likimeya's tent。 Even Tiamak and Strangyeard； students of old lore； sat wide…eyed and silent except when forced into stammering speech。
Outside； the wind grew louder。
〃That is another； and perhaps the most important； mystery；〃 said Jiriki。 〃Your brother has one Great Sword； Prince Josua。 This mortal knight； Sir Camaris； has another。 Where is the third？〃
Josua shook his head。 〃As I told you； it is gone from my father's barrow。〃
〃And how will they serve us if we bring them all together？〃 Jiriki finished。 〃Still； it seems that Camaris must be one of those we send beneath the walls。 We cannot afford the chance that we would gain the other two swords and have this black blade left outside。〃 He steepled his long fingers。 〃I regret more than ever the fact that Eolair and I could not find the Tinukeda'ya of Mezutu'a…those you call dwarrows。 They know more of sword…lore and forging than anyone； and they certainly made Minneyar。 There is doubtless much they could have told us。〃
〃Send in Camaris？ Through some underground caverns？〃 Josua seemed more than dubious…there was an edge almost of despair to his words。 〃We face perhaps the greatest battle that Osten Ard has seen…certainly； it seems； one of the most important…and you say that we should send away our greatest warrior？〃 As Josua looked over to the old knight； Isgrimnur saw again the disfort he had sensed earlier。 What had Camaris told him？
〃But surely you can see the sense of what my brother says； Prince Josua。〃 Aditu had been almost deferentially silent through the afternoon。 〃If all the signs； if all the dreams and rumors and whispered lore are true； then it is the Great Swords that will thwart Ineluki's plan； not men…or even immortals…battling before the gates of the castle。 That has been the wisdom by which you have planned everything。〃
〃So because Thorn belongs to Camaris； he and he alone can take it inside？ And not through the gate or over the walls with the army behind him； but like a sneak thief？〃
〃Thorn does not belong to me。〃 Camaris seemed to be struggling just to speak slowly and rationally。 〃Methinks it is the other way around。 Merciful Aedon； let me go； Josua。 I doubt I can wait much longer before this thing drives me mad。〃
Josua looked at the old knight for a long time； something unspoken passed between them。 〃Perhaps there is sense in what you all say；〃 the prince admitted at last。 〃But it will be a hard thing to lose Camaris。。。。〃 He paused。 'To lose him for the ing battle。 It will be hard on the men。 They feel invincible when they follow him。〃
〃Perhaps they should not know that he is gone；〃 Aditu said。
Josua turned； startled。 〃What？ How would we hide such a thing？〃
〃I th