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n forward toward the great moonlit house。 〃Tell me。〃
Morgon told him much more than that before they reached the hall。 He found himself talking a little about even the past seven days； which were so precious to him he wondered if they had even existed。 Mathom said little； only making a faint noise deep in his throat now and then； like a blackbird's mutter。 As they entered the inner courtyard； they saw horses； trembling and sweating； being led to the stables。 Their saddlecloths were purple and blue； the colors of the kings household guard。 Mathom cursed mildly。
〃Rood must be back。 Empty…handed； furious； wraithridden； and unwashed。〃 They entered the hall； which was a blaze of torchlight； and Rood； slumped over a cup of wine； stared at his father。 Duac and Raederle were beside him； their heads turning； but he got to his feet first； drowning their voices。
〃Where in Hel's name have you been？〃
〃Don't shout at me；〃 the king said testily。 〃If you had no more sense than to roam through this chaos searching for that harpist； I have no pity for you。〃 He switched his gaze to Duac； as Rood； his mouth still open； dropped back into his chair。 Duac eyed the king coldly； but his voice was controlled。
〃Well。 What brought you home？ Dropping out of the sky like a bad spell。 Surely not distress over the shambles you have made of your land…rule。〃
〃No；〃 Mathom said imperturbably； pouring wine。 〃You and Rood have done very well without me。〃
〃We have done what very well without you？〃 Rood asked between his teeth。 〃Do you realize we are on the verge of war？〃
〃Yes。 And An has armed itself for it in a remarkably short time。 Even you have turned； in less than three months； from a scholar into a warrior。〃
Rood drew an audible breath to answer。 Duac's hand clamped suddenly down on his wrist； silencing him。 〃War。〃 His face had lost color。 〃With whom？〃
〃Who else is armed？〃
〃Ymris？〃 He repeated it incredulously； 〃Ymris？〃
Mathom swallowed wine。 His face looked older than it had under the moonlight； grim and worn with travel。 He sat down beside Raederle。 〃I have seen the war in Ymris；〃 he said softly。 〃The rebels hold half the coastal lands。 It's a strange； bloody； merciless war； and it is going to exhaust Heureu Ymris' forces。 He can never hope to contain it within his own borders once the people he is fighting decide to take it beyond the borders of Ymris。 I suspected that before； but even I could not ask the Three Portions to arm themselves without reason。 And to give reason might have precipitated attack。〃
〃You did that deliberately？〃 Duac breathed。 〃You left us so that we would arm ourselves？〃
〃It was extreme；〃 Mathom admitted； 〃but it was effective。〃 He cast an eye at Rood again； as he opened his mouth and spoke in a subdued voice。
〃Where have you been？ And are you planning to stay home awhile？〃
〃Here and there； satisfying my curiosity。 And yes； I think I will stay home now。 If you can refrain from shouting at me。〃
〃If you weren't so pig…headed； I wouldn't shout。〃
Mathom looked skeptical。 〃You even have a warrior's hard head。 What exactly were you planning to do with Deth if you had caught him？〃
There was a short silence。 Duac said simply； 〃I would have sent him to Caithnard eventually； on an armed ship； and let the Masters question him。〃
〃The College at Caithnard is hardly a court of law。〃
Duac looked at him； a rare trace of temper in his eyes。 〃Then you tell me。 What would you have done？ If it had been you instead of me here； watching Morgon。。。 watching Morgon forced to exact his own justice from a man bound to no law in the realm； who betrayed everyone in the realm； what would you have done？〃
〃Justice；〃 Mathom said softly。 Morgon looked at him； waiting for his answer。 He saw in the dark； tired eyes a distant； curious pain。 〃He is the High One's Harpist。 I would let the High One judge him。〃 〃Mathom？〃 Morgon said； wondering suddenly； imperatively； what the king was seeing。 But Mathom did not answer him。 Raederle was watching him； too； the king touched her hair lightly； but neither of them spoke。
〃Tne High One；〃 Rood said。 The warrior's harshness had left his voice； the words were a riddle； full of bitterness and despair； a plea for answer。 His eyes touched Morgon's with a familiar twist of self…mockery。 〃You heard my father。 I'm no longer even a riddler。 You'll have to answer that one； Riddle…Master。〃 〃I will；〃 he said wearily。 〃I don't seem to have any choice。〃
〃You；〃 Mathom said； 〃have stayed here far too long。〃
〃I know。 I couldn't leave。 I'll leave。。。〃 He glanced at Duac。 〃Tomorrow？ Will the ships be ready？〃 Duac nodded。 〃Bri Corbett said they'll sail on the midnight tide。 Actually； he said a great deal more when I told him what you wanted。 But he knows men who would sail even a cargo of the dead for gold。〃
〃Tomorrow；〃 Mathom murmured。 He glanced at Morgon and then at Raederle； who was staring silently at the pooling candle； her face set as for an argument。 He seemed to make his own surmises behind his black； fathomless gaze。 She lifted her eyes slowly； sensing his thoughts。
〃I am going with Morgon； and I am not asking you to marry us。 Aren't you even going to argue？〃
He shook his head； sighing。 〃Argue with Morgon。 I'm too old and tired； and all I want from either of you is that somewhere in this troubled realm you find your peace。〃
She stared at him。 Her face shook suddenly； and she reached out to him； tears burning down her face in the torchlight。 〃Oh； why were you gone so long？〃 she whispered； as he held her tightly。 〃I have needed you。〃
He talked with her and with Morgon until the candles buried themselves in their holders and the windows grew pale with dawn。 They slept most of the next day； and then； late that evening； when the world was still again； Morgon summoned his army of the dead to the docks at Anuin。
Seven trade…ships were moored under the moonlight carrying light cargoes of fine cloth and spices。 Morgon； his mind weltering with names； faces； memories out of the brains of the dead； watched the ranks slowly bee half…visible on the shadowy docks。 They were mounted； armed； silent； waiting to board。 The city was dark behind them； the black fingers of masts in the harbor rose with the swell of the tide to touch the stars and withdrew。 The gathering of the dead had been acplished in a dreamlike silence； under the eyes of Duac and Bri Corbett and the fascinated； terrified skeleton crews on the ships。 They were just ready to board when a horse thudded down the dock； breaking Morgon's concentration。 He gazed at Raederle as she dismounted； wondering why she was not still asleep； his mind struggling with her presence as he was drawn back slowly into the night of the living。 There was a single dock lamp lit near them； it gave her hair； slipping out of its jewelled pins； a luminous； fiery sheen。 He could not see her face well。
〃I'm ing with you to Hed；〃 she said。 His hand moved out of the vivid backwash of centuries to turn her face to the light。 The annoyance in it cleared his mind。
〃We