his… pering in a high…ceilmged hall。
As the grassy meadow began to drop away below them； the travelers passed posts of standing stone； time…smoothed white shapes almost twice a man's height that had in their unrecognizable outlines some hint of movement； of life。 They passed the first as the path brought them around into direct sunlight for the first time。
〃Marking pillars。〃 Geloe called over her shoulder。 〃One for each of the moons in the year。 We'll pass a dozen every time we circle around the hill until we reach the summit。 They were carved to look like animals and birds once； I think。 〃
Deornoth stared at the rounded nob that might have been a head and wondered what beast it had once represented。 Weathered by wind and rain； it was now as shapeless as melted wax； faceless as the forgotten dead。 He shivered and make the sign of the Tree on his breast。
A little while later Geloe stopped and pointed downward toward the northwest part of the valley； where the rim of the old forest reached out almost to the very banks of the Stefflod。 The river was a tiny streak of quicksilver along the valley's emerald floor。
〃Just beyond the river；〃 she said； 〃do you see？〃 She gestured again at the forest's dark breakfront； which might have been a frozen sea…wave awaiting only spring's thaw before it swept across the low ground。 〃There； in the forest's fringe。 Those are the ruins of Enki…e…Shao'saye； which some say was the most beautiful city ever built in Osten Ard since the world began。〃
As his panions whispered and shaded their eyes； Deornoth moved to the edge of the path； squinting at the distant forest。 He saw nothing but what might have been a crumbled wall of lavender； a flash of gold。
〃There's not much to see；〃 he said quietly。
〃Not in this age；〃 Geloe replied。
Up they climbed as the day waned。 Each time they circled around to the hill's northern slope； ing out of shade into ever…decreasing afternoon light； they could see the spreading knot of blackness on the horizon。 The storm was moving in swiftly。 It had now swallowed the far borders of great Aldheorte； so that all the north seemed a gray uncertainty。
As they finished their twelfth circuit around the hill； passing the one hundred and forty…fourth of the marking pillars…a small enough diversion； but still Deornoth had kept score…the travelers emerged at last from the shadowing greenery； clambering up a final slope until they stood on the hill's windy summit。 The sun had fallen away into the west； only a reddish sliver remained。
The top of the hill was nearly flat and scarcely less wide than Sesuad'ra's base。 All around its perimeter jutted fingers of upright stone； not smoothed like the marking pillars； but great； raw standing stones； each as tall as four men； made of the same gray rock veined with white and pink that formed the hill。
In the center of the plateau； in the midst of a field of waving grass； stood a vast； low building of opalescent stone； tinged with the sunset's red glow。
At first it seemed a temple of some sort； like the great old buildings of Nabban from the days of the Imperium； but its lines were plainer。 Its unassuming but affecting style made it seem almost to spring from the hill itself。 It was plain that this structure belonged on this windy hilltop； beneath this incredibly wide sky。 The grandeur and self…interest that spoke from every angle of houses of human worship； however finely wrought； was a language alien to whoever had built this。 The passage of unguessable years had in places brought its walls to collapse。 Unhindered for centuries； trees had thrust up through the building's very roof； or pushed their way in at the arched doorways like unwanted guests。 Still； the simplicity and beauty of the place were so plain…and at the same time so inhuman… that for a long time no one ventured to speak。
〃We are here；〃 Josua said at last； his tones solemn but exalted。 〃After all our danger and all our suffering； we have found a place where we can stop and say： we go no farther。〃
〃It is not forever； Prince Josua。〃 Geloe spoke gently； as if unwilling to break his mood； but the prince was already striding confidently across the hilltop toward the white walls。
〃It need not be forever；〃 he called。 〃But for now； we will be safe！〃 He turned and waved his hand for the others to follow； then continued turning； gazing around him on all sides。 〃I take back what I said！〃 he shouted to Geloe。 〃With a few good folk behind me； I could make a stand here and Sir Camaris himself could not defeat me； not with all the knights of my father's Great Table at his side！〃
He bounded away toward the pale walls that now showed a touch of blue。 Evening was ing on。 The others went after him； talking quietly among themselves as they passed through the swaying grass。
25
Petals in a Wind Storm
〃A FOOLISH game；〃 Simon said。 〃It doesn't make any sense。〃
Aditu lifted an eyebrow。
〃It doesn't！〃 he insisted； 〃I mean； look！ You could win if you just moved here。。。 〃 he pointed； 〃and there。。。〃 he pointed again。 Looking up； he found Aditu's golden eyes upon him； laughing； mocking。 〃Couldn't you。。。？〃 he finished。
〃Of course； Seoman。〃 She moved the polished stones across the gaming board as he had suggested； from one golden island to another over a sea of sapphire…blue waves。 The mock…ocean was surrounded by scarlet flames and murky gray clouds。 〃But then the game is over； and only the shallowest waters have been explored。〃
Simon shook his head。 He had struggled for days to learn the plex rules of shent； only to discover that what he had been taught were only the rudiments。 How could he learn a game that people did not play to win？ But Aditu did not try to lose either； as far as Simon could tell。 Instead； it seemed as though the issue was to make the game interesting by introducing themes and puzzles； most of which were as far beyond Simon's prehension as the mechanisms of the rainbow。
〃If you will not take offense；〃 Aditu said； smiling； 〃may I instead show you another way？〃 She put the markers back in their previous locations。 〃If I use these Songs of mine to build a Bridge here。。。〃…a quick flurry of movements…〃then you can cross to the Isles of the Cloud of Exile。〃
〃But why do you want to help me？〃 Somewhere； as if in the very fabric of the mutable walls； a stringed instrument began to sound； if Simon had not known that they were quite alone within the airy nectarine halls of Aditu's house； he would have thought a musician played in the next wind…shifting room。 He had stopped wondering about such things； but could not still a reflexive shudder； the music felt eerie and delicate as a small and excessively…legged something walking across his skin。 〃How can you win a game when you keep helping the other person？〃
Aditu leaned back from the gaming board。 In her own home she wore just as little as she did on the walkways of Jao e…Tinukai'i； if not less。 Simon； who still could not look fortably on the abundance of her golden limbs； stared hard at the playing pieces。
〃Manchild；〃 she said； 〃I think you can learn。 I think you are learning。 But remember； we Zida'ya have been playing this game since time before time。 First Grandmother says it came with us from the Garden that is Lost。〃 She laid a placatory hand on Simon's arm； raising goosebumps there。 〃Shent can be played to amuse； only。 I have played games that were nothing but gossip and friendly mockery； and all strategies were turned to that end。 Other games one can only win by almost losing。 1 have also experienced games where both players truly strove to lose…although it took years for one to succeed。〃 Some memory brought a flick of smile。 〃Do you not see； Snowlock； winning and losing are only the walls within which the game takes place。 Inside the House of Shent。。。〃 she paused； a frown touching her mercurial face like a shadow。 〃It is hard to say in your tongue。〃 The frown disappeared。 〃Perhaps that is why it seems so difficult for you。 The thing is； within the House of Shent it is the ing and going； the visitors…friends and enemies both…the births and deaths； all of these things that matter。〃 She gestured around