Her panion sighed。 〃He thinks me a foolish wagon…girl。 It makes him cold to me。 If I tell him； it will only be worse。。。 I am sorry。〃 She angrily wiped at her face with her tattered sleeve。 〃It was seeing the Feluwelt again…that is what my people call this place； where the meadow runs in the forest's shadow。 It brought many memories to my mind； and made me unhappy。 〃
〃Valada Geloe？〃 It was Father Strangyeard's voice； sourceless in the mist； but quite near。 〃Are you there？ Valada Geloe？〃
A little frustration showed itself on Geloe's stern face。 〃Here； Strangyeard。 Is anything wrong？〃
The archivist appeared； a lanky； flapping shape materializing from gray obscurity。 〃No； no； I just wanted to。。。〃 He stopped； staring at Vorzheva's tear…stained face。 〃Oh。 Oh； I'm so terribly sorry。 How rude of me。 I will leave you。〃 He turned to lurch off into the mist once more。
〃Don't go！〃 Strangely； it was Vorzheva who spoke。 〃Do not leave us； Father。 Walk with us。 〃
Strangyeard looked at her； then to Geloe。 〃I do not wish to intrude； Lady。 I fear I was thinking only of something I found in Morgenes' book。 〃 Eyepatch askew； thin fringe of reddish hair curling in the damp； he looked like a startled woodpecker。 He seemed about to bolt once more； but the witch woman raised a calming hand。
〃Walk with us； Strangyeard； as Vorzheva said。 Perhaps your need is one for which my talents are better suited。〃 The priest looked at her nervously。 〃e。 We will walk back toward the others as we talk。〃
Strangyeard was still carrying the loose sheaves of Morgenes' book in his hand； after a few silent paces he began to leaf through them。 〃I'm afraid I've lost the section；〃 he said； shuffling the parchments。 〃I thought it might be significant…it was a bit about magic…The Art； that's what Morgenes called it。 I'm amazed by the things he knew； quite amazed。。。 I would never have dreamt。。。 〃 A triumphant smile came to his face。 〃Here it is。 〃 He squinted。 〃Wonderful way with words。 〃
They walked several more paces in silence。 〃Will you read？〃 Geloe asked at last。
〃Oh！ Of course。〃 Strangyeard cleared his throat。
〃。。。In truth； articles useful to The Art seem to fall into two broad categories；〃 the pnest began； 〃those whose worth is bound in themselves； and those whose worth is bound in their derivation。 In contradiction to popular superstition； an herb gathered in a graveyard is not generally useful because it came from such a place； but rather because of the herb itself。 Since a graveyard may be the only place that herb is found； the connection bees established and is then almost impossible to disentangle。
〃The other category of useful objects are usually 'made' objects； and their virtue is in their shaping or their raw beginnings。 The Sithi； who have long possessed secrets of crafting hidden from mortals； made many things whose creation itself was a practice of The Art…although the Sithi would not exactly term it so。 Thus； the virtue of these objects is in their making。 The famous arrows of Vindaomeyo are an example： carved from mon wood and fletched with the feathers of ordinary birds； yet each one is a talisman of great worth。
〃Other objects take their power from the stuff of their making。 The great swords alluded to in Nisses' lost book are examples here。 All feem to derive their worth from their materials； although the crafting of each was a mighty task。 Minneyar； King Fingil's sword； was made of the iron keel of his boat； iron brought to Osten Ard by the Rimmersman sea…raiders out of the lost west。 Thorn； most recently the sword of Prester John's noblest knight； Sir Camaris； was forged from the glowing metals of a fallen star…like Minneyar 's iron； something foreign to Osten Ard。 And Sorrow； the sword that Nisses claims Ineluki of the Sithi used to slay his own father the Erl…king； was made of Sithi witchwood and iron； two elements long thought to be antithetical and unmixable。 Thus； such objects derive their strength primarily； it would seem； from the unearthly origins of their substance。 Stories tell； however； that powerful Spells of Making were also wound in the forging of all these three blades； so the power of the Great Swords may e from both their substance and their making。
〃Ti…tuno； the hunting horn crafted in fabled Mezutu'a from the tooth of the dragon Hidohehbi； is another clear example of how sometimes an object of power may be made by both the crafting and the materials crafted。。。〃
Strangyeard broke off。 〃It goes on to talk of other things。 It is all fascinating； of course…what a scholar that man was'…but I thought the section on the swords might be interesting。〃
Geloe nodded her head slowly。 〃It is。 I wondered about these three swords that have bee the object of our hopes。 Morgenes seems to make a good argument as to the reason for their value。 Perhaps they will indeed be useful against Ineluki。 It is good that you found that； Strangyeard。〃
The priest's pink cheeks went a deeper red。 〃Too kind。 You're too kind。〃
Geloe cocked her head。 〃I hear the others。 Are you posed； Vorzheva？〃
Vorzheva nodded her head。 〃I am not such a fool as you think me；〃 she said quietly。
The witch woman laughed。 〃I do not think you a fool； particularly。 I think most people are foolish…and I count myself as well； for here I am without a roof； wandering over the grasslands like a stray heifer。 Some… times obvious foolishness is the only answer to grave problems。〃
〃Hmmm；〃 said Strangyeard； baffled。 〃Hmmm。〃
The ragged band continued out onto the fog…ridden meadowlands； heading south toward the river Ymstrecca； which meandered along the breadth of the High Thrithings。 They made camp on the open plain； shivering in the rain…sodden wind； huddling close to their small fire。 Geloe made a soup of herbs and roots she had gathered。 It was filling and warmed the stomach； but Deornoth mourned the absence of something more toothsome。
〃Tomorrow let me go farther afield； my lord；〃 he implored Josua as they sat by the fire。 All the others but Geloe had wrapped themselves in their cloaks to sleep； bundled close together like a family of sleeping kittens。 The witch woman had gone a…wandenng。 〃I know I could find a hare or two； and the underbrush must be full of grouse； even in this cold summer。 We have had no meat for several days！〃
Josua permitted himself a chilly smile。 〃I wish I could say yes； faithful friend； but I need your strong arms and good wit close by。 These people can scarcely walk another step…those who can still walk； that is。 No； a brace of hares would be tasty indeed； but I must keep you here。 Besides； Valada Geloe tells me that one can live years without tasting meat。〃
Deornoth grimaced。 〃But who would want to？〃 He studied his prince carefully。 Josua's already slender frame had grown even thinner； the play of his bones was plain beneath the skin。 With what little fat he had worn long gone； the prince's high forehead and pale eyes made him seem a statue of some ancient philosopher…monk； his gaze fixed always upon the infinite while the busy world spun on before him； ignored。
The fire hissed； working away at the damp wood。 〃One other question； then； my lord；〃 Deornoth said softly。 〃Are we so sure of this Stone of Farewell that we should drag these sick； wounded people across the Thrithings in search of it？ I speak no ill of Geloe； who is plainly a good…hearted soul； but to go so far？ The edge of Erkynland is only a few leagues to the west。 Surely we could find a loyal heart in one of the towns of the Hasu Vale…even if they were too frightened of your brother the king to give us shelter； we could find food and drink and warmer clothing for our wounded； surely。〃
Josua sighed and rubbed his eyes。 〃Perhaps； Deornoth； perhaps。 Believe me； the thought has occurred to me。〃 He stretched his long legs before him； nudging at the edge of the coals with his boot heel。 〃But we cannot risk it； nor can we spare the time。 Every hour we walk in the open means more time for one of Ellas' patrols to find us； or something worse to catch us unprotected。 No； the only place that it seems we can go is Geloe's Stone of Farewell； so the sooner we do； the better。 Erkynland is lo