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ot felt the terror of this strange tower all around him； the incredible risk he was taking just being here； he might have liked to take some time to look at the bizarre collection。 Some were made from wax and had candle wicks protruding from the heads； others were little more than conglomerations of bones and mud…and feathers； but each was recognizably a figure of some sort； although many seemed more animal than human。 But nowhere was there anything like a sword。 The eyes of some of the images seemed to follow Simon as he backed out again。
The last and largest room was perhaps the red priest's study。 Here the great scarlet windows were most visible； since they covered a large part of the curved wall； although with night sky outside they were dark。 The room itself was littered with scrolls and books and a collection of other objects as haphazardly odd and dispiriting as anything he had seen in any of the other chambers。 If he could not find the sword here； his only hope was the catabs beneath the tower。 The roof above was full of star…gazing equipment and other strange machinery…he had seen that late in the afternoon from one of Green Angel Tower's narrow windows； Simon doubted there would be anything so valuable hidden out there； but he would look anyway。 No sense avoiding anything that might save him a trip down below Hjeldin's monument。。。
The study was thick with shadows and extremely cluttered； almost the entire floor covered with objects； although the walls were curiously empty of furnishings or anything else。 At the room's center a high…backed chair faced away from the door toward the high windows。 It was surrounded by free…standing cabinets； each one overflowing with parchments and heavy bound books。 The wall beneath the windows； Simon saw by the faint torchlight； was covered in pale； painted runes。
He took a few steps toward the wall； then stumbled slightly。 Something was wrong： he felt an odd tingling； a faintly nauseating unsteadiness in his bones and his guts。 A moment later； a hand shot out from the darkness of the chair and fastened onto his wrist。 Simon screamed and fell down； but the hand did not let go。 The powerful grip was cold as frost。
〃What have we here？〃 a voice said。 〃A trespasser？〃
Simon could not yank himself free。 His heart sped so swiftly that he thought he would die of fear。 He was pulled slowly back onto his feet； then tugged around the chair until he could look into the pale face that gazed at him from its shadows。 The eyes that met his were almost invisible； faint smears of reflected light that nevertheless seemed to hold him just as strongly as the bony hand on his wrist。
〃What have we here？〃 his captor repeated； and leaned forward to stare at him。
It was King Elias。
17
An Ember in the Night Sky
Despite the urgency of his errand and the dull ache of his tailbone； Tiamak could not help pausing in wonder to watch the proceedings on the broad hillside。
It occurred to him that he had spent so much of his life reading scrolls and books that he had found very little chance to experience the sort of things about which they were written。 Except for his brief stay in Ansis Pellipe and his monthly forays to the Kwanitupul market； the hurly…burly of life had not intruded much on his hut in the banyan tree。 Now； in this last year； Tiamak had been caught up in the great movements of mortals and immortals。 He had fought monsters beside a princess and a duke。 He had met and spoken with one of the legendary Sithi。 He had seen the return of the greatest knight of the Johannine Age。 Now； as though the pages of one of Doctor Morgenes' dusty volumes had taken on magical life； he stood beneath cloudy skies watching the surrender of an army after a life or death struggle in the famous Onestrine Pass。 Surely any scholar worth his quill pen would give everything he had to be here。
Then why； Tiamak wondered； did he feel such intense longing to see his banyan tree again？
I am as They Who Watch and Shape have made me； he decided。 I am not a hero； like Camaris or Josua or even poor Isgrimnur。 No； I belong with Father Strangyeard and the others like us…the small； the quiet。 We do not want the eyes of people on us all the time； wailing to see what we do next。
Still； when he considered some of the things he had seen and even done； he was not quite sure that he would have passed them up； even if given a choice。
As long as I can keep dodging She Who Waits to Take All Back a while longer； that is。 I would not mind having a family some day。 I would not mind a wife and children who would fill the house with some laughter when I am old。
But that would mean finding a Wran…bride； of course。 Even had he any taste for the tall； fish…skinned women of the drylander cities； he doubted any of them would be eager to live on crab soup in a tree house in the marsh。
Tiamak's thoughts were interrupted by Josua's voice。 He started to move toward the prince to deliver his message； but found his way blocked by several large soldiers who； caught up as they were with the spectacle before them； seemed in no hurry to make room for the small man。
〃I see you are here already；〃 the prince said to someone。 The Wrannaman stood on his tiptoes； straining to see。
〃Where else would I go； Prince Josua？〃 Varellan rose to greet the victor。 Benigaris' younger brother； even with cuts and bruises on his face and his arm in a sling； looked strangely unsuited to his role as war…leader。 He was tall； and handsome enough in a thin； pale way； but his eyes were watery and his posture apologetic。 He looked； Tiamak thought； like a sapling that had not received enough sun。
Josua faced him。 The prince wore still a torn surcoat and battered boots； as though the battle had ended only moments ago instead of two full days before。 He had not left camp in that time； engaged in so many duties that Tiamak doubted he had slept more than an hour here or there。 'There is no need for shame； Varellan；〃 Josua said firmly。 〃Your men fought well； and you did your duty。〃
Varellan shook his head furiously； looking for a moment like an unhappy child。 〃I failed。 Benigaris will not care that I did my duty。〃
〃You failed in one thing；〃 Josua told him； 〃but your failure may bring more good than you know…although not much of it will e to your brother。〃
Camaris stepped up silently to stand beside the prince。 Varellan's eyes opened wider； as though his uncle were some larger…than…life monster…as； Tiamak thought； in a way he was。 〃I cannot be happy about what has happened； Prince Josua；〃 said Varellan tightly。
〃When we are finished with this； you will find out things that may change your mind。〃
Varellan grimaced。 〃Have I not heard enough of such things already？ Very well； then let us be finished。 You already took my war banner。 I would have preferred to give this to you on the battlefield as well。〃
〃You were wounded。〃 Josua spoke as though to a son。 〃There is no shame in being carried off the field。 I knew your father well： he would have been proud of you。〃
〃I wish I could believe that。〃 Varellan； made awk