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Tiamak squatted beside Aditu。 She was dressed in mortal clothes； pale breeches and a jacket made of hide； neither of them heavy enough for the weather…but Sithi cared little about weather； Tiamak reminded himself。 She was breathing shallowly； and one hand was curled into a fist。 Something about the way her long fingers were bent caught Tiamak's interest； he opened her hand。 Her grip was surprisingly strong。
Nestled in Aditu's palm was a small round mirror； scarcely larger than an aspen leaf。 Its frame was a narrow ring of what appeared to be shiny bone； minutely carved。 Tiamak lifted it up and balanced it gently in his own hand。 It was heavy for its size and oddly warm。
A tingling； prickling sensation crept through his fingers。 He tilted the mirror so that he could see his face reflected； as he moved the angle； he could find no trace of his own features； but only roiling darkness。 He brought it closer to his face and felt the tingling grow more pronounced。
Something struck his wrist。 The mirror tumbled from his hand onto the damp ground。
〃Leave it。〃 Aditu withdrew her hand and let herself fall back； covering her eyes with her long fingers。 Her voice was thin and strained。 〃Do not touch it； Tiamak。〃
〃You are awake！〃 He looked at the mirror where it lay in the grass； but felt no particular urge to flout Aditu's warning。
〃Yes； I am now。 Were you sent to take care of me？ To heal me？〃
〃To watch over you； anyway。〃 He moved a little closer to her。 〃Are you well？ Is there anything I can get you？〃
〃Water。 Some snowmelt would be a good thing。〃
Tiamak scrambled out from under the heavy cloth and scooped up a double handful of snow； then brought it back。 〃I have no cup or bowl。〃
〃It does not matter。〃 She sat up； not without effort； and received it in her cupped palms。 She pushed some of it into her mouth and rubbed the rest on her face。 〃Where is the mirror？〃
Tiamak pointed。 Aditu bent and plucked it from the grass； a moment later； her hand was empty again。 Tiamak had not seen where she put it。 〃What happened to you？〃 he asked。 〃Do you know？〃
〃Yes and no。〃 She pressed her hands against her face。 〃You have learned something of the Witnesses？〃
〃A little。〃
'The Dream Road； the place we Zida'ya go when we use such Witnesses as the mirror you held for a moment； has been almost pletely barred to us since Amerasu Ship…Born was slain in the Yasira。 Because of this； I have not been able to confer with Jiriki or Likimeya my mother or any of my people since I left them。 But I have been thinking about the things you and Strangyeard asked me…even though； as I told you； I have no answers myself。 I agree that your questions may be very important。 I hoped that since we are now closer to my kin； perhaps I could somehow let them know I needed to speak with them。〃
〃And you failed？〃
〃Worse than that； I may have done something foolish。 I underestimated how things have changed on the Dream Road。〃
Tiamak the Scrollbearer； glutton for knowledge； was starting to settle in for the tale before he remembered his nominal duty。 〃Is there anything else I can bring to you； Lady Aditu？〃
She smiled at something； but did not explain。 〃No； I am well。〃
〃Then please tell me what you meant about the Dream Road。〃
〃I will tell you what I can…but there is a reason I said 'yes and no' when you asked whether I knew what had happened。 I am not quite sure what did happen。 The Road of Dreams was far more chaotic than I have ever found it； but that I expected。 What I did not expect was some terrible thing to be waiting for me there。〃
Tiamak was uneasy。 〃What do you mean； a 'thing'？ A demon？ One of our 。。。 enemies？〃
〃It was not like that。〃 Aditu's amber eyes narrowed in concentration。 〃It was 。。。 a structure； I suppose。 Something very powerful and very strange that had been'。。。 built there。 There is no other word。 It was something as huge and menacing in its own way as the castle that Josua plans to attack here in the waking world。〃
〃A castle？〃 Tiamak was mystified。
〃Nothing so simple； nothing so much like anything you know。 It was a construction of the Art； I believe…an intelligent construction； not like the shadow…things that spontaneously spring into being along the Other Ways。 It was a maelstrom of smoke and sparks and black energies…a thing of great power； something that must have been long in the building。 I have never seen or heard of anything like it。 It caught me up as a whirlwind draws in a leaf； and I only barely won free again。〃 She pressed her temples again。 〃I was lucky； I think。〃
〃Is it a danger to us？ And if it is； is there anything you can think of that might help solve this riddle？〃 The Wrannaman was reminded of his earlier thought about unfamiliar ground： this was territory about which he knew nothing。
〃I find it hard to believe that such an unusual thing would not have something to do with Ineluki and the other events of these days。〃 She paused； considering。 〃One thought I had might mean something； although it means nothing to me。 When I first perceived it； I heard or felt the word 'Sumy'asu。' In the speech of the Gardenborn； that means 'The Fifth House。' 〃
〃The Fifth House？〃 repeated Tiamak； mystified。
〃Yes。〃 Aditu lay back。 〃It means nothing to me； either。 But that was the name I heard when I first encountered this powerful thing。〃
〃I will ask Strangyeard；〃 said Tiamak。 〃And I suppose we should tell Josua； too。 In any case； he will be relieved to hear you are well。〃
〃I am tired。 I think I will lie here quietly a while and think。〃 Aditu made a gesture unfamiliar to the Wrannaman。 〃My thanks to you； Tiamak。〃
〃I did nothing。〃
〃You did what you could。〃 She closed her eyes and leaned back。 〃The Ancestors may understand all this…but I do not。 I am frightened。 I would give much to speak to my kin。〃
Tiamak rose and made his way back out onto the Kynslagh's snowy shores。
The cart rolled to a stop and the wooden wheels fell silent。 The Count of Nad Mullach was certain that he would be very tired of the painful sound of their creaking by the time his journey was finished。
〃Here we say farewell；〃 he called to Isorn。 He left his horse in the care of one of the soldiers and walked through the snow to the young Rimmersman； who dismounted and embraced him。
〃Farewell； indeed。〃 Isorn looked to the cart and Maegwin's shrouded body。 〃I cannot tell you my sorrow。 She deserved better。 So do you； Eolair。〃
The count gave him a last handclasp。 〃In my experience；〃 he said with more than a touch of bitterness； 〃the gods do not seem to care much what their servants deserve…or at least the rewards they give are too subtle for my understanding。〃 He closed his eyes for a moment。 〃But enough。 She is dead； and all the lamenting in the world； all the railing against Heaven； cannot bring her back。 I will bury her with her loved ones and then I will help Inahwen and the rest of my folk do what they can to rebuild。〃
〃And after that？〃
Eolair shook his head。 〃I think that depends on whether the Sithi are able to stop Elias and his ally。 I hope you do not think I wish you ill luck if I say that we may keep the caves of the Grianspog prepared in case we need them again。〃
Isorn smiled thinly。 〃You would be a fool not to。〃
〃And you will go with them？ Your own people will be looking for help； now that Skali is gone。〃
〃I know。 But I must find my family； and Josua。 My wounds have healed well enough that I can ride； so I will go with the Sithi。 The only mortal； I will be。 It will get lonely on the way to Erchester。〃
Eolair smiled。 〃The way that Jiriki's folk ride； I do not think it will be a long journey。〃 He looked to his ragged troop of men。 He knew that they preferred crossing the blizzard…ridden Frostmarch to any more travels with the immortals。 〃But if things go in such a way that the men of Hernystir are needed； send word to Hernysadharc。 I will find a way to e。〃
〃I know。〃
〃Fare you well； Isorn。〃
Eolair turned and walked back toward his horse。 As he mounted； Likimeya and Jiriki； who had been hanging back； rode toward them。
〃Men of Hernystir。〃 Likimeya's eyes were bright beneath her black helm。 〃Know that we honor you。 Not since the days of Prince Sinnach have your folk and ours fought side by side。 Your fallen lie with our own dead； both here and in your home country。 We thank you。〃
Eolair wanted to ask the stern…faced Sitha what value there had been in the deaths of four score Hernystiri； but this was not the time to remence such an argument。 His men stood； nervous but silent； wanting only to be on their way。
〃You freed Hernystir from a great scourge；〃 he replied dutifully。 There were observances that had to be made。 〃We thank you and honor you； as well。〃
〃May you find some peace at the end of your journey； Count Eolair；〃 said Jiriki。 His dark blade Indreju hung at his hip。 He； too； was armored and looked every bit as much a strange warrior god as his mother。 〃And when you find it； may it last。〃
〃May Heaven preserve you。〃 Eolair swung up into his saddle； then waved his arm； signaling the carter。 The wheels slo