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In the entranceway； rain dripping from his hat and cloak； stood the broad； square figure of Gorlaes； the Chancellor。 Before Kevin could assimilate his presence there； Gorlaes had stepped into the room。
〃Prince Diarmuid；〃 he said； without preamble； 〃my sources tell me your brother has returned from exile。 For the Crown； I think。 You； my lord； are the heir to the throne I swore to serve。 I have e to offer you my services。〃
And at that Diarmuid's laughter exploded； unchecked and abrasive in a room full of mourners。 〃Of course you have！〃 he cried。 〃e in！ Do e in； Gorlaes。 I have great need of you…we're short a cook at South Keep！〃
Even as the Prince's sarcastic hilarity filled the room； Kevin's mind cut back to the pulse beat of time that had followed his first announcement of Aileron's return。 There had been sharp irony in Diarmuid then； too； but only after the first instant。 In the first instant； Kevin thought he had seen something very different flash across the Prince's face； and he was almost certain he knew what it was。
Loren and Matt had gone with Teyrnon and Barak to bring the body home from the Tree。 The Godwood was not a place where soldiers would willingly go； and in any case； on the eve of war the last two mages in Paras Derval saw it as fit that they walk together with their sources； apart from other men； and share their thoughts on what would lie in the days ahead。
They were agreed on the kingship； though in some ways it was a pity。 For all Aileron's harsh abrasiveness； there was in his driven nature the stuff of a war king of old。 Diarmuid's mercurial glitter made him simply too unreliable。 They had been wrong about things before； but not often in concert。 Barak concurred。 Matt kept his own counsel； but the other three were used to that。
Besides； they were in the wood by then and； being men acquainted with power； and deeply tuned to what had happened in the night； they walked in silence to the Summer Tree。
And then； in a different kind of silence； walked back away； under leaves dripping with the morning rain。 It was taught； and they all knew the teachings； that M？rnir； if he came for the sacrifice； laid claim only to the soul。 The body was husk； dross； not for the God； and it was left behind。
Except it hadn't been。
A mystery； but it was solved when Loren and Matt returned to Paras Derval and saw the girl； in the dun robes of an acolyte of the sanctuary； waiting outside their quarters in the town。
〃My lord；〃 she said； as they walked up； 〃the High Priestess bade me tell you to e to her in the Temple so soon as you might。〃
〃Tell him？〃 Matt growled。
The child was remarkably posed。 〃She did say that。 The matter is important。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Loren。 〃She brought back the body。〃
The girl nodded。
〃Because of the moon；〃 he went on； thinking aloud。 〃It fits。〃
Surprisingly； the acolyte nodded again。 〃Of course it does；〃 she said coolly。 〃Will you e now？〃
Exchanging a raised…eyebrows look； the two of them followed Jaelle's messenger through the streets to the eastern gate。
Once beyond the town； she stopped。 〃There is something I would warn you about；〃 she said。
Loren Silvercloak looked down from his great height upon the child。 〃Did the Priestess tell you to do so？〃
〃Of course not。〃 Her tone was impatient。
〃Then you should not speak other than what you were charged to say。 How long have you been an acolyte？〃
〃I am Leila；〃 she replied； gazing up at him with tranquil eyes。 Too tranquil； he wondered at the answer。 Was her mind touched？ Sometimes the Temple took such children。
〃That isn't what I asked；〃 he said kindly。
〃I know what you asked；〃 she said with some asperity。 〃I am Leila。 I called Finn dan Shahar to the Longest Road four times this summer in the ta'kiena。〃
His eyes narrowed； he had heard about this。 〃And Jaelle has made you an acolyte？〃
〃Two days ago。 She is very wise。〃
An arrogant child。 It was time to assert control。 〃Not；〃 he said sternly； 〃if her acolytes presume to judge her； and her messengers offer messages of their own。〃
It didn't faze her。 With a shrug of acceptance； Leila turned and continued up the slope to the sanctuary。
He wrestled with it for several strides； then admitted a rare defeat。 〃Hold；〃 Loren said； and heard Matt's snort of laughter beside him。 〃What is your news？〃
The Dwarf； he was aware； was finding this whole exchange richly amusing。 It was； he supposed。
〃He is alive；〃 Leila said； and suddenly there was nothing amusing about anything at all。
There had been darkness。 A sense of movement； of being moved。 The stars very close； then impossibly far away； and receding。 Everything receding。
The next time there was an impression； blurred as through rain on glass； of candles wavering； with gray shapes moving ambiguously beyond their arc。 He was still now； but soon he felt himself slipping back again； as a tide withdraws to the dark sea wherein there lie no discontinuities。
Except the fact of his presence。
Of his being alive。
Paul opened his eyes； having e a long way。 And it seemed； after all the journeying； that he was lying on a bed in a room where there were； indeed； candles burning。 He was very weak。 There was astonishingly little physical pain； though； and the other kind of pain was so newly allowed it was almost a luxury。 He took one slow breath that meant life； and then another to wele back sorrow。
〃Oh； Rachel；〃 he breathed； scarcely a sound。 Forbidden once； the most forbidden name。 But then intercession had e； before he died； and absolution allowing grief。
Except that he hadn't died。 A thought like a blade pierced him at that： was he alive because he'd failed？ Was that it？ With an effort he turned his head。 The movement revealed a tall figure standing by the bed gazing down at him from between the candles。
〃You are in the Temple of the Mother；〃 Jaelle said。 〃It is raining outside。〃
Rain。 There was a bitter challenge in her eyes； but it couldn't touch him in that moment。 He was beyond her。 He turned his head away。 It was raining； he was alive。 Sent back。 Arrow of the God。
He felt the presence of M？rnir then； within himself； latent； tacit。 There was a burden in that； and soon it would have to be addressed； but not yet； not yet。 Now was for lying still； tasting the sense of being himself again for the first time in so very long。 Ten months。 And three nights that had been forever。 Oh； he could go with joy a little ways； it was allowed。 Eyes closed； he sank deep into the pillow。 He was desperately weak； but weakness was all right now。 There was rain。
〃Dana spoke to you。〃
He could hear the vivid rage in her voice。 Too much of it； he ignored her。 Kevin； he thought。 I want to see Kev。 Soon； he told himself； after I sleep。
She slapped him hard across the face。 He felt a raking nail draw blood。
〃You are in the sanctuary。 Answer！〃
Paul Schafer opened his eyes。 With cold scorn of his own； he confronted her fury。 This time； Jaelle looked away。
After a moment she spoke； gazing at one of the long candles。 〃All my life I have dreamt of hearing the Goddess speak； of seeing