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dlessly。 〃I suppose that it is only the young who can do a thing like that。 It has been so long for me； I seem to have forgotten。〃 He raised his own cup and drank。
Paul refilled both goblets before replying。 He felt drained； simplified。 The bird outside； he realized； had stopped singing a long time ago。 〃I think；〃 he said； 〃that it is more a question of style than of youth or age。 I'm not very patient； so I play the way I do。〃
〃In ta'bael； you mean？〃
〃Other things； too；〃 Paul answered； after a hesitation。
Ailell； surprisingly； nodded。 〃I was like that once； though it may be hard for you to credit。〃 His expression was self…deprecating。 〃I took this throne by force in a time of chaos； and held it with my sword in the early years。 If we are to be a dynasty； it begins with me and follows with 。 。 。 with Diarmuid； I suppose。〃 Paul remained silent； and after a moment the King went on。 〃It is power that teaches patience； holding power； I mean。 And you learn the price it exacts…which is something I never knew when I was your age and thought a sword and quick wits could deal with anything。 I never knew the price you pay for power。〃 Ailell leaned over the board and picked up one of the pieces。 〃Take the queen in ta'bael；〃 he said。 〃The most powerful piece on the board； yet she must be protected when threatened by guard or rider； for the game will be lost if that exchange is made。 And the king；〃 said Ailell dan Art； 〃in ta'bael you cannot sacrifice a king。〃
Paul couldn't read the expression in the sunken； still…handsome face； but there was a new timbre in the voice； something shifting far under the words。
Ailell seemed to notice his disfort。 He smiled again； faintly。 〃I am heavy pany at night；〃 he said。 〃Especially tonight。 Too much es back。 I have too many memories。〃
〃I have too many of my own；〃 Paul said impulsively； and hated himself the instant the words were spoken。
Ailell's expression； though； was mild； even passionate。 〃I thought you might；〃 he said。 〃I'm not sure why； but I thought you might。〃
Paul lowered his face to the deep wine goblet and took a long drink。 〃My lord；〃 he said； to break the ensuing stillness with a new subject； any new subject； 〃why did the Priestess say that Loren should have asked her before bringing us？ What does…〃
〃She was wrong about that； and I will send to tell her so。 Not that Jaelle is likely to listen。〃 Ailell's expression was rueful。 〃She loves to make trouble； to stir up tensions she might find ways to exploit。 Jaelle is ambitious beyond belief； and she seeks a return to the old ways of the Goddess ruling through her High Priestess； which is how it was before Iorweth came from oversea。 There is a good deal of ambition in my court； there often is around the throne of an aging king； but hers runs deeper than any。〃
Paul nodded。 〃Your son said something like that last night。〃
〃What？ Diarmuid did？〃 Ailell gave a laugh that was actually evocative of the Prince。 〃I'm surprised he sobered up long enough to think so clearly。〃
Paul's mouth twitched。 〃Actually； he wasn't sober； but he seemed to think pretty clearly anyhow。〃
The King gestured dismissively。 〃He is charming sometimes。〃 After a pause he tugged at his beard and asked； 〃I'm sorry； what were we speaking of？〃
〃Jaelle；〃 Paul said。 〃What she said this morning。〃
〃Yes； yes； of course。 Once her words would have been true； but not for a long time now。 In the days when the wild magic could only be reached underground； and usually only with blood； the power needed for a crossing would be drained from the very heart of the earth； and that has always been the province of the Mother。 So in those days it was true that such an expenditure of earthroot； of avarlith； could only be made through intercession of the High Priestess with the Goddess。 Now； though； for long years now； since Amairgen learned the skylore and founded the Council of the Mages； the power drain in their magic runs only through the mage's source； and the avarlith is not touched。〃
〃I don't understand。 What power drain？〃
〃I go too quickly。 It is hard to remember that you are from another world。 Listen； then。 If a mage were to use his magic to start a fire in that hearth； it would require power to do it。 Once all our magic belonged to the Goddess and that power was tapped straight from the earthroot； and being both drained and expended in Fionavar； the power would find its way back to the earth…it would never diminish。 But in a crossing the power is used in another world…〃
〃So you lose it！〃
〃Exactly。 Or so it was once。 But since Amairgen freed the mages from the Mother； the power will be drained from the source only； and he rebuilds it in himself over time。〃
〃He？〃
〃Or she； of course。〃
〃But 。 。 。 you mean each mage has 。 。 。 ？〃
〃Yes； of course。 Each is bonded to a source； as Loren is to Matt； or Metran to Denbarra。 That is the anchoring law of the skylore。 The mage can do no more than his source can sustain； and this bond is for life。 Whatever a mage does； someone else pays the price。〃
And so much came clear then。 Paul remembered Matt S？ren trembling as they came through the crossing。 He remembered Loren's sharp concern for the Dwarf； and then； seeing more clearly still； the dim torches on the walls of that first room； the torches frail Metran had so easily gestured to brightness； while Loren had refrained to let his source recover。 Paul felt his mind stretch away from self…absorption； stiffly； as if muscles had been too long unused。
〃How？〃 he asked。 〃How are they bound to each other？〃
〃Mage and source？ There are a great many laws； and long training to be endured。 In the end； if there is still willingness； they may bind with the ritual； though it is not a thing to be done lightly。 There are only three left in Fionavar。 Denbarra is sister…son to Metran； Teyrnon's source is Barak； his closest friend as a child。 Some pairings have been strange ones： Lisen of the Wood was source to Amairgen White…branch； first of the mages。〃
〃Why was it strange？〃
〃Ah；〃 the High King smiled； a little wistfully； 〃it is a long tale； that one。 Perhaps you may hear a part of it sung in the Great Hall。〃
〃All right。 But what about Loren and Matt？ How did they 。 。 。 ？〃
〃That； too； is strange；〃 Ailell said。 〃At the end of his training； Loren sought leave of the Council and of me to travel for a time。 He was gone three years。 When he returned he had his cloak； and he was bonded to the King of the Dwarves； a thing that had never happened before。 No Dwarf…〃
The King broke off sharply。 And in the abrupt silence they both heard it again： a barely audible tapping on the wall of the room across from the open window。 As Paul looked at the King in wonder； it came again。
Ailell's face had gone queerly soft。 〃Oh； M？rnir；〃 he breathed。 〃They have sent。〃 He looked at Paul； hesitating； then seemed to make a decision。 〃Stay with me； young Paul； Pwyll； stay and be silent； for you are about to see a thing few men have been allowed。〃
And walking over to the wall； the King pressed his palm carefully against it in a place where the stone had darkened slightly。 〃Levar shanna；〃 he murmu