with broken wings； and knocked things off tabletops because she could never remember to walk and sit and carry herself delicately； as a lady should。 No； he had meant nothing more than a fretful smile at a wide…eyed young girl； but with that unwitting smile Eolair had caught her forever in an unbreakable net。。。
Her thoughts were interrupted as the walled road they had chosen ended before a broad； squat tower whose surface crawled with ornate stone vines and translucent stone flowers。 A wide doorway gaped darkly like a toothless mouth。 Eolair looked at the shadowed entrance suspiciously before stepping forward to peer inside。
The interior of the tower seemed oddly spacious； despite the close…hovermg shadows。 A stairway choked with rubble curled away up one inner wall； and a descending stairway passed around the circumference of the tower in the opposite direction When they drew their lamps back outside the door； a glimmer of light…only the faintest of sheens…seemed to brighten the air where this downward passage disappeared from view。
Maegwin took a deep breath。 Astonishingly； she felt no fear at being in such a mad place。 〃We will turn back whenever you say。〃
〃That staircase is far too treacherous；〃 Eolair replied。 〃We should go back now。〃 He hesitated； torn between curiosity and responsibility。 There was indeed an unarguable gleam of light from the downtrack。 Maegwin stared at it； but said nothing。 The count sighed。 〃We will just go a little way on the other path； instead。〃
They followed the downward path； spiraling for what seemed a furlong into the depths until they leveled out at last in a broad； low…ceilinged passageway。 The walls and roof were carved with tangled vines and grasses and flowers； a panorama of vegetation that could only grow far above； beneath sun and sky。 The interwoven strands of stem and vine ran endlessly along the wall beside them in a tapestry of stone。 Despite the immensity of the panels； no part of the wall seemed carved with exactly the same design as any other。 The great carvings themselves were posed of many kinds of rock； of an almost infinite variety of hues and textures； but the panels were no mosaic of individual tiles as was the patterned floor。 Rather； the very stone itself seemed to have grown in exact and pleasing shapes； as a hedge coaxed and pruned by gardeners might mimic the form of an animal or bird。
〃By the gods of Earth and Sky；〃 she breathed。
〃We must turn back； Maegwin。〃 There was little conviction m Eolair's voice。 Here in the deeps； time seemed to have slowed almost to a stop。
They walked on； examining the fantastic carvings in silence。 At last； the lamplight was supplemented by a more diffuse glow from the tunnel's far end Maegwin and the count stepped out of the passageway and into the open； where the shadowed ceiling of the huge cavern once more arched distantly overhead。
They stood on a broad fan of tiles above a great and shallow bowl of stone。
The arena； three stone…throws across； was lined all about with benches of pale； crumbling chert； as though the deserted bowl had been the site of worship or vast spectacle。 A misty white light glowed in the open space of the bowl's center； like an invalid sun。
〃Cuamh and Brynioch！〃 Eolair swore quietly。 There was a distant and anxious edge to his voice。 〃What is it？〃
A great； angular crystal stood on an altar of dull granite in the middle of the arena； shimmering like a corpse…candle。 The stone was milky white； smooth…faced but rough…edged as ajagged chunk of quartz。 Its strange and subtle light slowly brightened； then died； then brightened again； so that the ancient benches standing nearest seemed almost to flicker m and out of existence with every scintillation。
Pale light washed over them as they approached the strange object； the chill air began to seem distinctly warmer。 Maegwin felt a moment of breathlessness at the queer splendor of the thing。 For long moments she and Eolair stood looking into the snowy glare； watching subtle colors chase each other through the stone's depths； mangold and coral and shy lavender； shifting like quicksilver。
〃It's beautiful；〃 she said at last。
〃Aye。 〃
They lingered； transfixed。 At last； with obvious reluctance； the Count of Nad Mullach turned away。 〃But there is nothing else here； Lady。 Nothing。〃
Before Maegwin could speak； the white stone suddenly blazed； radiance swelling and blossoming like the birth of a heaven…star； until the blinding glare seemed to fill the cavern。 Maegwin battled to orient herself in that sea of terrifying brilliance。 She reached out for the Count of Nad Mullach。 Blasted by light； Eolair's face had blurred until his features were almost indistinguishable。 His far side had vanished into absolute shadow so that he seemed but half a man。
〃What is happening？'〃 she cried。 〃Is the stone burning up？！〃
〃Lady！〃 Eolair snatched at her； trying to pull her back from the glare。
〃Are you hurt？〃
〃Ruyan's Children！〃
Maegwin reeled back in shock； stumbling unaware into Eolair's protective grasp。 The stone had spoken with the voice of a woman； a voice that surrounded them as though mouths spoke from every side。
〃Why do you not answer me？ Three times now have I called to you。 I no longer have the strength。 I will not be able to try again。〃
The words were spoken in a tongue Maegwin had never heard； but still their meaning was somehow as clear as if spoken in her own Hernystiri； as powerful as if the woman's voice were inside her head。 Was this the madness she had feared？ But Eolair； too； had clapped his hands over his ears； beset by the same unnatural voice。
〃Ruyan's Folk！ I beg you； forget our old strife； the wrongs that were done。 A greater enemy now threatens us both！〃
The voice spoke as though with a great effort。 Weariness and sorrow was in it； but something also of immense power； a strength that set Maegwin's skin to tingling。 She held her hands splay…fingered before her eyes and squinted into the heart of the glare； but could see nothing。 The light that beat out at her seemed almost to push like a strong wind。 Could some person be standing in the midst of that staggering incandescence？ Or could it somehow be the stone itself that spoke？ She found herself sorrowing for whoever or whatever should call out so desperately； even as she fought against the lunatic idea of a shouting stone。
〃Who arc you？'〃 Maegwin cried 〃Why are you in the stone？ Get out of my ears！〃
〃What？ Someone is there at last？ Praise to the Garden！〃 Unexpected hope flared in the voice； supplanting weariness for a moment。 〃Oh； ancient kindred； black evil threatens our adopted land！ I crave answers to my questions； questions that might save us all！〃
〃Lady！〃
Maegwin at last noticed that Eolair was holding tightly to her waist。 〃It will not hurt me！〃 she told him。 She moved a little closer to the stone； pulling against his strong arms。 〃What questions？〃 she shouted。 〃We are Hernystiri。 I am the daughter of King Lluth…ubh…Llythinn。 Who are you？ are you in the stone？ Are you here in the city？〃
The light from the stone dimmed and began to flicker。 There was a pause before the voice came back； more muted than before。 〃Are you Tmukeda'ya？ I hear you only faintly；〃 the woman said。 〃It is too late。 You are fading away。 If you can still hear me； and would give aid against a shared enemy； e to us in Jao e…Tinukai'i。 Some among you must know where it is。〃 Her voice grew softer still； until it was barely a whisper； tickling the insides of Maegwin's ears。 The stone had lapsed back into fitful gleaming。 〃Many are searching for the three Great Swords。 Listen！ This might he the salvation of us all； or the destruction。〃 The stone pulsed。 〃This is all the Year…Dancing Grove could tell me； all the leaves would sing。。。〃 Despair welled up in her dying voice。 〃I have failed。 I have grown too weak。 First Grandmother has failed。。。 I can see only darkness ing。。。〃
The soft words at last were gone。 The speaking stone dimmed to a smear of pale light before Maegwin's eyes。 〃I could not help her； Eolair。 〃 She felt quite empty。 〃We did nothing。 And she was so sad！〃
Eolair gently released her from