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choked with smoke and the din of forges。 The brilliant colors of battle livery and the dark； sweating flanks of plow horses flickered through the smoke； as men gathered to march to Caerweddin。 There were young boys among them； and the rough； weathered faces of shepherds； farmers； smiths； even traders； receiving a crude； desperate introduction to arms before they joined the forces at Caerweddin。 The sight spurred the crows onward。 They followed the Thul as it ran toward the sea； cutting a dark path through the dying fields。
They reached Caerweddin at sunset； the sky was shredded like a brilliant banner by the harsh winds。 The whole of the city was ringed by a thousand fires； as if it were besieged by its own forces。 But the harbor was clear； trade…ships from Isig and Anuin were homing toward it on the evening tide。 The beautiful house of the Ymris kings； built of the shards of an Earth…Masters' city； burned like a jewel in the last light。 The crows dropped down into the shadows just outside its closed gates。 They changed shape in the empty street。
They did not speak as they looked at one another。 Morgon drew Raederle against him； wondering if his own eyes were as stunned with weariness。 He touched her mind； then； searching into the heart of the king's house； he found Astrin's mind。
He appeared in front of the Ymris land…heir as he sat alone in a small council chamber。 He had been working； maps； messages； supply lists were strewn all over his desk。 But the room was nearly in darkness； and he had not bothered to light candles。 He was staring ahead of him into the fire； his face harrowed； colorless。 Morgon and Raederle； stepping out of the street into the blur of light and shadow； did not even startle him。 He gazed at them a moment as if they had no more substance than his hope。 Then his expression changed； he stood up； his chair falling behind him with a crash。 〃Where have you been？〃
There was a realm of relief； passion； and exasperation in the question。 Morgon； casting a glance at his past with an eye as probing as the single； wintry eye of the Ymris prince； said simply； 〃Answering riddles。〃
Astrin rounded his desk and eased Raederle into a chair。 He gave her wine and the numbness began to wear out of her face。 Astrin； half…kneeling beside her； looked up at Morgon incredulously。
〃Where did you e from？ I have been thinking about you and Heureu； you and Heureu。 You're thin as an awl； but in one piece。 You look。。。 if ever I've seen a man who looks like a weapon； you do。 There is a quiet thunder of power all over this room。 Where did you get it？〃
〃All over the realm。〃 He poured himself wine and sat。
〃Can you save Ymris？〃
〃I don't know。 Maybe。 I don't know。 I need to find Yrth。〃
〃Yrth。 I thought he was with you。〃
He shook bis head。 〃He left me。 I need to find him。 I need him。。。〃 His voice had sunk to a whisper； he stared into the fire； the cup a hollow of gold in his hands。 Astrin's voice startled through him； and he realized he was nearly asleep。
〃I haven't seen him； Morgon。〃
〃Is Aloil here？ His mind is linked to Yrth's。〃
〃No； he is with Mathom's army。 It's massed in the forests near Trader's Road。 Morgon。〃 He leaned forward to grip Morgon； bringing him out of the sudden despair overwhelming him。
〃He was there beside me； if only I had had enough sense to turn and face him； instead of pursuing his shadow all over the realm。 I harped with him； I fought with him； I tried to kill him； and I loved him； and the moment I name him he vanishes； leaving me still pursuing。。。〃 Astrin's grip was suddenly painful。
〃What are you saying？〃
Morgon； realizing his own words； gazed back at him mutely。 He saw once again the strange； colorless face that had been over him when he had wakened； voiceless； nameless； in a strange land。 The warrior before him； with a dark； tight tunic buttoned haphazardly over a shift of mail； became the half…wizard once more in his hut by the sea； riddling over the bones of the city on Wind Plain。
〃Wind Plain。。。〃 he whispered。 〃No。 He can't have gone there without me。 And I'm not ready。〃
Astrin's hand slackened。 His face was expressionless； skull…white。 〃Exactly who is it you're looking for？〃 He spoke very carefully； fitting the words together like shards。 The harpist's name shocked through Morgon then： the first dark riddle the harpist had given him long ago on a sunlit autumn day at the docks at Tol。 He swallowed dryly； wondering suddenly what he was pursuing。
Raederle shifted in her chair； pillowing her face against a fur cloak drapped over it。 Her eyes were closed。 〃You've answered so many riddles；〃 she murmured。 〃Where is there one last； unanswered riddle but on Wind Plain？〃
She burrowed deeper into the fur as Morgon eyed her doubtfully。 She did not move again； Astrin took her cup before it dropped from her fingers。 Morgon rose abruptly； crossed the room。 He leaned over Astrin's desk； the map of Ymris lay between his hands。
〃Wind Plain。。。〃 The shaded areas of the map focussed under his gaze。 He touched an island of darkness in west Ruhn。 〃What is this？〃
Astrin； still hunched beside the fire； got to his feet。 〃An ancient city；〃 he said。 〃They have taken nearly all the Earth…Masters' cities in Meremont and Tor； parts of Ruhn。〃
〃Can you get through the Wind Plain？〃
〃Morgon； I would march there with no other army but my shadow if you want it。 But can you give me a reason I can give to my war lords for taking the entire army away from Caerweddin and leaving the city unguarded to fight over a few broken stones？〃
Morgon looked at him。 〃Can you get through？〃
〃Here。〃 He drew a line down from Caerweddin； between Tor and the dark area in east Umber。 〃With some risk。〃 He traced the southern border of Meremont。 〃Mathom's army will be here。 If it were only men we were fighting； I would call them doomed； caught between two great armies。 But Morgon； I can't calculate their strength； none of us can。 They take what they want in their own time。 They aren't pretending to fight us anymore； they simply overrun us whenever we happen to get in their way。 The realm is their chessboard； and we are their pawns。。。 and the game they are playing seems inprehensible。 Give me a reason to move the men south； to pick a fight in the bitter cold over land that no one has lived on for centuries。〃
Morgon touched a point on Wind Plain where a lonely tower might have stood。 〃Danan is ing south with his miners。 And Har with the vesta。 And the Morgol with her guard。 Yrth wanted them there at Wind Plain。 Astrin； is that enough reason？ To protect the land…rulers of the realm？〃
〃Why？〃 His fist slammed down on the plain； but Raederle did not even stir。 〃Why？〃 〃I don't know。〃 〃I'll stop them in Marcher。〃
〃You won't stop them。 They are drawn to Wind Plain； as I am； and if you want to see any of us alive next spring； then take your army south。 I didn't choose the season。 Or the army that is following me across the realm。 Or the war itself。 I am。。。〃 He stopped； as Astrin's hands closed on his shoulders。 〃Astrin。 I have no time left to give you。 I have seen too much。 I have no choices left。 No other seasons。〃
The single eye would have searched into his thoughts； if he had let it。 〃Then who is making your choices？〃
〃e to Wind Plain。〃
The prince loosed him。 〃I'll be there；〃 he whispered。 Morgon turned away from him after a moment； sat down again。 〃I have to leave；〃 he said tiredly。
〃Tonight？〃
〃Yes。 I'll sleep a little and then leave。 I need answers。。。〃 He gazed across at Raederle's face； hidden in the fur； only the line of her cheek and chin； brushed by light； showed beneath her hair。 He said very softly； 〃I'll let her sleep。 She might follow me when she wakes； tell her to be careful flying across Wind Plain。〃 〃Where are you going？〃
Raederle's hair blurred into fire； his eyes closed。 〃To find Aloil。。。。 To find a wind。〃
He slept without dreaming and woke a few hours later。 Astrin had covered Raederle； she was barely visible； huddled under fur…lined blankets。 Astrin； lying b