s no larger than fireflies burned within the matted threads； filling the passageway with their flickering light。 Simon； who could have sworn guiltlessly on a holy Tree that nothing lay behind the spreading oak but more trees； took a step back through the doorframe to see where such a hallway could possibly be hidden…could it pass down into the ground； somehow？…but Jiriki took his elbow and gently steered him across the threshold once more。 The door fell shut behind them。
They were pletely surrounded by lights and silken webs； as though they moved through the clouds and among the stars。 The curious sleepiness was still upon Simon： every detail was sharp and clear； but he had no idea how long they spent walking in the scintillant passage。 They came at last to a more open place； a chamber that smelled of cedar and plum blossoms and other scents more difficult to identify。 The minute and inconstant lights were fewer here； and the wide room was full of long； shuddery shadows。 From time to time the walls creaked； as though he and Jiriki stood in the hold of a ship； or inside the trunk of a tree far larger than any Simon had ever seen。 He heard a sound as of water slowly dripping； like the last drops of a rainstorm trickling from willow branches into a pool。 Half…visible shapes lined the dark walls； things shaped like people； they might have been statues； for they were certainly very still。
As Simon stared； his eyes not yet adjusted to the diminished light； something brushed against his leg。 He jumped and cried out； but a moment later the flickering lights showed him a waving tail that could only belong to a cat； the creature swiftly vanished into the darkness along the walls。 Simon caught his breath。
Strange as the place was； he decided； there was nothing truly frightening about it。 The shadowy chamber had an air of warmth and serenity unlike anything he had experienced thus far in Jao e…Tinukai'i。 Judith； the Hayholt's plump kitchen mistress； would almost have called it cozy。
〃Wele to my house；〃 a voice said from the darkness。 The pinpricks of light grew brighter around one of the shadowy figures； revealing a white…haired head and the back of a tall chair。 〃e closer； manchild。 I can see you there； but I doubt you can see me。〃
〃First Grandmother has very sharp sight；〃 Jiriki said； Simon thought he could detect a trace of amusement in the Sitha's voice。 He stepped forward。 The golden light revealed the ancient yet youthful face he had seen in Jiriki's mirror。
〃You are in the presence of Amerasu y'Senditu no'e…Sa'onserei； the Ship…Born；〃 intoned Jiriki from behind him。 〃Show respect； Seoman Snowlock。〃
Simon felt no punction about doing so。 He kneeled on wobbling legs and lowered his head before her。
〃Stand up； mortal boy；〃 she said quietly。 Her voice was deep and smooth。 It rugged at Simon's memory。 Had their short contact through the mirror burned itself so deeply on his mind？〃 〃Hmmm；〃 she murmured。 〃You are taller even than my young Willow…switch。 Will you find the manchild a stool； Jiriki； so I do not have to stare up at him？ Get yourself one； too。〃
When Simon was seated beside Jiriki； Amerasu inspected him carefully。
Simon felt suddenly tongue…tied； but curiosity vied with shyness。 He stole return glances while doing his best to avoid her almost frighteningly deep eyes。
She was much as he remembered her： shining white hair； skin tight…stretched over her fine bones。 Other than the measureless depths of her stare； the only hint of the immense age to which Jiriki had alluded was in the careful deliberation with which she assayed every movement； as though her skeleton were fragile as dried parchment。 Still； she was very beautiful。 Caught in the web of her regard； Simon imagined that in the dawn of the world Amerasu might have been as terrifyingly； blindingly splendid to look upon as the face of the sun。
〃So；〃 she said finally。 〃You are out of your depths； little fish。〃
Simon nodded。
〃Are you enjoying your visit to Jao e…Tinukai'i？ You are one of the first of your kind to e here。〃
Jiriki sat up straighter。 〃One of the first； wise Amerasu？ Not the first？〃
She ignored him； keeping her gaze fixed on Simon。 He felt himself drawn gently but helplessly into her spell of mand； a wriggling fish pulled inexorably toward the water's blinding surface。 〃Speak； manchild。 What do you think？〃
〃I。。。 I am honored to visit；〃 he said at last； then swallowed。 His throat was very dry。 〃Honored。 But。。。 but I don't want to stay in this valley。 Not forever。〃
Amerasu leaned back in her chair。 He felt himself held more loosely； though the power of her presence was still strongly upon him。 〃I'm not surprised。〃 She took a long breath； smiling sadly。 〃But you would have to be prisoned here a long while before you would be as weary of this life as I am。〃
Jiriki stirred。 〃Should I leave； First Grandmother？〃
His question gave Simon a faint tremor of fright。 He could feel the Sitha…woman's great kindness and great pain…but she was so fearfully strong！ He knew that if she wished； she could keep him here forever； just with the power of her voice and those pelling； labyrinthine eyes。
〃Should 1 leave？〃 Jiriki asked again。
〃I know it pains you to hear me speak so； Willow…switch；〃 Amerasu said。 〃But you are dearest of all my young ones and you are strong。 You can hear truth。〃 She shifted slowly in her chair； long…fingered hand settling on the breast of her white robe。 〃You； too； manchild； have known loss。 That is in your face。 But though every loss is grave； the lives as well as losses of mortals appear and fade as swiftly as the seasons turn the leaves。 I do not mean to be cruel。 Neither do I seek pity…but not you or any other mortal has seen the dry centuries roll past； the hungry millennia； seen the very light and color sucked out of your world until nothing remains but juiceless memories。〃 Strangely； as she spoke her face seemed to grow more youthful； as though her grief were the most vital thing left in her。 Now Simon could see much more than a hint of her former splendor。 He lowered his head； unable to speak。
〃Of course you have not；〃 she said； a slight tremor in her voice。 〃I have。 That is why I am here； in the dark。 It is not that I fear the light； or that I am not strong enough to stand day's brightness。〃 She laughed； a sound like a whipoorwill's mournful call。 〃No； it is only that in darkness I can see the lost days and faces of the past more clearly。〃
Simon looked up。 〃You had two sons；〃 he said quietly。 He had realized why her voice seemed so familiar。 〃One of them went away。〃
Amerasu's face hardened。 〃Both of them are gone。 What have you told him； Jiriki？ These are not tales for the small hearts of mortals。〃
〃I told him nothing。 First Grandmother。〃
She leaned forward intently。 〃Tell me of my sons。 What old legends do you know？〃
Simon swallowed。 〃One son was hurt by a dragon。 He had to go away。 He was burned…like me。〃 He touched his own scarred cheek。 〃The other。。。 the other is the Storm King。〃 As he whispered this last； Simon looked around； as though something might step toward him out of the deep shadows。 The walls creaked and water dripped； but that was all。
〃How do you know this？〃
〃I heard your voice in a dream。〃 Simon searched for words。 〃You spoke in my head for a long time when I was sleeping。〃
The Sitha…woman's beautiful face was grave。 She stared at him as though something hidden within him threatened her。 〃Do not be afraid； manchild；〃 she said at last； reaching out with her slender hands。 〃Do not fear。 And forgive me。〃
Amerasu's cool； dry fingers touched Simon's face。 The lights streamed like shreds of lightning； then flickered and faded； dropping the chamber into utter darkness。 Her grip seemed to tighten。 The blackness sang。
There was no pain； but somehow Amerasu was inside his head； a forceful presence so intimately connected to him at that moment that he felt shockingly； terrifyingly raw； an exposure far more profound than any merely physical nakedness。 Sensing his terror； she calmed him； cradling his secret self like a panicking bird until he was no longer afraid。 First Grandmother then beg