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ddles。 The Earth…Masters began a war before history； a war that killed their own children。 If I could fight them； I would； for the sake of the realm； but I think I would only kill myself and the High One。 So I'm doing the only thing that makes any sense to me。 Nothing。〃
She did not answer for a long time。 He held her quietly； watching the fire spark a silvery wash across her cloak。 She said slowly； 〃Morgon； there is one more riddle maybe you should answer。 You stripped all illusions from Ghisteslwchholm； you named the shape…changers； you woke the High One out of his silence。 But there is one more thing you have not named； and it will not die。。。〃 Her voice shook into silence。 He felt suddenly； through all the bulky fur between them； the beat of her heart。
〃What？〃 The word was a whisper she could not have heard； but she answered him。
〃In Lungold； I talked to Yrth in crow…shape。 So I did not know then that he is blind。 I went to Isig； searching for you； and I found him there。 His eyes are the color of water burned by light。 He told me that Ghisteslwchlohm had blinded him during the destruction of Lungold。 And I didn't question that。 He is a big； gentle； ancient man； and Danan's grandchildren followed him all over the mountain while he was searching for you among the stones and trees。 One evening Bere brought a harp he had made to the hall and asked Yrth to play it。 He laughed a little and said that though he had been known once as the Harpist of Lungold； he hadn't touched a harp for seven centuries。 But he played a little。。。 And； Morgon； I knew that harping。 It was the same awkward； tentative harping that haunted you down Trader's Road and drew you into Ghisteslwchlohm's power。〃
He lifted her face between his hands。 He was feeling the wind suddenly； scoring all his bones with time。 〃What are you telling me？〃
〃I don't know。 But how many blind harpists who cannot harp can there be in the world？〃
He took a breath of wind； it burned through him like cold fire。 〃He's dead。〃
〃Then he's challenging you out of his grave。 Yrth harped to me that night so that I would carry the riddle of his harping to you； wherever in the realm you were。''
〃Are you sure？〃
〃No。 But I know that he wants to find you。 And that if he was a harpist named Deth who travelled with you； as Yrth did； down Trader's Road； then he spun riddles so secretly； so skillfully； that he blinded even Ghisteslwchlohm。 And even you； the Riddle…Master of Hed。 I think maybe you should name him。 Because he is playing his own silent； deadly game； and he may be the only one in this realm who knows exactly what he is doing。〃
〃Who in Hel's name is he？'' He was shivering suddenly； uncontrollably。 〃Deth took the Black of Mastery at Caithnard。 He was a riddler。 He knew my name before I did。 I suspected once that he might be a Lungold wizard。 I asked him。〃
〃What did he say？〃
〃He said he was the High One's harpist。 So I asked him what he was doing in Isig while Yrth made my harp； a hundred years before he was born。 He told me to trust him。 Beyond logic； beyond reason； beyond hope。 And then he betrayed me。〃 He drew her against him； but the wind ran between them like a knife。 〃It's cold。 It was never this cold before。〃
〃What are you going to do？〃
〃What does he want？ Is he an Earth…Master； playing his own solitary game for power？ Does he want me alive or dead？ Does he want the High One alive or dead？〃
〃I don't know。 You're the riddler。 He's challenging you。 Ask him。〃
He was silent； remembering the harpist on Trader's Road who had drawn him without a word； with only a halting； crippled harping out of the night into Ghisteslwchlohm's hands。 He whispered； 〃He knows me too well。 I think whatever he wants； he will get。〃 A gust struck them； smelling like snow； gnawing icily at his face and hands。 It drove him to his feet； breathless； bunded； full of a sudden； helpless longing for hope。 When he could see again； he found that Raederle had already changed shape。 A vesta shod and crowned with gold gazed at him out of deep purple eyes。 He caressed it； its warm breath nuzzled at his hands。 He rested his brow against the bone between its eyes。 〃All right；〃 he said with very little irony； 〃I will play a riddle…game with Deth。 Which way is Isig？〃
She led him there by sunlight and starlight； south across the wastes； and then eastward down the mountains of the pass until at the second dawn he saw the green face of Isig Mountain rising beyond the Ose。 They reached the king's house at dusk； on a wild； grey autumn day。 The high peaks were already capped with snow； the great pines around Harte sang in the north wind。 The travellers changed out of vesta…shape when they reached Kyrth and walked the winding mountain road to Harte。 The gates were barred and guarded； but the miners； armed with great broadswords tempered in Danan's forge fires； recognized them and let them in。
Danan and Vert and half a dozen children left their supper to meet them as they entered the house。 Danan； robed in fur against the cold； gave them a bear's bulky embrace and sent children and servants alike scurrying to see their fort。 But； gauging their weariness； he asked only one question。
〃I was in the wastes；〃 Morgon said。 〃Harping。 Raederle found me。〃 The strangeness of the answer did not occur to him then。 He added； remembering； 〃Before that； I was a tree beside the Ose。〃 He watched a smile break into the king's eyes。
〃What did I tell you？〃 Danan murmured。 〃I told you no one would find you in that shape。〃 He drew them toward the stairs leading up into the east tower。 〃I have a thousand questions； but I am a patient old tree； and they can wait until morning。 Yrth is in this tower； youll be safe near him。〃
A question nagged at Morgon as they wound up the stairs； until he realized what it was。 〃Danan； I have never seen your house guarded。 Did the shape…changers e here looking for me？〃
The king's hands knotted。 〃They came；〃 he said grimly。 〃I lost a quarter of my miners。 I would have lost more if Yrth had not been here to fight with us。〃 Morgon had stopped。 The king opened a hand； drew him forward。 〃We grieved enough for them。 If we only knew what they are； what they want。。。〃 He sensed something in Morgon。 His troubled eyes drew relentlessly at the truth。 〃You know。〃
Morgon did not answer。 Danan did not press him； but the lines in his face ran suddenly deep。
He left them in a tower room whose walls and floor and furniture were draped with fur。 The air was chilly； but Raederle lit a fire and servants came soon； bringing food； wine； more firewood； warm； rich clothes。 Bere followed with a cauldron of steaming water。 As he hoisted it onto a hook above the firebed； he smiled at Morgon； his eyes full of questions； but he swallowed them all with an effort。 Morgon ridded himself of a well…worn tunic； matted sheepskin； and what dirt the harsh winds had not scoured from his body。 Clean； fed； dressed in soft fur and velvet； he sat beside the fire and thought back with amazement on what he had done。
〃I left you；〃 he said to Raederle。 〃I can underst