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〃Then 1 am sure he has spoken of the Witnesses； too…those objects that we use to make the journeying easier。〃 Kuroyi hesitated； then reached into his milk…white shirt and produced a round； translucent yellow object that caught the firelight like a globule of amber or a ball of melted glass。 〃This is one such…my own。〃 He let Eolair look for a moment； then tucked the thing away again。 〃Like most others； it is of no use in these strange times…the Dream Road is as impassable as a road of this world might be in a terrible blizzard。
〃But there are other Witnesses； too： larger； more powerful objects that are not moveable； and are linked to the place where they are found。 Master Witnesses； they are called； for they can look upon many things and places。 You have seen one such。〃
〃The Shard？〃
Kuroyi nodded his head once。 〃In Mezutu'a； yes。 There were others； although most are now lost to time and earth…changes。 One lies beneath the castle of your enemy King Elias。〃
〃Beneath the Hayholt？〃
〃Yes。 The Pool of Three Depths is its name。 But it has been dry and voiceless for centuries。〃
〃And this has something to do with Naglimund？ Is there something of that sort here？〃
Kuroyi smiled； a narrow； wintery smile； 〃We are not sure。〃
〃I don't understand；〃 the count said。 〃How can you not be sure？〃
The Sitha lifted his long…fingered hand。 〃Peace； Eolair of Nad Mullach。 Let me finish my tale。 By the standards of the Gardenborn it is quite short。〃
Eolair shifted slightly； he was glad for the firelight； which disguised his flush of embarrassment。 How was it that among these folk he was as easily cowed as a child…as if all his years of statecraft had been forgotten？ 〃My apologies。〃
〃There have always been in Osten Ard certain places；〃 Kuroyi resumed； 〃which act much like Master Witnesses 。。。 but in which no Master Witness seems to be present。 That is； many of the effects are there…in fact； sometimes these places exhibit more powerful results than any Witness…but no object can be found which is responsible。 Since we first came to this land long ago； we have studied such places； thinking that they might answer questions we have about the Witnesses and why they do what they do； about Death itself； even about the Unbeing that made us flee our native land and e here。〃
〃Forgive me for interrupting again；〃 said Eolair； 〃but how many of these places exist？ And where are they？〃
〃We know of only a handful between far Nascadu and the wastelands of the white north。 A…Genay'asu'e； we call them…〃Houses of Traveling Beyond〃 would be a crude rendering in your tongue。 And we Gardenborn are not the only ones to sense the power of these places： they often draw mortals as well； some merely seekers…after…knowledge； some god…maddened and dangerous。 What mortals call Thisterborg； the hill near Asu'a； is one such spot。〃
〃I know it。〃 Remembering a black sled and a team of misshapen white goats； Eolair felt his flesh tighten。 〃Your cousins the Norns also know about Thisterborg。 I saw them there。〃
Kuroyi did not seem surprised。 〃We Gardenborn have been interested in these sites since long before the families parted。 The Hikeda'ya； like us； have made many attempts to harness the might of such places。 But their power is as wild and unpredictable as the wind。〃
Eolair pondered。 〃So there is not a Master Witness here at Naglimund； but rather one of these things； a 。。。 Beyonding House？ I cannot remember the words in your tongue。〃
Jiriki looked toward his mother； smiling and nodding with what almost looked like pride。 Eolair felt a flash of annoyance； was a mortal who could listen and reason such a surprise to them？
〃An A…Genay'asu。 Yes； that is what we believe；〃 said Kuroyi。 〃But it came to our attention late； and there was never a chance to find out before the mortals came。〃
〃Before the mortals came with their iron spikes。〃 Likimeya's soft voice was like the hiss that preceded a whip…crack。 Surprised by her vehemence； Eolair looked up； then just as quickly turned his gaze back to Kuroyi's more placid face。
〃Both Zida'ya and Hikeda'ya continued to e to this place after men built their castle here at Naglimund；〃 the black…haired Sitha explained。 〃Our presence frightened the mortals； though they saw us only by moonlight； and even then only rarely。 The man the Imperators had given to rule over the locality filled the fields all around with the iron that gave the place its name： Nail Fort。〃
〃I knew that the nails were there to keep out the Peaceful Ones…what we Hernystiri call your folk；〃 said Eolair； 〃but since it was built in the era when your people and ours were at peace； I could not understand why the place should have needed such defenses。〃
〃The mortal named Aeswides who had it done may have felt a certain shame that he had trespassed on our lands in building this keep so close to our city Da'ai Chikiza； on me far side of those hills；〃 Kuroyi gestured toward the east。 〃He may have feared that we would some day e and take the place back； he may also have thought that those of our folk who still made pilgrimage to this place were spies。 Who knows？ In fact； he traveled less and less out of the gates； and died at last a recluse…afraid； it was said； even to leave his own well…guarded chamber for terror of what the dreaded immortals might do。〃 Kuroyi's cool smile returned。 〃Strangely； although the world is already full of fearful things； mortals seem always to hunt for new worries。〃
〃Nor do we relinquish the old ones。〃 Eolair returned the tall Sitha's smile。 〃For； like the cut of a man's cloak； we know that the tried and true is best in the long run。 But I doubt you have brought me here only to tell about what some long…dead mortal did。〃
〃No； we have not；〃 Kuroyi agreed。 〃Since we were driven from the land at a time when we considered it better policy not to interfere； and to let the mortals build where they wished； we have unanswered questions still about this place。〃
〃And we need those questions answered now； Count Eolair；〃 Likimeya broke in。 〃So tell us： this place you call Naglimund…is it known among mortals for strangeness of any kind？ Apparitions？ Odd happenings？ Is it reputed a haunt of spirits of the dead？〃；
The count frowned as he considered。 〃I must say that I have never heard anything like that。 There are other places； many others； some within a league of my birthplace； of which I could tell you a whole night's worth of tales。 But not Naglimund。 And Prince Josua was always a lover of odd lore…I feel sure that if there were such stories； it would have been his pleasure to relate them。〃 He shook his head。 〃I am sorry to force you to tell such a long tale yourself for so little result。〃
〃We still think it likely that this place is an A…Genay'asu；〃 Jiriki said。 〃We have thought so since long before Asu'a fell。 Here； Count Eolair； you look thirsty。 Let me pour for you。〃
The Hernystirman gratefully accepted another cup of mulled 。。。 something； whatever it was； it tasted of flowers and wanned him very nicely。 〃In any case；〃 he said after he had taken a few sips； 〃w