m us。 Such is dwarrow…work； that nothing we have forged is ever far from our hearts or our sight。 Minneyar brought much sadness to Fingil and his tribe； for all it was a mighty weapon。〃
He took a swallow of water to clear his throat。 Yis…hadra tenderly watched his face； her hand atop his。 〃We told to you that our Witnesses have stood unused for centuries of silence。 Then； little more than one year ago； the Shard spoke to us…or rather； something spoke to us through the Shard； as in the elder days。
〃That which spoke was someone or something who we knew not； something that used the Speakfire in the old dwarrow…home of Hikehikayo； something that talked to us in gentle and persuasive words。 Strange enough was it to hear Shard and Speakfire talking as of old； but we also remembered the evil that had driven our fellows from their home…an evil of which you mortals need not hear； for it would throw you into great fear…so we trusted this stranger not。 Also； as long as it had been since we had last used the Witnesses； still some for us remembered the elder days and what it felt like when the Ziday'a did speak to us then。
〃This was not the same。 Whatever stood before the Speakfire in the north seemed more like a cold breath of Unbeing than a living creature； for all its kindly words。〃
Yis…hadra moaned softly beside him。 Maegwin； caught up in the dwarrow's story despite herself； felt a chill travel through her。
〃That which spoke；〃 Yis…fidri continued； 〃wished to know of the sword Minneyar。 It knew we had been the blade's makers and it knew that we dwarrows are bound to our work even after it has gone from us； as one who has lost a hand often feels it still at the end of his arm。 The thing that spoke to us from Witness to Witness asked if the northern king Fingil had indeed taken the sword Minneyar into Asu'a when he con… quered that great place； and was it there still。〃
〃Asu'a；〃 Eolair breathed。 〃Of course…the Hayholt。〃
〃That is its mortal name；〃 Yis…fidri nodded。 〃We were frightened by this strange and fearful voice。 You must understand； we have been as castaways for more years than your people can dream。 It was obvious that some new power had arisen in the world； but one that nevertheless did mand the old Arts。 But we do not wish any of our old masters to find us and take us back； so at first we made no answer。〃
The dwarrow leaned forward on his padded elbows。 〃Then； a short time ago…a few of the Moon…woman's changes； as you would reckon it beneath the sky…the Shard spoke again。 This time it did speak with the voice of the eldest of the Sithi； the voice you heard。 She also asked us of Minneyar。 With her； also； we were silent。〃
〃Because you fear they will make you their servants again。〃
〃Yes； Hern's man。 Unless you have ever fled from bondage； you will not understand that terror。 Our masters are ageless。 We are not。 They recall the old lore。 We diminish。〃 Yis…fidri rocked back and forth on his stool； the ancient leather of his garments rubbing and squeaking like crickets。
〃But we knew something neither of our questioners did；〃 he said finally； there was a gleam m his round eye unlike anything the surface dwellers had yet seen。 〃Do you see； our masters think the sword Minneyar never left Asu'a； and that is true。 But the one who found the sword there beneath the castle； the one you call King John Prester； had it reforged and made new。 Under the name of Bright…Nail； he carried it all across the world and back。〃
The Count of Nad Mullach whistled； a low； surprised mil。 〃So Bright…Nail was the old Scourge of the North； Fingil's Minneyar。 Strange！ What other secrets did Prester John take to his grave above the Kynslagh； I wonder？〃 He paused。 〃But； Yis…fidri； still we do not understand。。。〃
〃Patience。〃 The dwarrow showed a wintry smile。 〃You could never tend and harvest balky stone as we do； you quick…blooded Children。 Patience。〃 He took a breath。 〃The mistress of the Zida'ya told us that this sword； one of the Great Swords； was somehow much concerned with events now transpiring； and with the fate of the mortal prince named Handless Josua。。。 〃
〃Josua Lackhand。 〃
〃Yes。 But we think that is trickery； for she also said that this sword might be somehow vital against that same evil that had driven our tribesfolk out of Hikehikayo； and that the same evil soon might threaten all that walked above or below ground。 How could the fate of any mortal man affect the squabblings of immortals？〃 The dwarrow's voice quavered 〃It is another trap； to play on our fear。 She wishes us to seek her help； so we will fall into their clutch once more。 Did you not hear her？ 'e to us at Jao e…Tinukai'i ' Was ever a trap more cold…bloodedly baited before the victim's eyes？〃
〃So；〃 the count said at last； 〃somehow Josua's survival is tied to this blade？〃
Yis…fidri shot him a worried glance。 〃So she claimed。 But how could she say his fate is tied to that of Minneyar when she did not even know it had been reforged？ She said that none but us did know this thing； and that possibly many fates…perhaps the threads of all fate…were tied to three great swords； of which Minneyar was one。〃
Yis…fidri stood； a haunted look upon his face。 〃And I will tell you a terrible； terrible thing；〃 he said miserably。 〃Even though we cannot trust our once…masters； we fear that they may be telling the truth。 Mayhap a great doom has e into the world。 If so； we dwarrows may have brought it on。〃
Eolair looked around； struggling to make sense of what he had heard。 〃But why； Yis…fidri？ Bright…Nail's history might be a deep and dark secret； but you dwarrows did not tell it to anyone。 When the Shard spoke to us； we said nothing of it； because we did not know the tale。 No secrets have been told。What doom have you brought on？〃
The dwarrow was deeply pained。 〃I。。。 did not tell you all。 One last time before your arrival； the Shard called to us。 It was the fearsome stranger from Hikehikayo asking again of the sword Minneyar…that cursed sword。〃 He slumped bonelessly back onto the stool。 〃This time there was only one of us at the Site of Witness…young Sho…vennae； who you have met。 He was alone and the voice laid a great fear upon him。 It threatened； then it promised； then threatened again。〃 Yis…fidri slapped his wide palm on the table。 〃You must understand； he was afraid！ We are all afraid！ We are not what we were。〃 He lowered his eyes as if shamed； then looked up to find his wife's gaze。 He seemed to gain courage。 〃At last； Sho…vennae's terror did overwhelm him。 He told the stranger the tale of Minneyar； of how it was reforged and became Bright…Nail。〃 Yis…fidri's shook his great head。 〃Poor Sho…vennae。 We should never have let him stand watch at the Shard alone。 May the Garden forgive us。 Do you see； you Hern's folk； our former masters may have lied to us； but still we fear that no good can e out of the darkness in Hikehikayo。 If the First Grandmother of the Sithi has told the truth； who knows what power we have given to evil？〃
Maegwin hardly heard him。 She was losing the thread of Yis…fidri's speech； dully registering bits and pieces while her weary mind swirled with thoughts of her own failure。 She had misunderstood the gods' will。 She needed to be free； to have time to herself； time to think。
Count Eolair sat thinking for a long while； the room was full of brooding silence。 At last； Yis…fidri stood。
〃You have shared our table；〃 he said。 〃Let us show you our prizes； then you may go back to the bright； airy surface。〃
Eolair and Maegwin； still silent； let themselves be led across the round room and through one of the doors。 They followed the dwarrows down a long； sloping hallway before ing at last to a deeper chamber whose outer walls were as plicated as a maze； angling in and out so that everywhere Maegwin looked there were surfaces covered with carved stone。
〃In this chamber and others below it are the Patterns；〃 Yis…fidri said。 〃Long the dwarrows have delved； and widely。 Every tunnel； every deep place we dug is there。 This is the history of our folk； and we two are the keepers of it。 〃 He waved his hand proudly。 〃Maps of bright Kementari； the labyrinth of Jhina…T'senei； the tunnels beneath the mounta