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in Brennin。〃
Galadan regarded him a moment longer； then his glance flicked away dismissively。 〃He is worthy of his destiny；〃 he said to Metran。 〃A thick…witted source is an advantage for you； I suppose。 I should get dreadfully bored； myself。〃
Denbarra flushed； but Metran was unmoved by the gibe this time。 〃My sister…son is loyal。 It is a virtue；〃 he said； unconscious of the irony。 〃What about you？ You mentioned a task to be done。 Should I know？〃
〃You should； but evidently you don't。 Give thanks that I am less careless。 There is a death to be consummated。〃
Metran's mouth twitched at the insult； but he did not respond。 〃Then go your way；〃 he said。 〃We may not meet for some time。〃
〃Alas！〃 said Galadan。
The mage raised a hand。 〃You mock me；〃 he said with intensity。 〃You mock us all； andain。 But I tell you this： with the Cauldron of Khath Meigol in my hands； I will wield a power even you dare not scorn。 And with it I shall wreak such a vengeance here in Brennin that the memory of it will never die。〃
Galadan lifted his scarred head and regarded the mage。 〃Perhaps；〃 he said finally； and very； very softly。 〃Unless the memory of it dies because everything has died。 Which； as you know； is the wish of my heart。〃
On the last words； he made a subtle gesture over his breast； and a moment later a coal…black wolf with a splash of silver on its head ran swiftly westward from the clearing。
Had he entered the forest farther south； a great deal of what ensued might have been very different。
At the southern edge of the woodcutter's clearing a figure lay； hidden among the trees； bleeding from a dozen wounds。 Behind him on the trail through the forest the last two lios alfar lay dead。 And ten wolves。
And in the heart of Na…Brendel of the Kestrel Mark lay a grief and a rage that； more than anything else； had kept him alive so far。 In the sunlight his eyes were black as night。
He watched Metran and his source mount horses and swing away northwest； and he saw the svarts and wolves leave together for the north。 Only when the clearing stood utterly silent did he rise； with difficulty； and begin his own journey back to Paras Derval。 He limped badly； from a wound in the thigh； and he was weak unto death from loss of blood； but he was not going to let himself fall or fail； for he was of the lios alfar； and the last of his pany； and with his own eyes he had seen a gathering of the Dark that day。
It was a long way； though； and he was badly； badly hurt； so he was still a league from Paras Derval when twilight fell。
During the day there were rumblings of thunder in the west。 A number of the merchants in the city came to their doorways to look at the heavens； more out of habit than out of hope。 The killing sun burned in a bare sky。
On the green at the end of Anvil Lane； Leila had gathered the children again for the ta'kiena。 One or two had refused out of boredom； but she was insistent； and the others acceded to her wishes； which； with Leila； was always the best thing to do。
So she was blindfolded again； and she made them do it double so she truly could not see。 Then she began the calling； and went through the first three almost indifferently because they didn't matter； they were only a game。 When she came to the last one； though； to the Road； she felt the now familiar stillness e over her again； and she closed her eyes behind the two blindfolds。 Then her mouth went dry and the difficult twisting flowered inside her。 Only when the rushing sound began； like waves； did she start the chant； and as she sang the last word everything stopped。
She removed the blindfolds and； blinking in the brightness； saw with no surprise at all that it was Finn again。 As if from far away she heard the voices of the adults watching them； and further still she heard a roll of thunder； but she looked only at Finn。 He seemed more alone every time。 She would have been sad； but it seemed so destined that sadness didn't fit； nor any sense of surprise。 She didn't know what the Longest Road was； or where it led； but she knew it was Finn's； and that she was calling him to it。
Later that afternoon； though； something did surprise her。 Ordinary people never went to the sanctuary of the Mother； certainly not at the direct request of the High Priestess herself。 She bed her hair and wore her only gown； her mother made her。
When Sharra dreamed now of the falcon； it was no longer alone in the sky over Larai Rigal。 Memory burned in her like a fire under stars。
She was her father's daughter； though； heir to the Ivory Throne； and so there was a matter to be looked into； regardless of fires in her heart or falcons overhead。
Devorsh； Captain of the Guard； knocked in response to her summons； and the mutes admitted him。 Her ladies murmured behind fluttering fans as the tall Captain made obeisance and gave homage in his unmistakable voice。 She dismissed the women； enjoying their chagrin； and bade him sit in a low chair by the window。
〃Captain；〃 she began； without preamble； 〃certain documents have e to my attention raising a matter I think we must address。〃
〃Highness？〃 He was handsome； she conceded； but not a candle； not a candle。 He would not understand why she was smiling； not that it mattered。
〃It seems that the archival records make mention of stone handholds cut many years ago in the cliff above Saeren due north of us。〃
〃Above the river； Highness？ In the cliff？〃 Polite incredulity infused the gravelly voice。
〃I think I said that； yes。〃 He flushed at the rebuke； she paused to let it register。 〃If those handholds exist； they are a danger and we should know about them。 I want you to take two men you trust and see if this is true。 For obvious reasons〃…though she knew of none…〃this is to be kept very quiet。〃
〃Yes； Highness。 When shall I…〃
〃Now； of course。〃 She rose； and so； of necessity； did he。
〃My lady's will。〃 He made obeisance and turned to go。
And because of the falcons； the moon…touched memory； she called him back。 〃Devorsh； one thing more。 I heard footsteps in the garden the night before last。 Did you notice anything by the walls？〃
His face showed real concern。 〃Highness； I went off duty at sundown。 Bashrai took mand from me。 I will speak to him of this without delay。〃
〃Off duty？〃
〃Yes； Highness。 We take turns； Bashrai and myself； in leading the night watch。 He is most petent； I suggest； but if…〃
〃How many men patrol the walls at night？〃 She leaned on the back of a chair for support； there was a pressure behind her eyes。
〃Twelve； Highness； in peacetime。〃
〃And the dogs？〃
He coughed。 〃Ah； no； my lady。 Not of late。 It was felt unnecessary。 They have been used on the hunt this spring and summer。 Your father knows about this； of course。〃 His face was animated by unconcealed curiosity。 〃If my lady feels they should…〃
〃No！〃 It was intolerable that he be in the room another moment； that he continue to look at her like this； his eyes widening in appraisal。 〃I will discuss this with Bashrai。 Go now and do as I have told you。 And quickly； Devorsh； very quickly。〃
〃I go； my lady；〃 he said in the distinctive vo