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g the hillside； their bright clothes。 〃Look on that。 I hope you will remember。 The Dawn Children may never be gathered again in one place。〃
Miriamele stared down at the waiting Sithi and their bold； impatient horses。 〃It is beautiful；〃 she said。 〃Beautiful。〃
Jiriki smiled at her； then turned back to Simon。 〃So it is time for my folk to go back to Jao e…Tinukai'i； but you and I will see each other before long。 Do you remember I told you once that it took no magical wisdom to say we would meet again？ I will say it once more； Seoman Snowlock。 The story is not ended。〃
〃All the same； I will miss you…we will miss you。〃
〃It may be that things will be better in days to e between my folk and yours； Seoman。 But it will not happen swiftly。 We are an old people； slow to change； and most mortals still fear us…not without reason after what the Hikeda'ya have done。 Still； I cannot but hope that something has indeed changed forever。 We Dawn Children； our day is past； but perhaps now we will not simply disappear。 Perhaps when we are gone there will be something of us left behind beside our ruins and a few old stories。〃 He clasped Simon's hand and then drew him forward until they embraced。
Aditu followed her brother； light…footed and smiling。 〃Of course you will e to see us； Seoman。 And we will e to you； too。 You and I have many a game of shent yet to play。 I fear to see what clever new strategies you will have learned。〃
Simon laughed。 〃I'm sure you fear my shent…playing the way you fear deep snow and high walls…not at all。〃
She kissed him； then went to Miriamele and kissed her too。 〃Be kind and patient with each other；〃 the Sitha said； eyes bright。 〃Your days will be long together。 Remember these moments always； but do not ignore the sad times； either。 Memory is the greatest of gifts。〃
Many others； some who would stay to help in the rebuilding of Erchester and the Hayholt and remain for the coronation； others soon to return to their own cities and people； clustered around。 The Sithi gravely and sweetly exchanged farewells with them all。
Duke Isgrimnur pulled himself away from the crowd surrounding the immortals。 〃I'll be here yet a while； Simon； Miriamele…even after Gutrun's ship es from Nabban。 But we'll have to leave for Elvritshalla before summer begins；〃 He shook his head。 〃There will be an ungodly lot of work to do there。 My people have suffered too much。〃
〃We couldn't hope to begin here without you； Uncle Isgrimnur；〃 said Miriamele。 〃Stay as long as you can； and we will send with you whatever may help you。〃
The duke lifted her in his broad arms and hugged her。 〃I am so happy for you； Miriamele； my dear one。 I felt like such a damnable traitor。〃
She smacked at his arm until he put her down。 〃You were trying to do what was best for everyone…or what you thought was best。 But you should have e to me in any case； you foolish man。 I would happily have stepped aside for Simon； or you； or even Qantaqa。〃 She laughed and spun in a circle； dress flaring。 〃But now I am happy； Uncle。 Now I can work。 We will put things to rights。〃
Isgrimnur nodded； a melancholy smile nestling in his beard。 〃I know you will； bless you；〃 he whispered。
There was a piercing shout of trumpets and a rumble from the crowd。 The Sithi were mounting。 Simon turned and lifted his hand。 Miriamele pushed in beneath his arm； pressing against him。 Jiriki； at the head of the pany； stood in his stirrups and raised his arm； then the trumpets called again and the Sithi rode。 Light from the dying sun gleaming on their armor； they picked up speed； within moments they were only a bright cloud moving along the hillside toward the east。 Snatches of their song hung in the wind behind them。 Simon felt his heart leap in his chest； full of joy and sadness both； and knew the sight would live with him forever。
After a long and reverent quiet； the gathering at last began splitting apart。 Simon and his panions started to wander down toward Erchester。 A great bonfire had been lit in Battle Square； and already the streets； so long deserted； were full of people。 Miriamele dropped behind to walk with Isgrimnur； slowing her pace to his。 Simon felt a touch on his hand and looked down。 Binabik was there； Qantaqa moving beside him like a gray shadow。
〃I wondered where you were；〃 said Simon。
〃My farewells to the Sithi…folk were being said this morning； so Qantaqa and I were at walking along the Kynswood。 Some squirrels that were living there have now e to a sad end； but Qantaqa is feeling very cheerful。〃 The troll grinned。 〃Ah； Simon…friend； I was thinking of old Doctor Morgenes； and of the prideful feeling that he would have if he saw what is happening here。〃
〃He saved us all； didn't he？〃
〃Certain it is that his planning gave us the only chance we had。 We were being tricked by Pryrates and the Storm King； but had we not been alerted； Elias' ravagings would have been worse。 Also； the swords would have been finding other bearers； and no fighting back would have happened in the tower。 No； Morgenes could not be knowing all； but he did what no other could have done。〃
〃He tried to tell me。 He tried to warn us all about false messengers。〃 Simon looked down Main Row at the hurrying figures and the flicker of firelight。 〃Do you remember the dream I had at Geloe's house？ I know that was him。 That he was 。。。 watching。〃
〃I do not know what happens after we are dying；〃 Binabik said。 〃But I am thinking you are right。 Somehow； Morgenes was watching for you。 You were being like a family for him； even more than his Scroll League。〃
〃I will always miss him。〃
They walked along for a while without speaking。 A trio of children ran past； one of them trailing a strip of colorful cloth which the others； laughing and shrieking； tried to catch。
〃I must go soon myself；〃 said Binabik。 〃My people in Yiqanuc are waiting； wondering no doubt what has happened here。 And； being most important； Sisqinanamook is there； also waiting。 Like you and your Miriamele； she and I have a tale that is long。 It is time that we were married before the Herder and Huntress and all the folk of Mintahoq。〃 He laughed。 〃Despite everything； I am thinking her parents will still have a small sadness when they see I have survived。〃
〃Soon？ You're going soon？〃
The troll nodded。 〃I must。 But as Jiriki said to you； we will have many more meetings； you and I。〃
Qantaqa looked at them for a moment； then trotted ahead； sniffing the ground。 Simon kept his eyes forward； staring toward the bonfire as though he had never seen such a thing。 〃I don't want to lose you； Binabik。 You're my best friend in the world。〃
The troll reached up and took his hand。 〃All the more reason that we should not be long parted。 You will e to Yiqanuc when you can…surely there is being a need for the first Utku embassy ever to the trolls'…and Sisqi and I will e to see you。〃 He nodded his head solemnly。 〃You are my dearest friend also； Simon。 Always we will be in each others' hearts。〃
They walked on toward the bonfire； hand in hand。
Rachel the Dragon wandered through Erchester； her hair bedraggled； her clothes tatter