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s with the Anitullean Road snaking between them。 If he narrowed his eyes； Tiamak could make out the shapes of Josua's tents nestled in the purple shadows of the hillside to the southwest。
My panions may think we Wrannamen live like savages； he thought to himself； but I am as happy as anyone to be in one place for a few days and to have a solid roof over my head。
One of the monks walked by； hands folded in his sleeve。 He gave Tiamak a look that lasted the length of several steps； but only nodded his head in formal greeting。
The monks do not seem happy to have us here。 He felt himself smiling。 Unwilling as they are to be caught up in a war； how much more dubious must they be about having women and marsh men within the cloisters； too？
Still； Tiamak was glad that Josua had chosen this spot as a temporary refuge； and that he had allowed his wife and many others to remain here as the army moved farther down the gorge。 The Wrannaman sighed as he felt the cool； dry breeze； the sunshine on his face。 It was good to have shelter； even for just a little while。 It was good that the rains had let up； that the sun had returned。
But as Josua said； he reminded himself； it means nothing。 A respite is all…the Storm King has not been slowed by anything we have done so far。 If we cannot solve the riddles before us； if we cannot gain the swords and learn how to use them； this moment of peace will mean nothing。 The deadly winter will return…and there will be no sunshine then。 He Who Always Steps on Sand； let me not fail！ Let Strangyeard and me find the answers we seek！
But answers were being fewer and farther between。 The search was a responsibility that had begun to feel more and more burdensome。 Binabik was gone； Geloe was dead； and now only Tiamak and the diffident priest remained of all the Scrollbearers and other wise ones。 Together they had pored over Morgenes' manuscript； searching it minutely from one end to the other in hope of finding some clues they had missed； some help with the riddle of me Great Swords。 They had also scrutinized the translated scrolls of Binabik's master Ookequk； but so far these had provided nothing but a great deal of trollish wisdom； most of which seemed to concern predicting avalanches and singing away the spirits of frostbite。
But if Strangyeard and I do not find more success soon； Tiamak thought grimly； we may have more need of Ookequk's wisdom than we will like。
In the past few days； Tiamak had set Strangyeard to relate every bit of information that the archivist possessed about the Great Swords and their undead enemy…his own book…learning； the things old Jarnauga had taught him； the experiences of the youth Simon and his panions； everything that had happened in the last year that might contain some clue to their dilemma。 Tiamak prayed that a pattern might show somewhere； as the ripples in a river demonstrated the presence of a rock beneath the surface。 In all the lore of these wise men and women； these adventurers and accidental witnesses； someone must know something of how to use the Great Swords。
Tiamak sighed again and wiggled his toes。 He longed to be just a little man with little problems again。 How important those problems had seemed！ And how he longed to have only those problems now。 He held up his hand and looked at the play of light across his knuckles； a gnat that crept across the thin dark hairs on his wrist。 The day was deceptively pleasant； just like the surface of a stream。 But there was no question that rocks or worse lay hidden beneath。
〃Please lie back； Vorzheva；〃 said Aditu。
The Thrithings…woman made a face。 〃Now you talk like Josua。 It is only a little pain。〃
〃You see what she's like。〃 Gutrun wore an air of grim satisfaction。 〃If I could tie her to that bed； I would。〃
〃I do not think that she needs to be tied to anything；〃 the Sitha woman replied。 〃But Vorzheva； neither is there any dishonor in lying down when you are in pain。〃
The prince's wife reluctantly slumped back against the cushions and allowed Gutrun to pull the blanket…up。 〃1 was not raised to be weak。〃 In the light filtering down from the high small window she was very pale。
〃You are not weak。 But both your life and the child's life are precious；〃 Aditu said gently。 〃When you feel well and strong； move around as you like。 When you are hurting or weak； lie down and let Duchess Gutrun or me help you。〃 She stood and took a few steps toward the door。
〃You are not going to leave？〃 Vorzheva asked in dismay。 〃Stay and talk to me。 Tell me what is happening outside。 Gutrun and I have been in this room all day。 Even the monks do not speak to us。 I think they bate women。〃
Aditu smiled。 〃Very well。 My other tasks can wait in such a good cause。〃 The Sitha seated herself upon the bed once more； folding her legs beneath her。 〃Duchess Gutrun。 if you wish to stretch your legs； I will be here to sit with Vorzheva for a little while longer。〃
Gutrun sniffed dismissively。 〃I'm just where I should be。〃 She turned back to her sewing。
Vorzheva reached out her hand and clasped Aditu's fingers。 〃Tell me what you have seen today。 Did you go to Leieth？〃
The Sitha nodded； her silver…white hair swinging。 〃Yes。 She is just a few rooms away…but there is no change。 And she is growing very thin。 I mix nurturing herbs with the small draughts of water she will swallow； but even that is not enough； I fear。 Something still tethers her to her body…to look at her she seems only to be sleeping… but I wonder how much longer that tie will hold。〃 A troubled look seemed to pass over Aditu's alien face。 〃This is another way that Geloe's passing has lessened us。 Surely the forest woman would know some root； some leafy thing that might draw Leieth's spirit back。〃
〃I'm not sure；〃 Gutrun said without looking up。 〃That child was never more than half here…I know； and I cared for her and held her as much as anyone。 Whatever happened to her in the forest when she traveled with Miriamele； those dogs and merciful Usires only knows what else； it took a part of her away。〃 She paused。 〃It's not your fault； Aditu。 You've done all that anyone could； I'm sure。〃
Aditu turned to look at Gutrun； but betrayed no change of expression at the duchess' conciliatory tone。 〃But it is sad；〃 was all she said。
〃Sad； yes；〃 Gutrun replied。 〃God's wishes often make His children sad。 We just don't understand； I suppose； what He plans。 Surely after all she suffered。 He has something better in mind for little Leieth。〃
Aditu spoke carefully。 〃I hope that is so。〃
〃And what else do you have to tell me？〃 Vorzheva asked。 〃I guessed about Leieth。 You would have told me first if there was any new thing。〃
〃There is not much else to relate。 The Duke of Nabban's forces have fallen back a little farther； but soon they will stop and fight again。 Josua and the others are trying to arrange a truce so that they can stop the fighting and talk。〃
〃Will these Nabbanai talk to us？〃
Aditu shrugged sinuously。 〃I sometimes wonder if I understand even the mortals I know best。 As to those who are pletely strange to m