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〃Perhaps they should not know that he is gone；〃 Aditu said。
Josua turned； startled。 〃What？ How would we hide such a thing？〃
〃I think my sister has spoken wisely；〃 said Jiriki。 〃If we hope to have a chance to send Sir Camaris into your brother's castle…and he will not be alone； Josua； there will be Zida'ya with him who know those places…but we do not wish to blow a trumpet and announce that we have done that； we must make it seem that Camaris is still here； even once the full siege has begun。〃
〃The siege？ But if our only hope is the swords and our true stroke is this pany that we send in through your secret ways； what point is there in throwing away the lives of others？〃 the prince demanded angrily。 〃Are you saying we should sacrifice men in a bloody siege that we already know； is starting too late to achieve success？〃
Likimeya leaned forward。 〃We must sacrifice men and Zida'ya both。〃 Isgrimnur caught a flicker in her amber stare that seemed almost like regret； or pain； but he dismissed it。 He could not believe one so stern； so alien； felt anything but cool necessity。 〃Otherwise； we announce to our enemies that we have other hopes。 We shout to them that we are waiting for some other stratagem to take effect。〃
〃Why？〃 Isgrimnur could see that Josua was truly agonized。 〃Any sensible war…leader knows it is better practice to starve out a foe than to waste men's lives on thick stone walls。〃
〃You are camped beside the Zida'ya。 Those who are even now watching from behind those stone walls have made pact with Ineluki。 Some may even be our kin； the Hikeda'ya。 They will know that the Dawn Children see the red star in the sky overhead。 The Conqueror Star； as you call it； tells us that we have only a few days at most； that whatever your mortal sorcerer plans to do on Ineluki's behalf must happen soon。 If we appear to ignore that fact； we will fool no one。 We must launch the siege immediately； and your people and ours must fight as though we have no other hope。 And who knows？ Perhaps
we do not。 Not all tales end happily； Prince Josua。 We Gardenborn know that all too well。〃
Josua turned to Isgrimnur as if for support。 〃So we send our finest warrior； who is also our greatest inspiration； down into the earth。 And we throw away the lives of our fighting men on a siege that we know cannot succeed。 Duke Isgrimnur； have I gone mad？ Is this all that is left to us？〃
The Rimmersman shrugged helplessly。 It was dreadful to watch Josua's honest torment。 〃What the Sithi…folk say makes sense。 I'm sorry； Josua。 It galls me； too。〃
The prince lifted his hand in a gesture of resignation。 〃Then I will do as you all say。 Since my brother took the throne； I have been faced with horror after horror。 It seems； as one of my teachers once told me； that God shapes us with a hammer of pain on an anvil of duty。 I cannot imagine what shape we will be when He is finished。〃 He sat back； waving to the others to continue。 〃Make certain only that Camaris is well…defended。 He carries the one thing we have that we did not already possess when my brother and the Storm King broke Naglimund…and we have lost much else since then。〃
Isgrimnur looked at the old knight。 Camaris was lost in thought； his eyes fixed on nothing visible； his lips moving。
The king was lurking in the passageway above the entrance to the forge。 The soldiers； already nervous； startled when they saw the cloaked shape lurch forward out of the shadows。 One of them even went so far as to draw his sword before Pryrates barked at him to put up； Elias； though； seemed oblivious to what would normally be a fatal error for a young guardsman。
〃Pryrates；〃 the king rasped。 〃I have been searching and searching。 Where is my cupbearer？ My throat is so dry。。。〃
〃I will help you； Majesty。〃 The priest turned his coal…black stare on the gawking soldiers； who quickly shifted their eyes sideways or down to their own chests。 〃The captain will take these men back to the walls。 We are finished here。〃 He waved them away with a flapping red sleeve。
When the noise of their footfalls grew faint in the corridor； Pryrates gently took the king's arm so that Elias could lean on him。 The king's staring face was parchment…white； and he licked at his lips constantly。
〃Did you say you had seen my cupbearer？〃
〃I will take care of you。 Majesty。 I think we will not see Hengfisk again。〃
〃Has he 。。。 has he run away to 。。。 them？〃 Elias cocked his head as though treachery might have a sound。 'They are all around the walls。 You must know。 I can feel them。 My brother； and those bright…eyed creatures 。。。〃 He pawed at his mouth。 〃You said they would be destroyed； Pryrates。 You said all that resisted me would be destroyed。〃
〃And so they will be； my king。〃 The priest induced Elias to walk down the hallway； heading him through the maze of corridors toward the residences。 They passed an open window where snow blew in and melted into puddles on the floor： outside； Green Angel Tower loomed against the swirling storm clouds。 〃You yourself will destroy them and usher in the Golden Age。〃
〃And then the pain will go away；〃 Elias wheezed。 〃I would not hate Josua so if he had not brought me such pain。 If he had not stolen my daughter； too。 He is my brother； after all 。 。 。〃 the king clenched his teeth as though something had stabbed him； 〃。。。 because family is blood。。。 〃
〃And blood is powerful magic；〃 Pryrates said； half to himself。 〃I know； my king。 But they turned against you。 That is why I found you new friends…powerful friends。〃
〃But you cannot replace a family；〃 said Elias； a little sadly。 He winced。 〃Ah； God； Pryrates； I am burning up。 Where is that cupbearer？〃
〃A little farther。 Majesty。 Just a little farther。〃
〃I can feel it； you know；〃 Elias panted。 He lay back on his mattress； which had rotted through in so many places that the horsehair stuck up all around him。 A stained goblet； now empty； was clutched in his hand。
Pryrates paused in the doorway。 〃Feel what； Majesty？〃
〃The star； the red star。〃 Elias pointed at the cobwebbed ceiling。 〃It is hanging overhead； staring at me like an eye。 I hear the singing all the time。〃
〃Singing？〃
〃The song it sings…or that the sword sings to the star。 I cannot tell which。〃 His hand fell and crawled like a white spider onto the long sheath。 〃It sings in my head。 'It is time； it is time；' the voices say； over and over。〃 He laughed； a cracked； jagged sound。 〃Sometimes I awaken to find myself walking through the castle and I cannot remember how I came there。 But I hear the song； and I feel the star burning into me whether it is day or night。 It has a fiery tail； like a dragon。。。。〃 He paused。 〃I will go out to them。〃
〃What！？〃 Pryrates returned to the king's bedside。
〃I will go out to them…Josua and the others。 Perhaps that is the time the sword means。 Time to show them that I am different than they know。 That their resistance is foolish。〃 He brought his hands to his face。 〃They are 。。。 they are my blood； Pryrates。〃
〃Your Highness； I 。。。〃 The priest seemed momentarily unsure。 'They are your enemies； Elias。 They wish you only harm。〃
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