ning the hill dropped away for some dozen paces。 Below lay a shallow； peaceful backwater of the same river that passed before Jiriki's front door； a wide pond with a narrow inlet neck； surrounded by reeds and quivering aspens。 Little red…and…brown birds hopped about on the rocks at the center of the pond； like conquerors strutting the battlements of a captured stronghold。 At pond's edge a bale of turtles basked in the sun streaming down through the trees。
〃In the evening the crickets are quite splendid here。〃
Simon turned to see Jiriki； who had apparently been standing in the shadows at the opposite end of the room。
〃Wele to Jao e…Tinukai'i； Seoman；〃 he said。 〃We are well…met。〃
〃Jiriki！〃 Simon sprang forward。 Without thinking； he grasped the slender Sitha in a tight embrace。 The prince tensed for a moment； then relaxed。 His firm hand patted Simon's back。 〃You never said farewell；〃 Simon said； then pulled away； embarrassed。
〃I did not；〃 Jiriki agreed。 He wore a long； loose robe of some thin blue cloth； belted at the waist with a wide red band； his feet were bare。 His lavender hair descended in braids before either ear； and was gathered atop his head with a b of pale； polished wood。
〃I would have died in the woods if you had not helped me；〃 Simon said abruptly； then gave an awkward laugh。 〃If Aditu had not e； that is。〃 He turned to look at her； Jiriki's sister was watching intently。 She nodded her head in acknowledgment。 〃I would have died。〃 He realized as he spoke that it was absolutely true。 He had begun the process of dying when Aditu had found him； growing more distant each day from the business of life。
〃So。〃 Jiriki folded his arms before him。 〃I am honored I could help。 It still does not discharge my obligation； however。 I owed you two lives。 You are my Hikka Staja； Seoman； and so you will remain。〃 He looked over to his sister。 〃The butterflies have gathered。〃
Aditu replied in their lyric tongue； but Jiriki held up his hand。
〃Speak in a way that Seoman can understand。 He is my guest。〃
She stared at him for a moment。 〃We met Khendraja'aro。 He is not happy。〃
〃Uncle has not been happy since Asu'a fell。 No plans of mine are likely to change that。〃
〃It is more than that； Willow…switch； and you know it。〃 Aditu stared hard at him； but her face remained dispassionate。 She turned to look briefly at Simon； for a moment； embarrassment seemed to darken her cheeks。 〃It is strange to speak this tongue。〃
〃These are strange days； Rabbit…and you know that。〃 Jiriki lifted his hands toward the sunlight。 〃Ah； what an afternoon。 We must go； now； all of us。 The butterflies have gathered； as I said。 I speak lightly of Khendraja'aro； but my heart is uneasy。〃
Simon stared at him； pletely baffled。
〃First allow me to take off this ridiculous clothing；〃 Aditu said。 She slipped away through another hidden door so quickly that she seemed to melt into shadow。
Jiriki led Simon toward the front of his house。 〃We will wait for her below。 You and I have much to speak about； Seoman。 but first we must go to the Yasira。〃
〃Why did she call you 。 。 。 Willow…switch？〃 Of all his countless questions； this was the only one he could put into words。
〃Why do I call you Snowlock？〃 Jiriki looked closely at Simon's face； then smiled his charming； feral smile。 〃It is good to see you well； manchild。〃
〃Let us be off；〃 Aditu said。 She had e up behind Simon so soundlessly that he gasped in surprise。 When he turned a moment later； he gasped again。 Aditu had shed her heavy snow…clothing for a dress that was little more than a wisp of glimmering； nearly transparent white cloth belted with a ribbon of sunset orange。 Her slim hips and small breasts were clearly silhouetted beneath the loose garment。 Simon felt his face grow hot。 He had grown up with the chambermaids； but they had moved him out many years before sending him to sleep with the other scullions。 Such near…nakedness was more than disconcerting。 He realized he was staring and turned hurriedly away； his face coloring。 One hand made an involuntary Tree before his chest。
Aditu's laugh was like rain。 〃1 am happy to be shed of all that！ It was cold where the manchild was； Jiriki！ Cold！〃
〃You are right； Aditu；〃 Jiriki said grimly。 〃We find the winter outside easy to forget when it is still summer in our home。 Now； it is off to the Yasira； where some do not want to believe that winter exists at all。〃
He led the way out his strange entry hall to the sunsplashed corridor of willows beside the river。 Aditu followed him。 Simon brought up the rear； still blushing furiously； with no choice but to watch her springy； swaying walk。
With the added distraction of Aditu in her summer finery； Simon did not think about much of anything for a while； but even Jiriki's lissome sister and Jao e…Tinukai'i's myriad other glories could not distract him forever。 Several things had been said lately that were beginning to worry him： Khendraja'aro was angry with him； apparently； and Simon had distinctly heard Aditu say something about breaking rules。 What exactly was happening？
〃Where are we going； Jiriki？〃 he asked at last。
〃The Yasira。〃 The Sitha gestured ahead。 〃There； do you see？〃 Simon stared； shielding his eyes from the strong sunlight。 There were so many distractions here； and the sunlight itself was one of the strongest。 Only a few days before he had been wondering if he would ever be warm again。 Why was he yet again allowing himself to be dragged somewhere else； when all he wanted to do was flop down on his back in the clover and sleep。。。？
At first the Yasira seemed like nothing so much as a grand and oddly…shaped tent； a tent whose center pole mounted fifty ells into the air； made of a fabric more shifting and colorful than any of Jao e…Tinukai'i's other beautiful structures。 It took another two dozen paces before Simon realized that the center pole was a gigantic ash tree with wide…spreading branches； whose crown rose into the forest sky high above the Yasira itself。 He drew another hundred paces closer before he saw why the fabric of the vast tent shimmered so。
Butterflies。
Trailing to the ground from the ash tree's widest branches were a thousand threads； so slender that they seemed little more than parallel glints of light as they fell a hand…span apart all around the tree。 Clinging to these strands from top to bottom； lazily fanning their iridescent wings； huddling so closely that they overlapped each other like the shingles on some impossible roof were 。。。 a million； million butterflies。 They were of every color imaginable； orange and wine…red； oxblood and tangerine； cerulean blue； daffodil yellow； velvet black as the night sky。 The quiet whisper of their wings was everywhere； as if the warm summer air itself had been given voice。 They moved sluggishly； as though near sleep； but were otherwise bound in no way that Simon could see。 Countless chips of vibrant moving color； the butterflies shattered the sunlight like an in… parable treasury of living gems。
In that moment； as Simon first saw it； the Yasira seemed the breathing； glowing center of Creation。 He stopped and abruptly burst into helpless tears。
Jiriki did not see Simon's overwhelmed response。 〃The little wings are restless；〃 he said。 〃S'hue Khendraja'aro has brought the word。〃
Simon sniffled and wiped at his eyes。 Faced with the Yasira； he suddenly thought he could understand the bitterness of Ineluki； the Storm King's hatred for childish； destructive mankind。 Shamed； Simon listened to Jiriki's words as though from a great distance。 The Sitha prince was saying something about his uncle…was Khendraja'aro talking to the butterflies？ Simon didn't care any longer。 This was all just too much for him。 He didn't want to think； he wanted to lie down。 He wanted to sleep。
Jiriki had at last noticed his distress。 He took Simon carefully by the elbow and guided him toward the Yasira。 At the front of the mad； glorious structure； butterfly…laden strands trailed on either side of a wooden doorway； which was no more than a simple carved frame wound round with trailing roses。 Aditu had already