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Raederle said his name； and his hands loosened。 He heard the ramp thud onto the dock。 He said to Bri； 〃I'll be back before dawn。〃 He touched the outline of the ship…master's shoulder。 〃Thank you。〃
He led Raederle off the dock； past the dreaming fishermen's houses and the worn； beached boats with gulls sleeping on them。 He found his way by memory up the shadows to the top of the cliff。 The fields flowed smoothly under the moonlight； swirled around hillocks and dips； to converge from every direction around Akren。 The night was soundless； listening； he heard the slow； placid breathing of cows and the faint whimper of a dog dreaming。 There was a light gleaming at Akren； Morgon thought from the porch； but as they drew closer； he realized it came from within the house。 Raederle walked silently beside him； her eyes flickering over field walls； bean rows； half…ripe wheat。 She broke her silence finally as they drew near enough to Akren to see the tiles of the roof slanting against the stars。
〃Such a small house；〃 she said； surprised。 He nodded。
〃Smaller than I remember 。。。〃 His throat was dry； tight。 He saw a movement in one hall window； dim in the candlelight； and he wondered who was sitting up so late in the house； alone。 Then the smell of damp earth and clinging roots caught at him unexpectedly； memory upon memory sent shoots and hair roots spreading through him of land…law until for one split second he no longer felt his body； and his mind branched dizzyingly through the rootwork of Hed。
He stopped； his breath catching。 The figure at the window moved。 Blocking the light； it stared out at the night： big； broad…shouldered； faceless。 It turned abruptly； flicking across the windows in the hall。 The doors of Akren banged open； a dog barked； once。 Morgon heard footsteps。 They crossed the yard and stopped at the angled shadow of the roof。
〃Morgon？〃 The name sounded in the still air like a question。 Then it became a shout； setting all the dogs barking as it echoed across the fields。 〃Morgon！〃
Eliard had reached him almost before he could move again。 He got an impression of butter…colored hair； shoulders burled with muscles； and a face under moonlight that was startlingly like their father's。 Then Eliard knocked the breath out of him； hugging him； his fists pounding against Morgon's shoulder blades。 〃You took your time ing home；〃 he said。 He was crying。 Morgon tried to speak； but his throat was too dry； he dropped his burning eyes against Eliard's massive shoulder。
〃You great mountain；〃 he whispered。 〃Will you quiet down？〃
Eliard pushed him away； started shaking him。 〃I felt your mind in mine just then； the way I felt it in my dreams when you were in that mountain。〃 Tears were furrowing down his face。 〃Morgon； I'm sorry； I'm sorry； I'm sorry。。。〃
〃Eliard 。。。〃
〃I knew you were in trouble； but I never did anything。 I didn't know what to do。。。 and then you died； and the land…rule came to me。 And now you're back； and I have everything that belongs to you。 Morgon； I swear if there was a way； I would take the land…rule out of myself and give it back to you。。。〃 Morgon's hands locked in a sudden； fierce grip on his arms and he stopped。
〃Don't say that to me again。 Ever。〃 Eliard stared at him wordlessly； and Morgon felt； holding him； that he held all the strength and innocence of Hed。 He said more quietly； his fingers tightening on the innocence； 〃You belong here。 And I have needed you to be here taking care of Hed almost more than anything。〃
〃But Morgon。 。 。 you belong here。 This is your home； you've e home。。。〃
〃Yes。 Until dawn。〃
〃No！〃 His fingers clamped on Morgon's shoulders again。 〃I don't know what you're running from； but I'm not watching you leave again。 You stay here； we can fight for you； with pitchforks and harrow teeth。 I'll borrow an army from somebody。。。〃
〃Eliard。。。〃
〃Shut up！ You may have a grip like a bench vise； but you can't throw me into Tristan's rosebushes anymore。 You're staying here； where you belong。〃
〃Eliard； will you stop shouting！〃 He shook Eliard a little； astonishing him into silence。 Then a small whirlwind of Tristan and dogs broke against them； shouting and barking。 Tristan leaped at Morgon from a dead run； her arms damped around his neck； her face buried at his collarbone。 He kissed what he could find of it； then pushed her away； lifted her face between his hands。 He barely recognized it。 Something in his expression made her face crumple； she flung her arms around him again。 Then she saw Raederle and reached out to her； and the dogs swarmed at Morgon。 A couple of lights sparked in the windows of distant farmhouses。 Morgon felt a moment's panic。 Then he simply grew still； still as the motionless pour of the road under his feet； the moonlit air。 The dogs dropped away from him； Tristan and Raederle stopped talking to look at him。 Eliard stood quietly； bound unconsciously to his stillness。
〃What's wrong？〃 he asked uneasily。 Morgon moved after a moment to his side； dropped an arm wearily over his shoulders。
〃So much；〃 he said。 〃Eliard； I'm putting you in danger just standing here； talking to you。 Let's go in the house at least。〃
〃All right。〃 But he did not move； his face turned away from Morgon to where Raederle stood； her face a blur of misty lines and shadows； jewelled pins here and there in her dishevelled hair flecking it with fire。 She smiled； and Morgon heard Eliard swallow。 〃Raederle of An？〃 he said tentatively； and she nodded。
〃Yes。〃 She held out her hand； and Eliard took it as if it were made of chaff and might blow away。 He seemed tongue…tied。
Tristan said proudly； 〃We sailed all the way to Isig and back； looking for Morgon。 Where were you？ Where did you。。。〃 Her voice faltered suddenly； oddly。 〃Where did you sail from？〃
〃Anuin；〃 Morgon said。 He caught the uncertain flicker of her dark eyes and read her thoughts。 He said again； tiredly； 〃Let's go in the house； you can ask me。〃
She slid her hand into his free hand； walked with him； without speaking； to Akren。
She went down to the kitchens to find food for them； while Eliard lit torches and brushed a tangle of harness off the benches so they could sit。
He stood looking down at Morgon； kicking the bench moodily； then said abruptly； 'Tell me so I can understand。 Why you can't stay。 Where do you have to get to so badly now？〃
〃I don't know。 Nowhere。 Anywhere but where I am。 It's death to stand still。〃
Eliard scarred the bench with his boot。 〃Why？〃 he said explosively； and Morgon drew his hands over his face； murmuring。
〃I'm trying to find out；〃 he said。 〃Answer the unanswered。。。〃 He broke off at the expression on Eliard's face。 〃I know。 If I had stayed home in the first place instead of going to Caithnard； I wouldn't be sitting here in the middle of the night wanting to hold dawn back with my hands and afraid to tell you what cargo I brought with me to Hed。〃
Eliard sat down slowly； blinking a little。 〃What？〃 Tristan came back up the stairs then with a huge tray full of beer； milk； fresh bread and fruit； the cold remains of a roast go