s decreed that you will go。〃
〃Go？ Leave Jao e…Tinukai'i？〃 The rush of joy was acpanied by an unexpected current of regret and anger。 〃Why now？〃
〃Because it was Amerasu's last wish。 She told my parents before the gathering began。 But why do you sound so unsettled？ You will go back to your own people。 It is for the best； in any case。 We Zida'ya must mourn the loss of our eldest； our best。 This is no place for mortals； now…and it is what you wanted； is it not？ To go back to your folk？〃
〃But you can't just close yourselves off and turn away！ Not this time！ Didn't you hear Amerasu？ We all have to fight the Storm King！ It is cowardice not to！〃 Her stern； soft face was suddenly before him again； at least in memory。 Her magnificently knowing eyes。。。
〃Calm yourself； young friend；〃 Jiriki said with a tight； angry smile。 〃You are full of good intentions； but you do not know enough to speak so forcefully。〃 His expression softened。 〃Fear not； Seoman。 Things are changing。 The Hikeda'ya have killed our eldest； struck her down in our own sacred house。 They have crossed a line that cannot be recrossed。 Perhaps they meant to； but that matters less than the fact that it has happened。 That is another reason for you to leave； manchild。 There is no place for you in the war councils of the Zida'ya。〃
〃Then you're going to fight？〃 Simon felt a sudden pinch of hope at his heart。
Jiriki shrugged。 〃Yes； I think so…but how or when is not for me to say。〃
〃It's all so much；〃 Simon murmured。 〃So fast。〃
〃You must go； young friend。 Aditu will return soon from attending my parents。 She will take you to where you can find your folk。 It is best done swiftly； since it is not usual for Shima'onari or Likimeya to undo their own Words of Decree。 Go。 My sister will e to you at my house by the river。〃 Jiriki leaned down and lifted something from the mossy floor。 〃And do not forget to take your mirror； my friend。〃 He smiled slyly。 〃You may need to call me again； and I still owe you a life。〃
Simon took the gleaming thing and slid it into his pocket。 He hesitated； then leaned forward and carefully wrapped his arms around Jiriki； trying not to touch his burns as he gently embraced him。 The Sithi prince touched Simon's cheek with his cool lips。
〃Go in peace； Seoman Snowlock。 We will meet again。 That is a promise。〃
〃Farewell； Jiriki。〃 He turned and marched swiftly away without looking back。 He slowed his pace after he stumbled once in the winding hallway； a long； wind…rippled tunnel the color of sand。
Outside； immersed in a swirl of confused thoughts； Simon suddenly realized that he was feeling a curious chill。 Looking up； he saw that the summery skies over Jao e…Tinukai'i had darkened； taking on a more somber hue。 The breeze was colder than any he had ever felt there before。
The summer is fading； he thought； and was frightened again。 I don't think they'll ever get it back。
Suddenly all his petty anger toward the Sithi evaporated and a great； heavy sorrow for them overtook him。 Whatever else was here； there was also beauty unseen since the world was young； long preserved against the killing frosts of time。 Now the walls were tumbling down before a great； wintery wind。 Many exquisite things might be ravaged beyond reclaiming。
He hurried along the riverbank toward Jiriki's house。
The joumey out of Jao e…Tinukai'i passed swiftly for Simon； dim and slippery as a dream。 Aditu sang in her family's tongue and Simon held her hand tightly as the forest shimmered and changed around them。 They walked out of cool grayish…blue skies into the very jaws of winter； which had lain in wait like a stalking beast。
Snow covered the forest floor； a blanket so thick and cold that it was hard for Simon to remember that Jao e…Tinukai'i itself had not been covered； that in that one place winter was still held at bay： here outside the magical circle of the Zida'ya； the Storm King's handiwork was so terribly real。 But now； he realized； even that circle had been broken。 Blood had been spilled in the very heart of summer。
They walked through the morning and early afternoon； gradually leaving the densest part of the woods and moving toward the forest fringe。 Aditu answered Simon's few questions； but neither had the strength for much talk； as though the awful cold had withered the affection that had once flowered between them。 As unfortable as her presence had often made him； still Simon was saddened； but the world had changed somehow and he had no more strength to struggle。 He let the winter world flow over him like a dream； and did not think。
They walked for some hours beside a swift river； following it until they reached a long gentle slope。 Before them lay a vast body of water； as gray and mysterious as an alchemist's bowl。 A shadowed； tree…covered hill jutted from it like a dark pestle。
〃There is your destination； Seoman；〃 Aditu said abruptly。 〃That is Sesuad'ra。〃
〃The Stone of Farewell？〃
Aditu nodded。 〃The Leavetaking Stone。〃
The abstraction finally made real； Simon felt as though he were stepping from one dream into another。 〃But how will I get there？ Am I supposed to swim？〃
Aditu said nothing； but led him down the slope to where the river rushed into the gray water； spilling across the rocks with a roar。 A little distance along the shoreline； out of the way of the river's turbulent inflow； a small； silvery boat bobbed at anchor。 〃Once every hundred or so winters；〃 she said； 〃when the rains are particularly fierce； the lands around Sesuad'ra flood…although this is certainly the first time it has ever happened when Reniku the Summer…Lantern was in the sky。〃 She turned away； unwilling to share thoughts written on her face so that even a mortal could understand。 〃We keep these hiyanha…these boats…here and there； so that Sesuad'ra will not be denied to those who wish to visit it。〃
Simon put his hand on the little boat； feeling the smooth grain of the wood beneath his fingers。 A paddle of the same silvery stuff lay in the hull。 〃And you're sure that's where I go？〃 he asked； suddenly unwilling to say good…bye。
Aditu nodded。 〃Yes； Seoman。〃 She shrugged off the bag she had been carrying on her shoulder and handed it to him。 〃This is for you…no；〃 she corrected herself； 〃not for you。 It is for you to take to your Prince Josua； from Amerasu。 She said she believed he would know what to do with it…if not now； then soon。〃
〃Amerasu？ She sent this。。。 ？〃
Aditu put a hand on his cheek。 〃Not exactly； Seoman。 First Grandmother had asked me to take it if your imprisonment did not end。 Since you have been released； I give it to you。〃 She stroked his face。 〃I am glad for your sake that you are free。 It pained me to see you so unhappy。 It was good to know of you…a rare thing。〃 She leaned forward and kissed him。 Despite all that had happened； he still felt a quickening of his heart as her mouth touched his。 Her lips were warm and dry and tasted of mint。
Aditu stepped away。 〃Farewell； Snowlock。 I must go back and mourn。〃
Before he could even lift his hand to wave； she turned and disappeared among the trees。 He watched for some moments； looking for some sign of her slender form； but she was gone。 He turned and clambered into the small boat and set the sack she had given him down in the hull。 It was of good weight； but he was too weary and sore…hearted even to look at what might be inside。 He thought it might be peaceful to fall asleep here in the boat； at the edge of the great forest。 It would be a blessing to sleep and not wake for a year and a day。 Instead； he picked up his paddle and pushed himself out onto the still water。
The afternoon fell away and the deep chill of evening came on。 As Simon floated toward the growing shadow of Sesuad'ra； he felt the silence of the winter world envelop him； until he thought he might be the only living； moving thing upon the face of Osten Ard。
For a long time he did not notice that there were torches bobbing before him on the twilit shoreline。 When he saw them at last； he was already close enough to hear the voices。 His arms were cold and numb。 He felt as though he had no more strength left to paddle； but managed to