The duke felt the world tilt； as though giant hands had lifted it。 It took long moments before he could speak； moments in which the landlady； the little Wrannaman and the old doorkeeper looked at him with varying degrees of uneasy fascination。 When Isgrimnur spoke； it was to the old man。
〃My lord Camaris；〃 he said； and felt his voice catch in his throat。 The world had gone mad： now the dead lived again。 〃Merciful Elysia； Camaris； do you not remember me？ I am Isgrimnur！ We fought for Prester John together…we were friends！ Ah； God； you live！ How can that be？〃
He reached his hand out to the old man； who took it as a child might take something shiny or colorful offered by a stranger。 The old man's grip was callused； with a great strength that could be felt even as his hand lay flaccidly in Isgrimnur's own。 His handsome face showed only smiling inprehension。
〃What are you saying？〃 the landlady said crossly。 〃That's old Ceallio； the doorkeeper。 Been here for years。 He's a simpleton。〃
〃Camaris。。。〃 Isgrimnur breathed as he pressed the old man's hand to his cheek； wetting it with tears。 He could scarcely speak； 〃Oh； my good lord； you live！〃
28
Sparks
IN SPITE OF the unceasing loveliness of Jao e…Tunukai'i； or perhaps because of it； Simon was bored。 He was also unutterably lonely。
His imprisonment was a strange thing： the Sithi did not hinder him； but other than Jiriki and Aditu； they continued to show no interest in him； either。 Like a queen's lapdog； he was well fed and well cared for； allowed to roam wherever he could go； but only because the outside world was beyond his reach。 Like a prize pet； he amused his masters； but was not taken seriously。 When he spoke to them； they responded politely in Simon's own Westerhng speech； but among themselves they spoke the liquid Sithi tongue。 Only a few recognizable words ever reached his ear； but whole rivers of inprehensible talk flowed around him。 The suspi… cion that they might be discussing him in their private conversations infuriated him。 The possibility that they might not； that they might never think of him except when in his presence； was somehow even worse。 It made him feel insubstantial as a ghost。
Since his interview with Amerasu； the days had begun to flit past even more rapidly。 As he lay in his blankets one night； he realized he could no longer say for certain how long he had been among the Sithi。 Aditu； when asked； claimed not to remember。 Simon took the same question to Jiriki； who fixed him with a look of great pity and asked whether he truly wished to count the days。 Chilled by the implication； Simon demanded the truth。 Jiriki told him that a little over a month had passed。
That had been some days ago。
The nights were the most difficult。 In his nest of blankets in Jiriki's house； or roaming the soft； damp grass beneath strange stars； Simon tormented himself with impossible plans for escape； plans that even he knew were as impractical as they were desperate。 He became more and more morose。 He knew Jiriki was worried for him； and even Aditu's quicksilver laugh seemed forced。 Simon knew that he was speaking con… stantly of his misery； but could not hide it…moreover； he did not want to hide it。 Whose fault was it that he was trapped here？
They had saved his life； of course。 Would it truly have been better to die by freezing or slow starvation； he chided himself； rather than living as a pampered； if restricted； guest in the most wonderful city in Osten Ard？ But even though such ingratitude might be shameful； he still could not reconcile himself to his blissful prison。
Every day was much the same。 He wandered through the forest alone； or threw stones into the countless streams and rivers； and thought of his friends。 In the sheltering summer of Jao e…Tinukai'i； it was hard to imagine how they must all be suffering in the dreadful winter outside。 Where was Binabik？ Miriamele？ Prince Josua？ Did they even live？ Had they fallen beneath the black storm； or did they still struggle？
Growing ever more frantic； he begged Jiriki to let him speak to Amerasu again； to plead for her help in setting him free； but Jiriki declined。
〃It is not my place to instruct First Grandmother。 She will act in her own time； when she has thought carefully。 I am sorry； Seoman； but these matters are too important to hurry。〃
〃Hurry！〃 Simon raged。 〃By the time anyone does anything m this place； I will be dead！〃
But Jiriki； although visibly saddened； remained adamant。
Balked at every turn； Simon's anxiousness began to turn to anger。 The reserved Sithi came to seem smug and self…righteous beyond enduring。 While Simon's friends were fighting and dying； engaged in a dreadful losing battle with the Storm King as well as with Elias； these foolish creatures wandered through their sunlit forest singing and contemplating the trees。 And who was the Storm King； anyway； but a Sithi！？ No wonder that his fellows were keeping Simon prisoned while the world outside withered before Ineluki's cold wrath。
So the days spun by； each more and more like its predecessor； each increasing Simon's disaffection。 He ceased taking his evening meal with Jiriki； preferring a more solitary appreciation of the songs of crickets and nightingales。 Resentful of Aditu's playfulness； he began to avoid her。 He was sick of being teased and fondled。 He meant no more to her； he knew； than the lapdog did to the queen。 He would have no more。 If he must be a prisoner； he would act like one。
Jiriki found him sitting in a copse of larch trees； sullen and prickly as a hedgehog。 The bees were mumbling in the clover and the sun streamed down through the needles； crosshatchmg the ground with slivers of light。 Simon was chewing on a piece of bark。
〃Seoman；〃 the prince said； 〃may I speak to you？〃
Simon frowned。 He had learned that Sithi； unlike mortals； would actually go away if permission was not given。 Jiriki's folk had a deep respect for privacy。
〃I suppose so；〃 Simon said at last。
〃I would like you to e with me；〃 Jiriki said。 〃We will go to the Yasira。〃
Simon felt a quickening of hope； but it was a painful thing。 〃Why？〃
〃I do not know。 I only know that we are all asked to e； all who live in Jao e…Tinukai'i。 Since you live here now； I think it fitting that you e。〃
Simon's hopes sank。 〃They did not ask for me。〃 For a moment he had envisioned how it would be： Shima'onari and Likimeya apologizing for their mistake； sending him back to his own kind bearing presents； laden as well with the wisdom to help Josua and the others。 Another mooncalf daydream…hadn't he grown out of them yet？ 〃I don't want to go；〃 he said at last。
Jiriki squatted beside him； poised as gracefully as a hunting bird upon a branch。 〃I wish that you would； Seoman；〃 he said at last。 〃I cannot force you and I will not plead； but Amerasu will be there。 It is rare indeed for her to ask to speak to our people； except when it is the Day of Year…Dancing。〃
Simon felt his interest quicken。 Perhaps Amerasu was going to speak on his behalf； order them to let him go！ But if that was the case； why hadn't he been asked to e？
He feigned indifference。 Whatever else occurred； he was steadily learning Sithi ways。 〃There you go about Year…Dancing again； Jiriki；〃 he said。 〃But you have never told me what it means。 I saw the Year…Dancing grove； you know。〃
Jiriki appeared to be suppressing a smile。 〃Not very closely； I think。 But e； Seoman； you are playing a game。 Some other time I will tell you what I can of the responsibilities of our family's house； but now I must go。 You； too； if you plan to acpany me。〃
Simon tossed the piece of chewed…upon bark over his shoulder。 'I'll go if I can sit near the door。 And if I don't have to speak。〃
〃You can sit wherever you please； Snowlock。 You are a prisoner； perhaps； but an honored one。 My people are trying to make your time here endurable。 As to the rest； I have no say over what you may be asked。 e； you are almost grown； manchild。 Do not be afraid to stand for yourself。〃
Simon frowned； considering。 〃Lead on； then；〃 he said。
They stopped before the doorway of the great living tent。 The butterf