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〃I am hardly more than that now。。。 ignorant and thick…skulled。 Have I destroyed us both by ing here to find you？〃
〃No。 This is the one place no one would expect us to be。 But we have little time left。 You crossed Ymris without touching the land…law。〃
Morgon dropped his hands。 〃I didn't dare；〃 he said。 〃And all I could think of was you。 I had to find you before the Earth…Masters found me。〃
〃I know。 I left you in a perilous situation。 But you found me； and I hold the land…law of Ymris。 You'll need it。 Ymris is a seat of great power。 I want you to take the knowledge from my mind。 Don't worry；〃 he added； at Morgon's expression。 〃I will only give you that knowledge； nothing that you cannot bear； yet。 Sit down。〃
Morgon slid back slowly onto the stones。 The rain had begun again； blown on the wind through the openings in the chamber； but he was not cold。 The harpist's face was changing； his worn； troubled expression had eased into an ageless peace as he contemplated his realm。 Morgon looked at him； drawing hungrily from his peace until he was enveloped in stillness and the High One's touch seemed to lay upon his heart。 He heard the deep； shadowy voice again； the falcon's voice。
〃Ymris。。。 I was born here on Wind Plain。 Listen to its power beneath the rain； beneath the cries of the dead。 It is like you； a fierce and loving land。 Be still and listen to it。。。〃
He grew still； so still he could hear the grass bending beneath the weight of the rain and the ancient names from early centuries that had been spoken there。 And then he became the grass。
XIX
HE DREW HIMSELF OUT OF YMRIS SLOWLY； HIS HEART thundering to its long and bloody history； his body shaped to its green fields； wild shores； strange； brooding forests。 He felt old as the earliest stone hewn out of Erlenstar Mountain to rest on the earth； and he knew far more than he had ever cared to know of the devastation the recent war had loosed across Ruhn。 He sensed great untapped power in Ymris that he had winced away from； as if a sea or a mountain had loomed before him that his mind simply could not enpass。 But it held odd moments of quiet； a still； secret lake mirroring many things； strange stones that had once been made to speak； forests haunted with pure black animals so shy they died if men looked upon them； acres of oak woods on the western borders whose trees remembered the first vague passage of men into Ymris。 These； he treasured。 The High One had given him no more of his mind than the awareness of Ymris； the power he had feared in the falcon's eyes was still leashed when he looked into them again。
It was dawn； of some day； and Raederle was beside him。 He made a surprised noise。 〃How did you get up here？〃
〃I flew。〃
The answer was so simple it seemed meaningless for a moment。 〃So did I。〃
〃You climbed the stairs。 I flew to the top。〃
His face looked so blank with surprise that she smiled。 〃Morgon； the High One let me e in。 Otherwise I would have flown around the tower squawking all night。〃
He grunted and linked his fingers into hers。 She was very tired； he sensed； and her smile faded quickly； leaving something disturbing in her eyes。 The High One was standing beside one of the windows。 The blue…black stone was rimed with the first light； against the sky the harpist's face looked weary； the skin drawn taut； colorless against the bones。 But the eyes were Yrth's； light…filled； secret。 Morgon looked at him for a long time without moving； still enmeshed in his peace； until the changeless； familiar face seemed to meld with the pale silver of the morning。 The High One turned then to meet his eyes。
He drew Morgon to his side without a gesture； only his simple wordless desire。 Morgon loosed Raederle's hand and rose stiffly。 He crossed the room。 The High One put a hand on his shoulder。
Morgon said； 〃I couldn't take it all。〃
〃Morgon； the power you sensed is in the Earth…Masters' dead： those who died fighting at my side on this plain。 The power will be there when you need it。〃
Something in Morgon； deep beneath his peace； lifted its muzzle like a blind hound in the dark； scenting at the High One's words。 〃And the harp； and the sword？〃 He kept his voice tranquil。 〃I barely understand the power in them。〃
〃They will find uses for themselves。 Look。〃
There was a white mist of vesta along the plain； beneath the low； lumbering cloud。 Morgon gazed down at them incredulously； then leaned his face against the cool stone。 〃When did they get here？〃
〃Last night。〃
〃Where is Astrin's army？〃
〃Half of it was trapped between Tor and Umber； but the vanguard made it through； clearing a path for the vesta and the Morgol's guard and Danan's miners。 They are behind the vesta。〃 He read Morgon's thoughts； his hand tightened slightly。 〃I did not bring them here to fight。〃
〃Then why？〃 he whispered。
〃You will need them。 You and I must end this war quickly。 That is what you were born to do。〃
〃How？〃
The High One was silent。 Behind his tranquil； indrawn gaze； Morgon sensed a weariness beyond belief； and a more familiar patience： the harpist's reaching for Morgon's understanding； perhaps； or for getting beyond his understanding。 He said finally； very gently； 〃The Prince of Hed and his farmers have gathered on the south border with Mathom's army。 If you need to keep them alive； you'll find a way。〃
Morgon whirled。 He crossed the chamber； hung out a south window； as if he could see among the leafless oaks a grim battery of farmers with rakes and hoes and scythes。 His heart swelled with sudden pain and fear that sent tears to his eyes。 〃He left Hed。 Eliard turned his farmers into warriors and left Hed。 What is it？ The end of the world？〃
〃He came to fight for you。 And for his own land。〃
〃No。〃 He turned again； his hands clenched； but not in anger。 〃He came because you wanted him。 That's why the Morgol came； and Har： you drew them； the way you draw me； with a touch of wind at the heart； a mystery。 What is it？ What is it that you aren't telling me？〃
〃I have given you my name。〃
Morgon was silent。 It began to snow lightly； big； random flakes scattered on the wind。 They caught on his hands； burned before they vanished。 He shuddered suddenly and found that he bad no inclination left for questions。 Raederle had turned away from them both。 She looked oddly isolated in the center of the small chamber。 Morgon went to her side； her head lifted as he joined her； but her face turned away from him to the High One。
He came to her； as if she had drawn him； the way he drew Morgon。 He smoothed a strand of her windblown hair away from her face。 〃Raederle； it is time for you to leave。〃
She shook her head。 〃No。〃 Her voice was very quiet。 〃I am half Earth…Master。 You will have at least one of your kind fighting for you after all these centuries。 I will not leave either of you。〃
〃You are in the eye of danger。〃
〃I chose to e。 To be with those I love。〃
He was silent； for a moment he was only the harpist； ageless； indrawn； lonely。 〃You；〃 he said softly； 〃I never expected。 So powerful； so beautiful； and so loving。 You are like one of our children； growing into power before our war。〃 He lifted her hand and kissed it； then opened it to the small angular scar on her palm。 〃There are twelve winds；〃 he said to Morgon。 〃Bound； controlled； they are more precise and terrible than any weapon or wizard's power in the realm。 Unbound； they could destroy the realm。 They are also my eyes and ears； for they shape all things； hear all words and movements； and they are everywhere。。。 That jewel that Raederle held was cut and faceted by winds。 I did that one day when I was playing with them； long before I ever used them in our war。 The memory of that was mirrored in the stone。〃
〃Why are you telling me？〃 His voice jerked a little。 〃I can't hold the winds。〃
〃No。 Not yet。 Don't be concerned； yet。〃 He put his arm around Morgon's shoulders； held him easily again within his stillness。 〃Listen。 You can hear the voices of all the winds of the realm in this chamb