This one was small； perhaps eight or nine years； and pale of face。 Her eyes； although an unexceptional shade of dark brown； had much of the curious intensity of the older woman's。 But where Geloe's gaze seized attention like an arrow quivering on a drawn string； the little girl looked starkly into nothingness； her stare as objectless as a blind beggar's。
〃Leieth and I are here to join you；〃 Geloe said； 〃…and to lead you if we may； at least for a short while。 If you try to climb that hill； some of you will die。 None of you will reach the summit。〃
〃What do you know about it？〃 Isorn demanded。 He looked confused。 He was not the only one。
〃This。 The Norns are reluctant to slay you…this is obvious； or a party like yours on foot would not have gotten a tenth this far into the forest。 But if you cross that hill； you will have crossed over into territory through which the Hikeda'ya cannot follow。 If there are any of you they do not need alive…and surely not all of you are valuable to them； if that is even the reason the Norns have let you get so far…they will take the risk of trying to kill the dispensable ones to frighten the rest off the slopes。〃
〃So what are you telling us； then？〃 Josua asked stepping forward。 Their eyes locked。 〃Over this hill safety lies； but we dare not go there？ What； should we lay down and die？'
〃No；〃 Geloe responded calmly。 〃I only said you should not climb the hill。 There are other ways。〃
〃Fly？〃 Einskaldir snarled。
〃Some do。〃 She smiled as at a quiet joke。 〃But all you need do is follow us。〃 Taking the girl's hand again； she started off along the edge of the gulley。
〃Where are you going？〃 Deornoth cried； and felt a pang of fear at being left behind as the pair began to fade into the twilit shadows。 〃Follow；〃 Geloe called back over her shoulder。 〃Darkness is growing。〃 Deornoth turned to stare at the prince； but Josua was already helping Duchess Gutrun onto her feet。 As the rest hurried to pick up their meager belongings； Josua walked briskly to where Vorzheva sat and extended his hand。 She ignored him and got to her feet； then strode down into the gulley with head held high； like a queen in procession。 The others followed limping after her； whispering wearily among themselves。
Geloe stopped to wait for the farthest…trailing stragglers。 At her side Leieth disconcertingly stared off into the forest； as if she expected someone。
〃Where are we going？〃 Deornoth asked as he and Isorn rested； scraping the slimy mud of the streambed from their boots。 The harper Sangfugol； who could not walk without someone at either shoulder； was sitting on his own for a moment； breathing heavily。
〃We are not leaving the forest；〃 the witch woman said； inspecting the bit of purple sky that could be seen through the willow branches。 〃But we will pass beneath the hill into a part of the old woods once known as Shisae'ron。 As I said； the Hikeda'ya are not likely to follow us there。〃 〃Pass under the hill？ What can that mean？〃 Isorn demanded。 〃We walk in the bed of Re Sun'em； an ancient river；〃 Geloe said 〃When I first came here； the forest was a lively country； not the dark tangle it has bee。 This river was one of many that spanned the great woods； carrying all manner of things and all manner of folk from Da'ai Chikiza to high Asu'a。〃
〃Asu'a？〃 Deornoth wondered。 〃Was that not the Sithi name for the Hayholt？〃
〃Asu'a was more than the Hayholt ever will be；〃 Geloe said sternly； her eyes searching for the last of the wandering line。 〃Sometimes you men are like lizards； sunning on the stones of a crumbled house； thinking 'what a nice basking…spot someone built for me ' You stand in the sad mud of what was a wide； beautiful river； where the boats of the Old Ones skimmed and flowers grew。〃
〃This was a fairy river？〃 Isorn's attention had been wandering now； startlement on his broad face； he peered around as though the streambed itself might exhibit signs of treachery。
〃Idiot！〃 Geloe said scornfully。 〃Yes； it was a 〃fairy river〃 ' This entire land was…as you would put it…a fairy country。 What sort of creatures do you think pursue you？〃
〃I。。。 I knew that；〃 Isorn muttered； abashed。 〃But I had not thought of it that way。 Their arrows and swords were real； that was all I could think of。 〃
〃As were the arrows and swords of your ancestors； Rimmersmanne； which accounts for some of the bad blood between your folk and theirs。 The difference is； though King Fingil's reavers killed many Sithi with their blades of black iron； Fingil and your other ancestors at last aged and died。 The Children of the East do not die…at least； not in such a time as you can understand…and neither do they forget old wrongs。 If they are old； they are all the more patient for it。〃 She stood up； looking about for Leieth； who had wandered off。 〃Let us go；〃 she called sharply。 〃Time to nurse wounds when we have passed through。〃
〃Passed through where？〃 Deornoth asked 〃How？ You never told us。〃
〃Nor need I waste my breath now；〃 she said 〃We will be there soon。〃
The light was fading fast and the footing was treacherous； but Geloe was an unflagging guide。 She had increased the pace； waiting only long enough for the first stragglers to catch up before pushing on again。 The sky had taken on night's earliest hues when the riverbed bent again。 A darker shape suddenly loomed before them； a shadow tall as the trees and blacker than the surrounding obscurity。 The walkers stumbled to a halt； those who could summon the breath moaning in weariness。
Geloe took an unlit brand from her bag； handing it to Einskaldir。 His sour remark died in his throat as she narrowed her yellow eyes。 〃Take this and put flint and steel to it；〃 she said 〃We will at least need some light where we are going。〃
A furlong or less from where they stood； the streambed vanished into darkness as it entered a vast hole in the hillside； an arched mouth whose dressed stones had been almost pletely engulfed by a clinging blanket of moss
Einskaldir struck with his axe head； a flint spark jumped； igniting the torch。 Its growing yellow light brought forward other stones that shone pale beneath the overgrown frontage。 Trees of great size and age had thrust out from the hillside above the arch； pushing aside the facing in their reach toward the sun。
〃A tunnel all the way through the hill？〃 Deornoth gasped。
〃The Old Ones were mighty builders；〃 Geloe said； 〃but never better than when they built around the things earth had already grown； so that city lived together with forest or mountain 〃
Sangfugol coughed。 〃It looks。。。 an abode of ghosts；〃 he whispered。
Geloe snorted。 〃Even if so； they are not the dead that you should fear。〃 She seemed about to say something else when there was a hiss and a smack。 Suddenly an arrow was shivering in the trunk of a cypress near Einskaldir's head。
〃You who would flee；〃 a cold voice called； echoing so that it was impossible to discern its source； 〃you must surrender now。 We have spared you thus far； but we may not allow you to cross through。 We will destroy you all。〃
〃Aedon preserve us！〃 Duchess Gutrun wept； her great courage finally weakening。 〃Save us； Lord！〃 She sagged down onto the wet turf。
〃It is the torch！〃 Josua said； ing up quickly。 〃Put out the torch； Einskaldir。 〃
〃No；〃 Geloe said； 〃you will never find your way in the dark。〃 She raised her voice 〃Hikeda'yei！' she cried； 〃do you know who I am？〃
〃Yes； we know you； old woman；〃 the voice said。 〃But whatever respect you might deserve was lost the moment you threw in your lot with these mortals。 The world could have spun on； leaving you undisturbed in your solitary house…but you would not let well enough alone。 Now you also are unbowed； and must go naked like a crab with no shell。 You too can die； old woman。〃
〃Douse the torch； Einskaldir；〃 Josua snapped； 〃we can light another when we have reached shelter。〃
The Rimmersman stared at the prince for a moment。 Darkness had arrived but for the torch's rippling flame； Josua would never have seen him smile。
〃Don't wait too long to follow me；〃 was all Einskaldir said。 A moment later he had dashed away down the riverbed toward the great arch； t