eornoth decided that there were some things about which a God…fearing knight should not inquire。
〃Forgive me； Valada Geloe；〃 he said； 〃but you look very grim。 Is there something important you have not told us yet？〃 He indicated Sangfugol and Strangyeard； laughing with Duchess Gutrun as they rode。 〃Are we singing in the lich…yard； as the old saying goes？〃
Geloe continued to watch the sky。 From her lap； Leieth looked at him as though he were an interesting rock。 〃I fear many things； Sir Deornoth；〃 Geloe said at last。 〃The problem with being a 'wise woman' is that sometimes you know just enough to be truly afraid； while still not having any better answers than might the youngest child。 I fear this ing storm。 The one who is our true enemy…I will not say his name here in this land； not in the open…is reaching the summit of his power。 We have already seen in this cold summer how his pride and anger speak m the winds and clouds。 Now； black weather is swirling out of the north。 I am sure it is his storm； if I am right； it will bring woe to those who resist him。〃
Deornoth found himself following her gaze。 Suddenly； the ominous clouds seemed an inky hand stretching across the sky from the north； blindly but patiently searching。 The idea of waiting for that hand to find them sent a poisonous dread twisting through him； so that he had to look down at his saddle for a moment before he could lift his eyes to Geloe's yellow stare。
〃I understand；〃 he said。
Sunlight bled fitfully through chinks in the clouds。 The wind turned； blowing into their faces； heavy and moist。 As they followed the line of the valley； a broad bend in the Stefflod revealed for the first time the old forest； the Aldheorte。 The great wood was much nearer than Deornoth would have guessed…the party's return on horseback had been far swifter than their straggling march out…across the Thrithings。 Because of their descent into the river valley； the forest now stood on the heights above them； a solid line of vegetation like dark cliffs along the valley's northern rim。
〃It is not far now；〃 Geloe said。
They rode on through the afternoon as the curtained sun slid down the sky； glowing behind the gray murk。 Another turn in the river's course brought them around a cluster of shallow hills。 They stopped short。 〃Merciful Aedon；〃 Deornoth breathed to himself。 〃Sesuad'ra；〃 Geloe said。 〃There stands the Stone of Farewell。〃 〃That's no stone；〃 Sangfugol said disbelievingly。 〃That's a mountain！〃 A great hill rose from the valley floor before them。 Unlike its low； rounded neighbors； Sesuad'ra thrust up from the meadows like the head of a buried giant； bearded with trees； crowned with angular stones that stood along the ridgeline。 Beyond the spiky stones some shimmering whiteness lay along the hill's very peak。 An immense； upward…straining slab of weathered rock and clinging brush； Sesuad'ra loomed some five hundred cubits above the river。 The uneven sunlight washed across the hill in wavering bands； so that the entire mass almost seemed to turn and watch them as they rode slowly down the watercourse。
〃It is much like Thisterborg； near the Hayholt；〃 Josua said wonderingly。 〃That's no stone；〃 Sangfugol repeated stubbornly； shaking his head。 Geloe laughed harshly。 〃It is all stone。 Sesuad'ra is a part of the very bones of the earth； thrust free of her body in the pain of the Days of Fire； but still reaching down into the very center of the world。〃
Father Strangyeard was eyeing the massive hill nervously。 〃And we are going to。。。 are going to。。。 stay there？ Live there？〃 The witch woman smiled。 〃We have permission。〃
As they neared； it became apparent that the Stone was not so sheer as distance made it seem。 A path； a lighter streak through the choking trees and brush； snaked its way around the base of the hill； then appeared again farther up； spiraling summitward around the circumference of the rock until it disappeared near the crest。
〃How can trees live on such a stone； let alone thrive？〃 Deornoth asked。 〃Can they grow in the very rock？〃
〃Sesuad'ra has been broken and worn over the eons of its existence；〃 Geloe answered。 〃Plants will ever find a way； and they themselves help to further break the stone until it is crumbled to a dirt scarcely less rich than found on a Hewenshire freeholding。 〃
Deornoth frowned slightly at this reference to his birthplace； then wondered how the wise woman knew of his father's farm。 He had certainly never mentioned it to her。
Soon they were walking in the sudden twilight of the hill's long shadow； whipped by a chilly wind。 The path that began at Sesuad'ra's base lay before them； hugging the hillside； a trampled cut of grass and moss overhung by trees and twining creepers。
〃And we are going up？〃 Duchess Gutrun asked in some consternation。 〃Up into this place？〃
〃Of course；〃 Geloe said； a touch of impatience in her rough voice。 〃It is the highest ground for leagues。 We have need of high ground just now。 Besides； there are other reasons…must I explain them all again？〃
〃No； Valada Geloe； please lead us；〃Josua said。 The prince seemed fired by some inner flame； his pale face alight with excitement。 〃This is what we have been searching for。 This is where we will begin the long road back。〃 His face slackened somewhat。 〃I do wonder； though； how Hotvig and his folk will feel about leaving their wagons below。 It is a pity there is no way to get them up the hill。〃
The wise woman waved her callused hand。 〃You worry too soon Step ahead and you will have a surprise。〃
They rode forward。 Beneath the straggling grass the path that wound up the hillside was as smooth as one of old Naglimund's hallways and wide enough for any wagon。
〃But how can this be？〃Josua asked。
〃You forget；〃 Geloe responded； 〃this is a Sithi place。 Beneath this bramble is the road they built。 It takes many； many centuries to destroy the handiwork of the Zida'ya。〃
Josua was not cheered。 〃I am amazed； but now I am even more worried。 What will keep our enemies from climbing as easily as we do？〃
Geloe snorted in disgust。 〃First； it is easier to defend a high place than to take it from below。 Secondly； the nature of the place itself is against it。 Third； and perhaps most importantly； our enemy's own rage may outsmart him and ensure our survival…at least for a while。〃
〃How so？〃 the prince demanded。
〃You will see。〃 Geloe spurred her horse up the path； Leieth bobbing on the saddle before her。 The child's wide brown eyes took in everything without any show of feeling。 Josua shrugged and followed。
Deornoth turned to see Vorzheva sitting upright on her horse； face set in lines of grim fear。 〃What is it； my lady？〃 he asked。 〃Is something amiss？。〃
She offered a nervous smile。 〃My people have hated and feared this valley forever。 Hotvig is a clan…man and would not show it； but he fears this place； too。 〃 She sighed shakily。 〃Now I must follow my husband up on this unnatural rock I am afraid。〃
For the first time since his prince had brought this odd woman to live in the castle at Naglimund； Deornoth felt his heart opening to her； filling with admiration。 〃We are all deathly afraid； my lady；〃 he said。 〃The rest of us are just not as honest as you。〃
He tapped gently with his heels at Vildalix's ribs and followed Vorzheva up the path。
The road was overhung with trailing vines and the tangled branches of trees； forcing the travelers to spend as much time ducking their heads as they did riding upright。 As they slowly circled out of the shadow； like ants walking the perimeter of a sundial； the mist that clung to the hill lent an unusual sparkle to the afternoon glow。
Deornoth thought that the smell of the place was what seemed strangest of all。 Sesuad'ra gave off a scent of timeless growth； of water and roots and damp earth in a place long undisturbed。 There was an air of peace here； of slow； careful thought； but also a disturbing sensation of watchfulness。 From time to time the stillness was broken by the trill of unseen birds whose songs were as somber and hesitant as children whis… pering in a high…ceilmged hall。
As the grassy meadow began to drop away below them； the tr