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〃If the wind is from the south；〃 Tenar said； whispering because the sea did； 〃doesn't the boat sail north？〃
〃Yes； unless we tack。 But I've put the mage…wind in her sail； to the west。 By tomorrow morning we should be out of Kargish waters。 Then I'll let her go by the world's wind。〃
〃Does it steer itself？〃
〃Yes；〃 Ged replied with gravity； 〃given the proper instructions。 She doesn't need many。 She's been in the open sea； beyond the farthest isle of the East Reach； she's been to Selidor where Erreth…Akbe died； in the farthest West。 She's a wise crafty boat； my Lookfar。 You can trust her。〃
In the boat moved by magic over the great deep； the girl lay looking up into the dark。 All her life she had looked into the dark； but this was a vaster darkness； this night on the ocean。 There was no end to it。 There was no roof。 It went on out beyond the stars。 No earthly Powers moved it。 It had been before light； and would be after。 It had been before life； and would be after。 It went on beyond evil。
In the dark； she spoke： 〃The little island； where the talisman was given you； is that in this sea？〃
〃Yes；〃 his voice answered out of the dark。 〃Somewhere。 To the south； perhaps。 I could not find it again。〃
〃I know who she was； the old woman who gave you the ring。〃
〃You know？〃
〃I was told the tale。 It is part of the knowledge of the First Priestess。 Thar told it to me； first when Kossil was there； then more fully when we were alone； it was the last time she talked to me before she died。 There was a noble house in Hupun who fought against the rise of the High Priests in Awabath。 The founder of the house was King Thoreg； and among the treasures he left his descendants was the half…ring； which Erreth…Akbe had given him。〃
〃That indeed is told in the Deed of Erreth…Akbe。 It says。。。 in your tongue it says； ‘When the ring was broken； half remained in the hand of the High Priest Intathin； and half in the hero's hand。 And the High Priest sent the broken half to the Nameless； to the Ancient of the Earth in Atuan； and it went into the dark； into the lost places。 But Erreth…Akbe gave the broken half into the hands of the maiden Tiarath； daughter of the wise king； saying： 〃Let it remain in the light； in the maiden's dowry； let it remain in this land until it be rejoined。〃 So spoke the hero before he sailed to the west。' 〃
〃So it must have gone from daughter to daughter of that house； over all the years。 It was not lost； as your people thought。 But as the High Priests made themselves into the Priest…Kings； and then when the Priest…Kings made the Empire and began to call themselves Godkings； all this time the house of Thoreg grew poorer and weaker。 And at last； so Thar told me； there were only two of the lineage of Thoreg left； little children； a boy and a girl。 The Godking in Awabath then was the father of him who rules now。 He had the children stolen from their palace in Hupun。 There was a prophecy that one of the descendants of Thoreg of Hupun would bring about the fall of the Empire in the end； and that frightened him。 He had the children stolen away； and taken to a lonely isle somewhere out in the middle of the sea； and left there with nothing but the clothes they wore and a little food。 He feared to kill them by knife or strangling or poison； they were of kingly blood； and murder of kings brings a curse even on the gods。 They were named Ensar and Anthil。 It was Anthil who gave you the broken ring。〃
He was silent a long while。 〃So the story es whole；〃 he said at last； 〃even as the ring is made whole。 But it is a cruel story； Tenar。 The little children； that isle； the old man and woman I saw。。。 They scarcely knew human speech。〃
〃I would ask you something。〃
〃Ask。〃
〃I do not wish to go to the Inner Lands； to Havnor。 I do not belong there； in the great cities among foreign men。 I do not belong to any land。 I betrayed my own people。 I have no people。 And I have done a very evil thing。 Put me alone on an island； as the king's children were left； on a lone isle where there are no people； where there is no one。 Leave me； and take the ring to Havnor。 It is yours； not mine。 It has nothing to do with me。 Nor have your people。 Let me be by myself！〃
Slowly； gradually； yet startling her； a light dawned like a small moonrise in the blackness before her； the wizardly light that came at his mand。 It clung to the end of his staff； which he held upright as he sat facing her in the prow。 It lit the bottom of the sail； and the gunwales； and the planking； and his face； with a silvery glow。 He was looking straight at her。
〃What evil have you done； Tenar？〃
〃I ordered that three men be shut into a room beneath the Throne； and starved to death。 They died of hunger and thirst。 They died； and are buried there in the Undertomb。 The Tombstones fell on their graves。〃 She stopped。
〃Is there more？〃
〃Manan。〃
〃That death is on my soul。〃
〃No。 He died because he loved me； and was faithful。 He thought he was protecting me。 He held the sword above my neck。 When I was little he was kind to me …when I cried…〃 She stopped again； for the tears rose hard in her； yet she would cry no more。 Her hands were clenched on the black folds of her dress。 〃I was never kind to him；〃 she said。 〃I will not go to Havnor。 I will not go with you。 Find some isle where no one es； and put me there； and leave me。 The evil must be paid for。 I am not free。〃
The soft light； grayed by sea mist； glimmered between them。
〃Listen； Tenar。 Heed me。 You were the vessel of evil。 The evil is poured out。 It is done。 It is buried in its own tomb。 You were never made for cruelty and darkness； you were made to hold light； as a lamp burning holds and gives its light。 I found the lamp unlit； I won't leave it on some desert island like a thing found and cast away。 I'll take you to Havnor and say to the princes of Earthsea； ‘Look！ In the place of darkness I found the light； her spirit。 By her an old evil was brought to nothing。 By her I was brought out of the grave。 By her the broken was made whole； and where there was hatred there will be peace。'〃
〃I will not；〃 Tenar said in agony。 〃I cannot。 It's not true！〃
〃And after that；〃 he went on quietly； 〃I'll take you away from the princes and the rich lords； for it's true that you have no place there。 You are too young； and too wise。 I'll take you to my own land； to Gont where I was born； to my old master Ogion。 He's an old man now； a very great Mage； a man of quiet heart。 They call him ‘the Silent。' He lives in a small house on the great cliffs of Re Albi； high over the sea。 He keeps some goats； and a garden patch。 In autumn he goes wandering over the island； alone； in the forests； on the mountainsides； through the valleys of the rivers。 I lived there once with him； when I was younger than you are now。 I didn't stay long； I hadn't the sense to stay。 I went off seeking evil； and sure enough I found it。。。 But you e escaping evil； seeking freedom； seeking silence for a while； until you find your own way。 There you will find kindness and silence； Tenar。 There the lamp will burn out of the wind awhile。 Will you do that？〃
The sea mist drifted gray between their faces。 The boat lifted lightly on the long waves。 Around them was the night and under them the sea。
〃I will；〃 she said with a long sigh。 And after a long time； 〃Oh； I wish it were sooner。。。 that we could go there now。。。〃
〃It won't be long； little one。〃
〃Will you e there； ever？〃
〃When I can I will e。〃
The light had died away； it was all dark around them。
They came； after the sunrises and sunsets； the still days and the icy winds of their winter voyage； to the Inmost Sea。 They sailed the crowded lanes among great ships； up the Ebavnor Straits and into the bay that lies locked in the heart of Havnor； and across the bay to Havnor Great Port。 They saw the white towers； and all the city white and radiant in snow。 The roofs of the bridges and the red roofs of the houses were snow…covered； and the rigging of the hundred ships in the harbor glittered with ice in the winter sun。 News of their ing had run ahead of them； for Lookfar's patched red sail was known in those seas； a great crowd had gathered on the snowy quays； and colored pennants cracked above the people in the bright； cold wind。
Tenar sat in the stern； erect； in her ragged cloak of black。 She looked at the ring around her wrist； then at the crowded； many…colored shore and the palaces and the high towers。 She lifted up her right hand； and sunlight flashed on the silver of the ring。 A cheer went up； faint and joyous on the wind； over the restless water。 Ged brought the boat in。 A hundred hands reached to catch the rope he flung up to the mooring。 He leapt up onto the pier and turned； holding out his hand to her。 〃e！〃 he said smiling； and she rose； and came。 Gravely she walked beside him up the white streets of Havnor； holding his hand； like a child ing home。
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