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〃Where did he go？〃 he whispered。 〃He spoke to you。〃
〃He said。。。 he said that he had just done the only foolish thing in his very long life。〃 Her hands moved； linked themselves； she frowned down at them； concentrating with an effort。 〃That he had not intended for you to know him until you had gathered enough power to fight for yourself。 He left because he is a danger to you now。 He said。。。 other things。〃 She shook her head slightly； then spoke again。 〃He said that he had not realized there was a limit to his own endurance。〃
〃Wind Plain。 He'll be in Ymris。〃
She raised her eyes then； but she did not argue。
〃Find him； Morgon。 No matter how dangerous it is for both of you。 He has been alone long enough。〃
〃I will。〃 He turned； knelt beside Raederle。 She was staring into the fire； he brushed at the reflection of a flame on her face。 She looked at him。 There was something ancient； fierce； only half…human in her eyes； as if she had seen into the High One's memories。 He took her hand。 〃e with me。〃
She stood up。 He linked their minds； cast far into the Herun night until he touched a stone he remembered on the far side of the marshes。 As Lyra entered the hall； bringing his supper； he took one step toward her and vanished。
They stood together in the mists； seeing nothing but a shadowy whiteness； like a gathering of wraiths。 Morgon sent his awareness spiralling outward； out of the mists； through the low hills； far across them； farther than he had ever loosed his mind before。 His thoughts anchored in the gnarled heart of a pine。 He pulled himself toward it
Standing beside it； in the wind…whipped forests between Herun and Ymris； he felt his overtaxed powers suddenly falter。 He could barely concentrate； his thoughts seemed shredded by wind。 His body； to which he had been paying only sporadic attention； was making imperative demands。 He was shivering； he kept remembering the smell of hot meat Lyra had brought him。 Pieces of the harpist's life kept flashing into his mind。 He heard the fine； detached voice speaking to kings； to traders； to Ghisteslwchlohm； riddling always； not with his words； but with all he did not say。 Then one memory seared through all Morgon's thoughts； shaking a sound from him。 He felt the north wind whittle at his bones。
〃I nearly killed him。〃 He was almost awed at his own blundering。 〃I tracked the High One all the way across the realm to kill him。〃 Then a sharp； familiar pain bore into his heart。 〃He left me in Ghisteslwchlohm's hands。 He could have killed the Founder with half a word。 Instead； he harped。 No wonder I never recognized him。〃
〃Morgon； it's cold。〃 Raederle put her arm around him； even her hair felt chill against his face。 He tried to clear his mind； but the winds wept into it； and he saw the harpist's face again； staring blindly at the fire。
〃He was a Master。。。〃
〃Morgon。〃 He felt her mind grope into his。 He let it e； surprised。 The sense of her quieted him； her own thoughts were very clear。 He drew apart from her； looked through the darkness into her face。
〃You were never that angry for my sake。〃
〃Oh； Morgon。〃 She held him again。 〃You said it yourself： you endure； like the hard things of the realm。 He needed you that way； so he left you to Ghisteslwchlohm。 I'm saying it badly。。。〃 she protested； as his muscles tensed。 〃You learned to survive。 Do you think it was easy for him？ Harping for centuries in Ghisteslwchlohm's service； waiting for the Star…Bearer？〃
〃No；〃 he said after a moment； thinking of the harpist's broken hands。 〃He used himself as mercilessly as he used me。 But for what？〃
〃Find him。 Ask him。〃
〃I can't even move；〃 he whispered。 Her mind touched his again； he let his thoughts rest finally in her tentative hold。 He waited patiently while she worked； exploring across distance。 She touched him finally。 He moved without knowing where he was going； and he began to understand the patience and trust he had demanded of her。 They did not go very far； he sensed； but he waited wearily； gratefully； while she found her way step by step across the forests。 By dawn； they had reached the north border of Ymris。 And there； as the red sun of storms and ill winds rose in the east； they rested。
They flew over Marcher as carrion crows。 The rough； hilly borderland seemed quiet； but in the late afternoon； the crows spied a band of armed men guarding a line of trade…carts lumbering toward Caerweddin。 Morgon veered down toward them。 He caught one of the warrior's mind as he landed on the road； to avoid being attacked when he changed shape。 He drew the sword out of its sheath of air； held the stars up as the man stared at him。 They flared uneasily in the grey light。
〃Morgon of Hed；〃 the warrior breathed。 He was a grizzled； scarred veteran； his eyes； shadowed and bloodshot； had gazed across the dawn and deadly twilight of many fields。 He halted the train of cars behind him and dismounted。 The men behind were silent。
〃I need to find Yrth；〃 Morgon said； 〃Or Aloil。 Or Astral Ymris。〃
The man touched the stars on his upraised sword with a curious gesture； almost a ritual of fealty。 Then he blinked as a gor…crow landed on Morgon's shoulder。 He said； 〃I am Lien Marcher； cousin of the High Lord of Marcher。 I don't know Yrth。 Astrin Ymris is in Caerweddin； he could tell you where Aloil is。 I'm taking arms and supplies to Caerweddin； for whatever good they'll do there。 If I were you； Star…Lord； I would not show an eyelash in this doomed land。 Let alone three stars。〃
〃I've e to fight；〃 Morgon said。 The land whispered to him； then； of law； legends； the ancient dead beneath his feet； and his own body seemed to yearn toward the shape of it。 The man's eyes ran over his lean face； the rich； worn tunic that seemed mildly absurd in those dangerous； wintry hills。
〃Hed；〃 he said。 A sudden； amazed smile broke through the despair in his eyes。 〃Well。 We've tried everything else。 I would offer to take you with me； Lord； but I think you're safer on your own。 There is only one man Astrin might want to see more than you； but I wouldn't want to lay any bets on that。〃
〃Heureu。 He's still missing。〃
The man nodded wearily。 〃Somewhere in the realm between the dead and the living。 Not even the wizard can find him。 I think。。。〃
〃I can find him；〃 Morgon said abruptly。 The man was silent； the smile in his eyes wiped away by a naked； unbearable hope。
〃Can you？ Not even Astrin can； and his dreams are full of Heureu's thoughts。 Lord； what。。。 what are you； that you can stand there shivering in the cold and have me believing in your power？ I survived the carnage on Wind Plain。 Some nights when I wake from my own dreams； I wish I had died there。〃 He shook his head； his hand moved to Morgon again； then dropped without touching him。 〃Go； now。 Take your stars out of eyesight。 Find your way safely to Caerweddin。 Lord； hurry。〃
The crows flew eastward。 They passed other long convoys of supply…carts and strings of horses； they rested in the eaves of great houses； whose yards were choked with smoke and the din of forges。 The brilliant colors of battle livery and the dark； sweating flanks of plow horses flickered through the smoke； as men gathered to march to Caerweddin。 There were young boys among them； and the rough； weathered faces of shepherds； farmers； smiths； even traders； receiving a crude； desperate introduction to arms before they joined the forces at Caerweddin。 The sight spurred the crows onward。 They followed the Thul as it ran toward the sea； cutting a dark path through the dying fields。
They reached Caerweddin at sunset； the sky was shredded like a brilliant banner by the harsh winds。 The whole of the city was ringed by a thousand fires； as if it were besieged by its own forces。 But the harbor was clear； trade…ships from Isig and Anuin were homing toward it on the evening tide。 The beautiful house of the Ymris kings； built of the shards of an Earth…Masters' city； burned like a jewel in the last light。 The crows dropped down into the shadows just outside its closed gates。 They changed shape in the empty street。
They did not speak as they looked at one another。 Morgon drew Raederle against him； wondering if his own eyes were as stunned with weariness。 He touched her mind； then； searching into the heart of the king's house； he found Astrin's mind。
He appeared in front of the Ymris land…heir as he sat alone in a small council chamber。 He had been working； maps； messages； supply lists were strewn all over his desk。 But the room was nearly in darkness； and he had not bothered to light candles。 He was staring ahead of him into the fire； his face harrowed； colorless。 Morgon and Raederle； stepping out of the street into the blur of light and shadow； did not even startle him。 He gazed at them a moment as if they had no more substance than his hope。 Then his expression changed； he stood up； his chair falling behind him with a crash。 〃Where have you been？〃
There was a realm of relief； passion； and exasperation in the question。 Morgon； casting a glance at his past with an eye as probing as the s