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arried fire； the color of the moon。
〃What is this？〃 Aileron asked。
Kim； instinctively raising her hand high so that light could speak to light； realized that she both knew and didn't know。 The Baelrath was wild； untamed； so was that moon。
〃The stone is being charged；〃 she said quietly。 〃That is the war moon overhead。 This is the Warstone。〃 The others were silent； hearing her。 And suddenly her own voice intoning； her role； seemed so heavy； Kim reached back； almost desperately； for some trace of the lightness that had once defined her。
〃I think；〃 she tried； hoping that Kevin； at least； would catch it； would play along； help her； please； to remember what she was； 〃I think we'd better have a new flag made。〃
Kevin； wrestling with things of his own； missed it pletely。 All he heard was Kim saying 〃we〃 to this new Prince of Brennin。
Looking at her； he thought he was seeing a stranger。
In the courtyard behind the sanctuary； Jaelle； the High Priestess； lifted her face to the sky and gave praise。 And with the teachings of Gwen Ystrat in her heart； she looked at the moon； understanding far better than anyone else west of Lake Leinan what it meant。 She gave careful thought for a time； then called six of her women to her； and led them secretly out of Paras Derval； westward in the rain。
In Cathal； too； they had seen the Mountain's fire in the morning； and trembled to hear the laughter on the wind。 Now the red moon shone above Larai Rigal as well。 Power on power。 A gauntlet hurled into the sky； and answered in the sky。 This； Shalhassan could understand。 He summoned a Council in the dead of night and ordered an embassy to leave for Cynan and then Brennin immediately。 No； not in the morning； he snapped in response to a rash question。 Immediately。 One did not sleep when war began； or one slept forever when it ended。
A good phrase； he thought； dismissing them。 He made a mental note to dictate it to Raziel when time allowed。 Then he went to bed。
Over Eridu the red moon rose； and the Plain； and down upon Daniloth it cast its light。 And the lios alfar； alone of all the guardian peoples； had lore stretching back sufficiently far to say with certainty that no such moon had ever shone before。
It was a reply to Rakoth； their elders agreed； gathered before Ra…Tenniel on the mound at Atronel； to the one the younger gods had named Sathain； the Hooded One； long； long ago。 It was an intercession as well； the wisest of them added； though for what； or as to what； they could not say。
Nor could they say what the third power of the moon was； though all the lios knew there was a third。
The Goddess worked by threes。
There was another glade in another wood。 A glade where one man alone had dared to walk in ten centuries since Amairgen had died。
The glade was small； the trees of the grove about were very old； extremely tall。 The moon was almost overhead before she could shine down upon Pendaran's sacred grove。
When she did； it began。 A play of light first； a shimmering； and then a sound following； unearthly like a flute among the leaves。 The air itself seemed to quiver to that tune； to dance； to form and reform； coalesce； to shape finally a creature of light and sound； of Pendaran and the moon。
When it was ended； there was silence； and something stood in the glade where nothing had stood before。 With the wide eyes of the newly born； dewed so that her coat glistened in the birthing light； she rose on unsteady legs； and stood a moment； as one more sound like a single string plucked ran through Pendaran Wood。
Slowly then； delicately as all her kind； she moved from the glade； from the sacred grove。 Eastward she went； for though but newly birthed； she knew already that to the west lay the sea。
Lightly； lightly did she tread the grass； and the powers of Pendaran； all the creatures gathered there； grew still as she passed； more beautiful； more terrible than any one of them。
The Goddess worked by threes； this was the third。
To the highest battlement he had climbed； so that all of black Starkadh lay below him。 Starkadh rebuilt； his fortress and his fastness； for the blasting of Rangat had not signified his freedom…though let the fools think so yet awhile…he had been free a long time now。 The Mountain had been exploded because he was ready at last for war； with the place of his power rising anew to tower over the northland； over Daniloth； a blur to the south； where his heart's hate would forever lie。
But he did not look down upon it。
Instead his eyes were riveted on the impossible response the night sky held up to him； and in that moment he tasted doubt。 With his one good hand； he reached upwards as if his talons might rake the moon from heaven； and it was a long time before his rage passed。
But he had changed in a thousand years under Rangat。 Hate had driven him to move too fast the last time。 This time it would not。
Let the moon shine tonight。 He would have it down before the end。 He would smash Brennin like a toy and uproot the Summer Tree。 The Riders would be scattered； Larai Rigal burned to waste； Calor Diman defiled in Eridu。
And Gwen Ystrat he would level。 Let the moon shine； then。 Let Dana try to show forth empty signs in heavens choked with his smoke。 Her； too； he would have kneeling before him。 He had had a thousand years to consider all of this。
He smiled then； for the last was best。 When all else was done； when Fionavar lay crushed beneath his fist； only then would he turn to Daniloth。 One by one he would have them brought to him； the lios alfar； the Children of Light。 One by one by one to Starkadh。
He would know what to do with them。
The thunder was almost spent； the rain a thin drizzle。 The wind was wind； no more。 A taste of salt on it from the sea； far away。 The clouds were breaking up。 The red moon stood directly over the Tree。
〃Lady；〃 said the God； muting the thunder of his voice； 〃Lady； this you have never done before。〃
〃It was needful；〃 she replied； a chiming on wind。 〃He is very strong this time。〃
〃He is very strong；〃 the thunder echoed。 〃Why did you speak to my sacrifice？〃 A slight reproach。
The Lady's voice grew deeper； woven of hearth smoke and caves。 〃Do you mind？〃 she murmured。
There came a sound that might have been a god amused。 〃Not if you beg forgiveness； no。 It has been long； Lady。〃 A deeper sound； and meaningful。
〃Do you know what I have done in Pendaran？〃 she asked； eluding； voice gossamer like dawn。
〃I do。 Though for good or ill I do not know。 It may burn the hand that lays hold of it。〃
〃All my gifts are double…edged；〃 the Goddess said； and he was aware of ancient blood in that tone。 There was a silence； then she was finest lace again； cajoling： 〃I have interceded； Lord； will you not do so？〃
〃For them？〃
〃And to please me；〃 said the moon。
〃Might we please each other？〃
〃We might so。〃
A roll of thunder then。 Laughter。
〃I have interceded；〃 M？rnir said。
〃Not the rain；〃 she protested； sea…sound。 〃The rain was bought。〃
〃Not the rain；〃 the God replied。 〃I have done what I have done。〃
〃Let us go； th