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He felt himself falling。 It seemed to take a very long time。 The girl was there； her eyes were so sorrowful。 He almost wanted to fort her。 Aileron； he thought。 Diarmuid。 Oh； Aileron。 Very far off； he heard thunder。 A god was ing。 Yes； of course； but what fools they all were…it was the wrong god。 It was so funny； so funny； it was。
And on that thought he died。
So passed； on the eve of war； Ailell dan Art； High King of Brennin； and the rule passed to his son in a time of darkness； when fear moved across the face of all the lands。 A good King and wise； Ysanne the Seer had called him once。
What he had fallen from。
Jennifer was flying straight at the Mountain when it went up。
A harsh cry of triumph burst from the throat of the black swan as the blast of fire rose far above to separate high in the air and form the taloned hand； bending south like smoke on the wind； but not dissolving； hanging there； reaching。
There was laughter in the sky all around her。 Is the person under the mountain dead？ Paul Schafer had asked before they crossed。 He wasn't dead； nor was he under the Mountain anymore。 And though she didn't understand； Jennifer knew that he wasn't a person； either。 You had to be something more to shape a hand of fire and send mad laughter down the wind。
The swan increased her speed。 For a day and a night Avaia had borne her north； the giant wings beating with exquisite grace； the odor of corruption surrounding her； even in the high； thin reaches of the sky。 All through this second day they flew； but late that night they set down on the shores of a lake north of the wide grasslands that had unrolled beneath their flight。
There were svart alfar waiting for them； a large band this time； and with them were other creatures； huge and savage； with fangs and carrying swords。 She was pulled roughly from the swan and thrown on the ground。 They didn't bother tying her…she couldn't move in any case； her limbs were brutally stiff with cramp after so long bound and motionless。
After a time they brought her food： the half…cooked carcass of some prairie rodent。 When she shook her head in mute refusal； they laughed。
Later they did tie her； tearing her blouse in the process。 A few of them began pinching and playing with her body； but some leader made them stop。 She hardly registered it。 A far corner of her mind； it seemed to be as remote as her life； said that she was in shock； and that it was probably a blessing。
When morning came； they would bind her to the swan again and Avaia would fly all that third day； angling northwest now so the still…smoldering mountain gradually slid around towards the east。 Then； toward sunset； in a region of great cold； Jennifer would see Starkadh； like a giant ziggurat of hell among the ice； and she would begin to understand。
For the second time； Kimberly came to in her bed in the cottage。 This time； though； there was no Ysanne to watch over her。 Instead； the eyes gazing at her were the dark ones； deepset； of the servant； Tyrth。
As awareness returned she became conscious of a pain on her wrist。 Looking； she saw a scoring of black where the vellin bracelet had twisted into her skin。 That she remembered。 She shook her head。
〃I think I would have died without this。〃 She made a small movement of her hand to show him。
He didn't reply but a great tension seemed to dissolve from his pact； muscled frame as he heard her speak。 She looked around； by the shadows it was late afternoon。
〃That's twice now you've had to carry me here；〃 she said。
〃You must not let that bother you； my lady；〃 he said in his rough； shy voice。
〃Well； I'm not in the habit of fainting。〃
〃I would never think that。〃 He cast his eyes down。
〃What happened with the Mountain？〃 she asked； almost unwilling to know。
〃It is over；〃 he replied。 〃Just before you woke。〃 She nodded。 That made sense。
〃Have you been watching me all day？〃
He looked apologetic。 〃Not always； my lady。 I am sorry； but the animals were frightened and。 。 。 。〃
At that she smiled inwardly。 He was pushing it a bit。
〃There is boiling water；〃 Tyrth said after a short silence。 〃Could I make you a drink？〃
〃Please。〃
She watched as he limped to the fire。 With neat； economical motions he prepared a pot of some herbal infusion and carried it back to the table by the bed。
It was； she decided； time。
〃You don't have to fake the limp anymore；〃 she said。
He was very cool； you had to give him credit。 Only the briefest flicker of uncertainty had touched the dark eyes； and his hands pouring her drink were absolutely steady。 Only when he finished did he sit down for the first time and regard her for a long time in silence。
〃Did she tell you？〃 he asked finally； and she heard his true voice for the first time。
〃No。 She lied； actually。 Said it wasn't her secret to tell。〃 She hesitated。 〃I learned from Eilathen by the lake。〃
〃I watched that。 I wondered。〃
Kim could feel her forehead creasing with its incongruous vertical line。
〃Ysanne is gone； you know。〃 She said it as calmly as she could。
He nodded。 〃That much I know； but I don't understand what has happened。 Your hair。 。 。 。〃
〃She had Lokdal down below；〃 Kim said bluntly。 Almost； she wanted to hurt him with it。 〃She used it on herself。〃
He did react； and she was sorry for the thought behind her words。 A hand came up to cover his mouth； a curious gesture in such a man。 〃No；〃 he breathed。 〃Oh； Ysanne； no！〃 She could hear the loss。
〃You understand what she has done？〃 she asked。 There was a catch in her voice； she controlled it。 There was so much pain。
〃I know what the dagger does； yes。 I didn't know she had it here。 She must have e to love you very much。〃
〃Not just me。 All of us。〃 She hesitated。 〃She dreamt me twenty…five years ago。 Before I was born。〃 Did that make it easier？ Did anything？
His eyes widened。 〃That I never knew。〃
〃How could you？〃 He seemed to regard gaps in his awareness as deeply felt affronts。 But there was something else that had to be said。 〃There is more；〃 Kim said。 His name is not to be spoken； she thought； then： 〃Your father died this afternoon； Aileron。〃
There was a silence。
〃Old news；〃 the elder Prince of Brennin said。 〃Listen。〃
And after a moment she heard them： all the bells in Paras Derval tolling。 The death bells for the passing of a King。
〃I'm sorry；〃 she said。
His mouth twitched； then he looked out the window。 You cold bastard； she thought。 Old news。 He deserved more than that； surely； surely he did。 She was about to say as much when Aileron turned back to her； and she saw the river of tears pouring and pouring down his face。
Dear God； she thought shakily； enduring a paroxysm of self…condemnation。 He may be hard to read； but how can you be that far off？ It would have been funny； a Kim Ford classic； except that people were going to be relying on her now for so much。 It was no good； no good at all。 She was an impulsive； undisciplined； halfway…decent intern from Toronto。 What the hell was she going to do？
Nothing； at any rate； for the moment。 She held herself very still on the bed； and