And was it a chance meeting, Vanye?
Yes, he cried, in a tone that shocked the silence after.
That may be, she said after a moment. But if you are correctthen it would be well to know what he has said already.
Are you ready, he asked her, to leave upon the instant?
Yes, she said, and indicated the fireside, where her belongings were neatly placed; he had none.
Outside, in the halls, there was commotion. It was not long in reaching themthe sounds of shouting, the heavy sound of steps approaching.
A heavy hand rapped at the door. Lady? one asked from outside.
Let them in, Morgaine said.
Vanye opened it, and in his other hand only his thumb held the sheath upon the longsword: a shake would free it.
Men were massed outside, a few of the marshlanders; but chief among them was the scarred Barrows-man, Fwar, with his kinsmen. Vanye met that sullen face with utter coldness, and stepped back because Morgaine had bidden it, because they were hersviolent men unlike the Aren-folk: he surmised seeing them now who had done most of the slaughter in Ohtij-in, that were murder to be ordered, they would enjoy it.
And among them, from their midst, they thrust the disheveled figure of the qujallord, thin and fragile-seeming in their rough hands. Blood dabbled the satin front of Kithans brocade garment, and his white hair was loose and wild, matted with blood from a cut on his brow.
Fwar cast the dazed halfling to the floor. Morgaine settled herself in a chair, leaned back, Changeling balanced on her knee, under her hand; she watched calmly as the former lord of Ohtij-in gathered himself to rise, but they kept him on his knees. Vanye, moving to his proper place at Morgaines shoulder, saw the force of the qujals gray eyes, no longer full of dreams, no longer distant, but filled with heat and hate.
He is Kithan, said Fwar, his scarred lips smiling.
Let him up, Morgaine said; and such hate there was in Kithan that Vanye extended his sheathed sword between, cautioning him; but the captured halfling had some sense. He stumbled to his feet and made a slight bow of the head, homage to realities.
I shall have you put with the others, Morgaine said softly. Certain others of your folk do survive, in the higher part of this tower.
For what? Kithan asked, with a glance about him.
Morgaine shrugged. For whatever these men allow.
The elegant young lordling stood trembling, wiped a bloody strand of hair from his cheek. His eyes strayed to Vanyes, who returned him no gentleness, and back again. I do not understand what is happening, he said. Why have you done these things to us?
You were unfortunate, said Morgaine.
The arrogance of that answer seemed to take Kithans breath away. He laughed after a moment, aloud and bitterly. Indeed. And what do you gain of such allies as you have? What when you have won?
Morgaine frowned, gazing at him. Fwar, she said, I do not think it any profit to hold him or his people.
We can deal with them, said Fwar.
No, she said. You have Ohtij-in; and you have my order, Fwar. Will you abide by it, and not kill them?
If that is your order, said Fwar after a moment, but there was no pleasure in it.
So, said Morgaine. Fwars kindred and Haz of Aren rule in Ohtij-in, and you rule your own kind. As for me, I am leaving when the flood permits, and you have seen the last of me, my lord Kithan.
They will kill us.
They may not. But if I were you, my lord, I would seek shelter elsewhereperhaps in Hiuaj.
There was laughter at that, and color flooded Kithans white cheeks.
Why? Kithan asked when the coarse laughter had died. Why have you done this to us? This is excessive revenge.
Again Morgaine shrugged. I only opened your gates, she said. What was waiting outside was not of my shaping. I do not lead them. I go my own way.
Not looking to what you have destroyed. Here is the last place where civilization survives. Here Kithan glanced about at the fine tapestries that hung slashed and wantonly ruined. Here is the wealth, the art of thousands of years, destroyed by these human animals.
Out there, said Morgaine, is the flood. Barrows-hold has gone; Aren is going; there is nothing left for them but to come north. It is your time; and you chose your way of meeting it, with such delicate works. It was your choice.
The qujal clenched his arms across him as at a chill. The world is going under; but this time was ours, tedious as it was, and this land was ours, to enjoy it The Wells ruined the world once, and spilled this Barrows-spawn into our landsthat drove other humans into ruin, that plundered and stole and ruined and left of us only halfbreeds, the survivors of their occupations. They tampered with the Wells and ruined their own lands; they ruined the land they took and now they come to us. Perhaps he is of that kind, he said, with a burning look at Vanye, and came through the Wells; perhaps the one named Roh came likewise. The Barrow-kings are upon us again, no different than they ever were. But someone did this thing to ussomeone of knowledge more than theirs. Someone did this, who had the power to open what was sealed.
Morgaine frowned, straightened, drawing Changeling into her lap; and of a sudden Vanye moved, seized the slight halfling to silence him, to take him from the room: but Morgaines sharp command checked him. None moved, not he nor the startled peasants, and Morgaine arose, a distraught look on her face. She withdrew a space from them, looked back at him, and to Fwar, and seemed for a moment dazed.
The Barrow-kings, she said then: there was a haunted expression in her eyes... Vanye saw it and remembered Irien, ghosts that followed her, an army, lost in that great valley: ten thousand men, of which not even corpses remained.
His ancestors, that were to her but a few months dead.
Liyo, he said quietly, his heart pounding. We are wasting time with him. Set the halfling free or put him with the others, but there are other matters that want attention. Now.
Sanity returned sharply to Morgaines gaze, a harsh look bestowed on Kithan. How long ago?
Liyo, Vanye objected. It is pointless.
How long ago?
Kithan gathered himself with an intake of breath, assumed that pose of arrogance that had been his while he ruled, despite that Vanyes fingers bit into his arm. A very long time ago. Long enough for this land to become what it is. And surely, he shot after that, pressing his advantage, you are about to bid equally with the man Roh: life, wealth, restoration of the ancient powers. Lie to me, ancient enemy. Offer to buy my favor. It isconsidering the situationpurchasable.
Kill him, Fwar muttered.
Your enemy has gone, Kithan said, to Abaraisto possess the Wells; to take all the north. Hetharu is with him, with all our forces; and eventually they will come back.
Fear was thick in the room. Morgaine stood still. The Barrows-men seemed hardly to breathe.
The Shiua spoke the same, said one of the marshlanders.
When the flood subsides, said Morgaine, then there will be a settling with Roh; and he will not return to Ohtij-in. But that is my business, and it need not concern you.
Lady, said Fwar, fear distorting his face, when you have done thatwhen you have reached the Wellswhat will you do then?