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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 murmured； and stood back； as the thin outline of a door began to take shape in the seamless structure of the wall。 A moment later the demarcation was clear； and then the door slid soundlessly open and a slight figure moved lightly into the room。 It was cloaked and hooded； and remained so a moment； registering Paul's presence and Ailell's nod of endorsement； then it discarded the concealing garment in one smooth motion and bowed low before the King。
〃Greetings I bear； High King； and a gift to remember your crowning day。 And I have tidings needful for you to hear from Daniloth。 I am Brendel of the Kestrel Mark。〃
And in this fashion did Paul Schafer first see one of the lios alfar。 And before the ethereal； flame…like quality of the silver…haired figure that stood before him； he felt himself to have grown heavy and awkward； as a different dimension of grace was made manifest。
〃Be wele； Na…Brendel of the Kestrel；〃 Ailell murmured。 〃This is Paul Schafer； whom I think we would name Pwyll in Fionavar。 He is one of the four who came with Silvercloak from another of the worlds to join the fabric of our celebration。〃
〃This I know；〃 said Brendel。 〃I have been in Paras Derval two days now； waiting to find you alone。 This one I have seen； and the others； including the golden one。 She alone made the waiting tolerable； High King。 Else I might have been long hence from your walls； with the gift I bear undelivered。〃 A flame of laughter danced in his eyes； which were green…gold in the candlelight。
〃I thank you then for waiting；〃 said Ailell。 〃And tell me now； how does Ra…Lathen？〃
Brendel's face went suddenly still； the laughter extinguished。 〃Ah！〃 he exclaimed softly。 〃You bring me quickly to my tidings； High King。 Lathen Mist…weaver heard his song in the fall of the year。 He has gone oversea and away； and with him also went Laien Spearchild； last of those who survived the Bael Ran…gat。 None now are left； though few enough were ever left。〃 The eyes of the lios alfar had darkened： they were violet now in the shadows。 He stopped a moment； then continued。 〃Tenniel reigns in Daniloth。 It is his greeting I bring you。〃
〃Lathen gone now； too？〃 the King said； very low。 〃And Laien？ Heavy tidings you bear； Na…Brendel。〃
〃And there are heavier yet to tell；〃 the lios replied。 〃In the winter； rumor came to Daniloth of svart alfar moving in the north。 Ra…Tenniel posted watch； and last month we learned that the word was not false。 A party of them moved south past us； to the edgings of Pendaran； and there were wolves with them。 We fought them there； High King。 For the first time since the Bael Rangat； the lios alfar went to war。 We drove them back； and most of them were slain…for we are still something of what we were…but six of my brothers and sisters fell。 Six we loved will never now hear their song。 Death has e again to us。〃
Ailell had collapsed into his chair as the lios alfar spoke。 〃Svarts outside Pendaran；〃 he moaned now； almost to himself。 〃Oh； M？rnir； what wrong of mine was so great that this need e upon me in my age？〃 And aged he did seem then； shaking his head quiveringly back and forth。 His hands on the carved arms of the chair trembled。 Paul exchanged a glance with the bright figure of the lios。 But though his own heart was twisted with pity for the old King； he saw no trace of the same in the eyes； now grey； of their visitor。
〃I have a gifting for you； High King；〃 Brendel said at length。 〃Ra…Tenniel would have you know that he is other than was the Mistweaver。 My tidings of battle should tell you that。 He will not hide in Daniloth； and henceforth you will see us more often than at the sevenyear。 In token of which； and as earnest of alliance and our interwoven threads of destiny； the Lord of the lios alfar sends you this。〃
Never in his life had Paul seen a thing so beautiful as the object Brendel handed to Ailell。 In the thin scepter of crystal that passed from the lios to the man； every nuance of light in the room seemed to be caught and then transmuted。 The orange of the wall torches； the red flickers of the candles； even the blue…white diamonds of starlight seen through the window； all seemed to be weaving in ceaseless； intricate motion as if shuttling on a loom with the scepter。
〃A summonglass；〃 the King murmured as he looked down upon the gift。 〃This is a treasure indeed。 It has been four hundred years since one of these lay within our halls。〃
〃And whose fault was that？〃 Brendel said coldly。
〃Unfair； my friend；〃 Ailell replied； a little sharply； in his turn。 The words of the lios seemed to kindle a spark of pride in him。 〃Vailerth； High King； broke the summonglass as a small part of a great madness…and Brennin paid a blood price for that madness in civil war。〃 The King's voice was firm again。 〃Tell Ra…Tenniel that I accept his gift。 Should he use it to summon us； the summons shall be answered。 Say that to your Lord。 Tomorrow I will speak with my Council as to the other tidings you have brought。 Pendaran will be watched； I promise you。〃
〃It is in my heart that more than watching may be needed； High King；〃 Brendel replied； softly now。 〃There is a power stirring in Fionavar。〃
Ailell nodded slowly。 〃So Loren said to me some time ago。〃 He hesitated； then went on； almost reluctantly。 〃Tell me； Na…Brendel； how does the Daniloth wardstone？〃
〃The same as it has been since the day Ginserat made it！〃 Brendel said fiercely。 〃The lios alfar do not forget。 Look to your own； High King！〃
〃No offence was meant； my friend；〃 said Ailell； 〃but you know that all the guardians must burn the naal fire。 And know you this as well： the people of Conary and Colan； and of Ginserat himself； do not forget the Bael Rangat； either。 Our stone is blue as it ever was； and as； if the gods are kind； it ever will be。〃 There was a silence； Brendel's eyes burned now with a luminous intensity。 〃e！〃 said Ailell suddenly； rising to stand tall above them。 〃e； and I will show you！〃
Turning on his heel he stalked to his bedroom； opened the door； and passed through。 Following quickly behind； Paul caught a glimpse of the great four…postered； canopied bed of the King； and he saw the figure of Tarn； the page； asleep on his cot in a corner of the room。 Ailell did not break stride； though； and Paul and the lios alfar hastened to keep up as the King opened another door on the opposite wall of the bedchamber and passed through that as well into a short corridor； at the end of which was another heavy door。 There he stopped； breathing hard。
〃We are above the Room of the Stone；〃 Ailell said； speaking with some difficulty。 He pressed a catch in the middle of the door and slid back a small rectangle of wood； which allowed them to see down into the room on the other side。
〃Colan himself had this made；〃 the King said to them； 〃when he returned with the stone from Rangat。 It is told that for the rest of his days； he would often rise in the night and walk this corridor to gaze upon Ginserat's stone and ease his heart with the knowledge that it was as it had be