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nd make him name the name of his son to the one who knew the place of summoning。 There was no peace； no serenity anywhere。 She carried none； had none to grant； she wore the Warstone on her hand。 She would drag the dead from their rest； and the undead to their doom。
What was she that this should be so？
At the morning's first light she made them take her back in the rain。 An armed guard of thirty men went with her； troops from North Keep who had been Aileron's before he was exiled。 With cool efficiency they passed her about on the ride to the lake。 At the last curve the bodies of Aileron's victims still lay on the path。
〃Did he do that alone？〃 the leader of the guard asked when they were past。 His voice was reverent。
〃Yes；〃 she said。
〃He will be our king？〃
〃Yes；〃 she said。
They waited by the lake while she went inside； and then down the now familiar stairs into the glow cast by Lisen's Light。 She left it where it lay； though； and； walking to the table； she opened one of the books。 Oh； it was a glory and a terror that she knew where to look； but she did； and sitting there alone； she slowly read the words that she would have to speak。
But only when she knew the place that no one knew。 The tumbled stones were only the starting point。 There was a long way yet to walk along this path； a long way； but she was on it now。 Preoccupied； tangled among interstices of time and place； the Seer of Brennin went back up the stairs。 Aileron's men awaited her； in disciplined alertness by the lake。
It was time to go。 There was a very great deal to be done。 She lingered； though； in the cottage； seeing the fire； the hearth； the worn table； the herbs in jars along the wall。 She read the labels； unstoppered one container to smell its contents。 There was so much to be done； the Seer of Brennin knew； but still she lingered； tasting the aloneness。
It was bittersweet； and when she moved at last； Kimberly went out the back door； still alone； into the yard； away from where the soldiers were； and she saw three men picking their way on horseback down the slope north of her； and one of them she knew； oh； she knew。 And it seemed that amid all the burdens and sorrows； joy could still flower like a bannion in the wood。
They buried Ailell dan Art in a time of rain。 It fell upon the windows of Delevan high above the Great Hall where the King lay in state； robed in white and gold； his sword upon his breast； his great； gnarled hands closed upon the hilt； it fell softly upon the gorgeous woven covering of the bier when the nobility of Brennin； who had gathered for celebration and stayed for mourning and war； bore him out of the palace and to the doors of the Temple where the women took him； it fell； too； upon the dome of that sanctuary while Jaelle； the High Priestess； performed the rites of the Mother； to send back home to her one of the Kings。
No man was in that place。 Loren had taken Paul away。 She'd had hopes of seeing Silvercloak shaken； but had been disappointed； for the mage had shown no surprise at all； and she had been forced to cloak her own disfiture at that； and at his bowing to the Twiceborn。
No man was in that place； save for the dead King； when they lifted the great axe from its rest； and no man saw what they did then。 Dana was not mocked nor denied when she took her child home； whom she had sent forth so long ago on the circling path that led ever back to her。
It was the place of the High Priestess to bury the High King； and so Jaelle led them forth when the rites were done。 Into the rain she went； clad in white among all the black； and they bore Ailell shoulder…high behind her to the crypt wherein the Kings of Brennin were laid to rest。
East of the palace it lay； north of the Temple。 Before the body went Jaelle with the key to the gates in her hands。 Behind the bier； fair and solitary； walked Diarmuid； the King's Heir； and after him came all the lesser nobility of Brennin。 Among them there walked； though with aid； a Prince of the lios alfar； and there were e as well two men of the Dalrei； from the Plain； and with these walked two men from another world； one very tall and dark； another fair； and between them was a woman with white hair。 The mon folk lined the path； six deep in the rain； and they bowed their heads to see Ailell go by。
Then they came to the great gates of the burying place； and Jaelle saw that they were open already and that a man clad in black stood waiting there for them； and she saw who it was。
〃e；〃 said Aileron； 〃let us lay my father by my mother； whom he loved。〃
And while she was trying to mask her shock； another voice spoke。 〃Wele home； exile；〃 Diarmuid said； his tone mild； unsurprised； and he moved lightly past her to kiss Aileron on the cheek。 〃Shall we lead him back to her？〃
It was greatly wrong； for she had right of precedence here； but in spite of herself the High Priestess felt a strange emotion to see the two of them； the dark son and the bright； pass through the gates of the dead； side by side； while all the people of Brennin murmured behind them in the falling rain。
On a spur of hill high above that place； three men watched。 One would be First Mage of Brennin before the sun had set； one had been made King of the Dwarves by a sunrise long ago； and the third had caused the rain and been sent back by the God。
〃We are gathered；〃 Gorlaes began； standing beside the throne but two careful steps below it； 〃in a time of sorrow and need。〃
They were in the Great Hall； Tomaz Lal's masterpiece； and there were gathered that afternoon all the mighty of Brennin； save one。 The two Dalrei； and Dave as well； so fortuitously arrived； had been greeted with honor and shown to their chambers； and even Brendel of Daniloth was absent from this assemblage； for what Brennin had now to do was matter for Brennin alone。
〃In any normal time our loss would demand space for mourning。 But this is no such time。 It is needful for us now；〃 the Chancellor continued； seeing that Jaelle had not contested his right to speak first； 〃to take swift counsel amongst one another and go forth from this hall united； with a new King to lead us into…〃
〃Hold； Gorlaes。 We will wait for Silvercloak。 〃 It was Teyrnon； the mage； and he had risen to stand； with Barak； his source； and Matt S？ren。 Trouble already； and they had not even begun。
〃Surely；〃 Jaelle murmured； 〃it is rather his duty to be here when others are。 We have waited long enough。〃
〃We will wait longer；〃 the Dwarf growled。 〃As we waited for you； yesterday。〃 There was something in his tone that made Gorlaes glad it was Jaelle who'd raised objection； and not himself。
〃Where is he？〃 Niavin of Seresh asked。
〃He is ing。 He had to go slowly。〃
〃Why？〃 It was Diarmuid。 He had stopped his feline pacing at the edges of the hall and e forward。
〃Wait；〃 was all the Dwarf replied。
Gorlaes was about to remonstrate； but someone else came in first。
〃No；〃 said Aileron。 〃For all the love I bear him； I will not wait on this。 There is； in truth； little to discuss。〃
Kim Ford； in that room as the newest； the only； Seer of Brennin； watched him stride to stand by Gorlaes。