se diminished days there is a power in such places that would make them hesitate in any case。〃 She looked fixedly at Deornoth。 〃You have felt it； have you not？ But the problem is that we ten or eleven are not enough to fight back。 We must find some place safe from the Norns； but also a place where the others who resent your brother Elias' misrule can find us。 If King Elias tightens his control over Osten Ard； if the Hayholt bees an unbreachable stronghold； then we will never pry loose the Great Sword we know he has； or the other that he may have。 We do not fight sorcery only； but also a war of position and placement。〃
〃What are you saying？〃 Josua asked； his eyes intent on the witch woman's face。
Geloe pointed at the map with her walking stick。 〃Out here； beyond the forest to the east； run the meadows of the High Thrithings。 There； near the site upon which the ancient city of Enki…e…Shao'saye once stood； along the border between woods and grassland； is the place where Norns and Sithi parted ways forever。 It is called Sesuad'ra…the Stone of Farewell。〃
〃And。。。 and we would be safe there？〃 Strangyeard asked； excited。
〃For a time；〃 Geloe responded。 〃It is a place of power； so its heritage may keep us safe from the Storm King's minions for a short while。 But that is good enough； for time is what we need most…time to gather those who would fight back against Elias； time to bring our scattered allies together。 But most importantly； we need time to solve the mystery of the three Great Swords and find a way to fight the menace of the Storm King。〃
Josua sat and stared at the line…scratched dirt。 〃It is a beginning；〃 he said at last。 〃Against all despair； it is a small flame of hope。〃
〃That is why I came to you；〃 the witch woman said。 〃And that is why I told the boy Simon to e there when he could； bringing any who were with him。〃
Father Strangyeard coughed apologetically。 〃I'm afraid I do not understand； Goodwoman Geloe。 How did you speak to the boy？ If he is in the distant north； you would not have been able to get here in time。 Did you use messenger birds； as Jamauga often did？〃
She shook her head。 〃No。 I spoke to him through the girl； Leieth。 It is hard to explain； but she helped make me stronger so I could reach out all the way to Yiqanuc and tell Simon of the Stone of Farewell。〃 She began scratching away her map with the toe other boot。 〃Not smart to leave a message showing where we're bound；〃 she said and chuckled hoarsely。
〃But could you reach out to speak with anyone this way？〃 Josua asked keenly。
Geloe shook her head。 〃I have met Simon and touched him。 He was in my house。 I do not think I could find and converse with someone I did not already know。〃
〃But my niece Miriamele was at your house； or so I was told；〃 the prince said eagerly。 〃I have been deeply worried about her。 Could you find her for me； speak to her？〃
〃I have already tried。〃 The witch woman got up； looking again to Leieth。 The little girl was walking aimlessly along the rim of the clearing； pale lips moving as though in silent song。 〃There is something or someone close to Miriamele that prevented my reaching her…a wall of some kind。 I had very little strength and my time was short； so I did not try twice。〃
〃Will you try again？〃 Josua asked。
〃Perhaps；〃 she said； turning to look at him once more。 〃But I must use my strength carefully。 There is a long struggle before us。〃 She turned to Father Strangyeard。 〃Now； priest； e with me。 There are things we must speak about。 You have been given a responsibility that may prove a heavy burden。〃
〃I know；〃 Strangyeard answered quietly。 The two of them moved away； leaving Josua deep in thought。 Deornoth watched his prince for some long moments； then wandered back to his cloak。
Towser； lying nearby； was tossing and babbling in the throes of a nightmare。 〃White faces 。 。 。 hands reaching for me； hands 。。。〃 The old man's clawed fingers raked at the air； and for a moment the noise of birdsong was stilled。
〃。。。 So；〃 Josua finished； 〃there is a gleam of hope。 If Valada Geloe thinks we can find sanctuary in this place 。。。〃
〃…And strike a blow at the king；〃 Isorn growled； his pink face scowling。 〃。。。 Yes； and prepare to resume the struggle；〃 Josua continued； 〃then we must do so。 There is nowhere else for us to go； in any case。 When all can walk； we will leave the forest and cross the High Thrithings； heading east to the Stone of Farewell。〃
Vorzheva； pale with anger； opened her mouth as if to say something； but Duchess Gutrun spoke up instead。 〃Why leave the forest at all； Prince Josua？ Why should we go a longer way just to expose ourselves on the plains？〃
Geloe； sitting beside the prince； nodded。 〃You ask a good question。 One reason is that we can move twice as quickly across open land and time is precious。 Also； we must leave the forest because the same ban that keeps the Norns at a distance serves for us as well。 These are Sithi lands。 We have e here because we have been driven here in peril of our lives； but to stay long would be to invite their notice。 The Sithi do not love mortals。〃
〃But won't the Norns pursue us？〃
〃I know ways through the forest that will keep us safe until we reach the meadowlands beyond；〃 the witch woman responded。 〃As to the High Thrithings； I doubt the Norns are already so cocksure that they will cross over in light of day to open country。 They are deadly； but still far； far fewer than humans。 The Storm King has waited centuries； I think he is patient enough to keep his full power hidden from mortals a little longer。 No； it is likely Elias' armies and the Thrithings…men we need to worry about。〃 She turned to Josua。 〃You know better than I； perhaps。 Do the Thrithings…dwellers now serve Elias？〃
The prince shook his head。 〃They are never predictable。 Many clans live there and their allegiance even to their own March…thanes is loose。 Besides； if we do not venture far from the forest's edge； we may never see another soul。 The Thrithings are vast。〃
As he finished speaking； Vorzheva rose and stalked away； disappearing from the clearing into a stand of birches。 Josua watched her go； then a moment later stood； leaving Geloe to answer the questions of those who had not heard her earlier explanation of Sesuad'ra。
Vorzheva was leaning against a birch trunk； angrily peeling away strips of papery bark。 Josua paused for a long moment； watching her。 Her gown was a tattered rag； torn away to just above her knees。 Her underslip had also been shredded for bandages。 Like everyone else she was dirty； her thick black hair full of twigs and tangles； her arms and legs crisscrossed with scratches。 The arrow…wound on her forearm was wrapped in a soiled and bloody rag。
〃Why are you angry？〃 he asked。 His voice was soft。
Vorzheva whirled； eyes wide。 〃Why am I angry？ Why？ You are a fool！〃
〃You have avoided me since we were cast out of Naglimund；〃 Josua said； caking a step nearer。 〃When I lie down beside you； you stiffen like a priest with the stench of sin in his nostrils。 Is this the way a lover acts？〃
Vorzheva raised her hand as though to slap at him； but he was too far away。 〃Love？〃 she choked； her accent changing the word into something heavy and painful。 〃Who are you； saying love to me？ I have lost all for you and you say this？〃 She rubbed at her face with her hand； leaving a dark smear。
〃The lives of all are in my hands；〃 the prince said slowly。 〃And on my soul。 Men； women； children； hundreds dead in the ruins of Naglimund。 Perhaps I have been distant since the castle fell； but it was because of the darkness of my thoughts； the ghosts who haunt me。〃
〃Since the castle fell； you say；〃 she hissed。 〃Since the castle fell； you have treated me like a whore。 You do not speak to me； you speak to all others but me； then at night you e to touch me and hold me！ Do you think you bought me at market like a horse？ I came away with you to be free of the plains…lands。。。 and to love you。 You never treated me well。 Now you will drag me back…drag me back and show my shame to everyone！〃 She burst into angry tears and quickly moved to the other side
of the tree； so that the prince could not see her face