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〃Both Zida'ya and Hikeda'ya continued to e to this place after men built their castle here at Naglimund；〃 the black…haired Sitha explained。 〃Our presence frightened the mortals； though they saw us only by moonlight； and even then only rarely。 The man the Imperators had given to rule over the locality filled the fields all around with the iron that gave the place its name： Nail Fort。〃
〃I knew that the nails were there to keep out the Peaceful Ones…what we Hernystiri call your folk；〃 said Eolair； 〃but since it was built in the era when your people and ours were at peace； I could not understand why the place should have needed such defenses。〃
〃The mortal named Aeswides who had it done may have felt a certain shame that he had trespassed on our lands in building this keep so close to our city Da'ai Chikiza； on me far side of those hills；〃 Kuroyi gestured toward the east。 〃He may have feared that we would some day e and take the place back； he may also have thought that those of our folk who still made pilgrimage to this place were spies。 Who knows？ In fact； he traveled less and less out of the gates； and died at last a recluse…afraid； it was said； even to leave his own well…guarded chamber for terror of what the dreaded immortals might do。〃 Kuroyi's cool smile returned。 〃Strangely； although the world is already full of fearful things； mortals seem always to hunt for new worries。〃
〃Nor do we relinquish the old ones。〃 Eolair returned the tall Sitha's smile。 〃For； like the cut of a man's cloak； we know that the tried and true is best in the long run。 But I doubt you have brought me here only to tell about what some long…dead mortal did。〃
〃No； we have not；〃 Kuroyi agreed。 〃Since we were driven from the land at a time when we considered it better policy not to interfere； and to let the mortals build where they wished； we have unanswered questions still about this place。〃
〃And we need those questions answered now； Count Eolair；〃 Likimeya broke in。 〃So tell us： this place you call Naglimund…is it known among mortals for strangeness of any kind？ Apparitions？ Odd happenings？ Is it reputed a haunt of spirits of the dead？〃；
The count frowned as he considered。 〃I must say that I have never heard anything like that。 There are other places； many others； some within a league of my birthplace； of which I could tell you a whole night's worth of tales。 But not Naglimund。 And Prince Josua was always a lover of odd lore…I feel sure that if there were such stories； it would have been his pleasure to relate them。〃 He shook his head。 〃I am sorry to force you to tell such a long tale yourself for so little result。〃
〃We still think it likely that this place is an A…Genay'asu；〃 Jiriki said。 〃We have thought so since long before Asu'a fell。 Here； Count Eolair； you look thirsty。 Let me pour for you。〃
The Hernystirman gratefully accepted another cup of mulled 。。。 something； whatever it was； it tasted of flowers and wanned him very nicely。 〃In any case；〃 he said after he had taken a few sips； 〃what does it mean if Naglimund is such a place？〃
〃We are not certain。 That is one of the things that worries us。〃 Jiriki sat down across from Eolair and raised a slim hand。 〃We had hoped that the Hikeda'ya came here only to pay their part of the bargain with Elias； and that they had remained here because it was a way station between Stormspike and the castle that stands on Asu'a's bones。〃
〃But you do not think that any longer。〃 It was a statement； not a question。
〃No。 Our cousins have fought too hard； long past the time when they could have gained anything from resisting。 This is not the final confrontation。 However much Utuk'ku has reason to hate us； it is not a blind anger： she would not throw away the lives of so many Cloud Children to hold a useless ruin。〃
Eolair had not heard much about the Norn Queen； Utuk'ku； but what he had was shuddersome。 〃So what does she want？ What do they want？〃
Jiriki shook his head。 〃They want to remain in Naglimund。 That is all we know for certain。 And it will be dreadful work to drive them out。 I fear for you and your remaining soldiers； Count Eolair。 I fear for all of us。〃
A horrible thought occurred to the Hernystirman。 〃Forgive me； since I know little of these things…although perhaps more now than I would have wished…but you said that these Beyonding places had something to do with the secrets of 。。。 of death？〃
〃All mysteries are one mystery until they are solved；〃 said Kuroyi。 〃We have tried to learn more about Death and Unbeing from the A…Genay'asu'e； yes。〃
'These Norns we are fighting are living creatures…but their master is not。 Could they be trying to bring the Storm King 。。。 back to life？〃
Eolair's question brought neither derisive laughter nor shocked silence。
〃We have thought on this。〃 Likimeya was blunt。 〃It cannot happen。〃
〃Ineluki is dead。〃 Kuroyi spoke more softly； but with equal firmness。 〃There are some things we know about only little； but death we know very well。〃 His lips twitched in a tiny； dry smile。 〃Very well； indeed。 Ineluki is dead。 He cannot return to this world。〃
〃But you told me he was in Stormspike；〃 Eolair said to Jiriki。 〃You said that the Norns do as he bids。 Are we at war against something imaginary？〃
〃It is indeed confusing； Count Eolair；〃 Jiriki replied。 〃Ineluki…although he is not truly Ineluki any more…has no more existence than a sort of dream。 He is an evil and vengeful dream； one that possesses all the craftiness that the Storm King had in life； as well as knowledge of the ultimate darknesses no living thing has ever had 。。。 but he is only a dream； for all of that。 Trust that I speak truly。 As we can travel on the Road of Dreams； and see and feel things there； so Ineluki can speak to his followers in Nakkiga through the Breathing Harp； which is one of the greatest of the Master Witnesses…although I would guess that Utuk'ku alone has the skill even to understand him。 So he is not a thing； Eolair； with an existence in this world。〃 He gestured to the walls of the tent。 〃He is not real； like this cloth is real； like the ground is real beneath our feet。 But that does not mean he cannot do great evil。。。 and Utuk'ku and her servitors are more than real enough。〃
〃Forgive me if I seem stubborn；〃 Eolair said； 〃but I have heard much tonight that is still confused in my head。 If Ineluki cannot return； then why are the Norns so eager to hold Naglimund？〃
〃That is the question we must answer；〃 said Jiriki。 〃Perhaps they hope to use the A…Genay'asu to make their master's voice clearer。 Perhaps they intend to tap its force in some other way。 But it is clear that they want this place very much。 One of the Red Hand is here。〃
〃The Red Hand？ The Storm King's servants？〃
〃His greatest servants； since like him they have passed through death and into the outer realms。 But they cannot exist in this world without an immense expenditure of power by him every moment they are embodied； for they are almost as much of a deadly contradiction as he is。 That is why when one of them attacked us in our fastness at Jao e…Tinukai'i； we knew that the time had e to take up arms。 Ineluki and Utuk'ku must have been desperate to expend so much force to silence Amerasu。〃 He paused。 Eolair stared； bewildered by the unfamiliar names。 〃I will explain this to you at a later time； Count Eolair。〃 Jiriki stood。 〃I am sure you are weary； and we have talked much of your sleeping time away。〃
〃But this Red Hand creature is here？ Have you seen it？〃
Jiriki pointed at the campfire。 〃Do you have to touch the flames to know that the fire is hot？ He is here； and that is why we have not been able to overe their most important defenses； why we must instead knock down stone walls and struggle with sword and spear。 A large portion of Ineluki's power is burning down in the heart of Naglimund's keep。 But for all his might； the Storm King has limits。 He is spread thin 。。。 so there must be some reason he wishes this place to remain in the hands of the Hikeda'ya。〃
Eolair stood； too。 The blur of strange ideas and names had begun to tell on him： he was indeed feeling the need for sleep。 〃Perhaps the Norns' task is something to do with the Red Hand； then；〃 the count said。 〃Perhaps 。。。〃
Jiriki's smile was sad。 〃We have cursed you with our own plague of 'perhaps；' Count Eolair。 We had hoped you would give us answers； but instead we have weighed you down with questions。〃
〃I have not been free of them since old King John died。〃 He stifled a yawn。 〃So this is nothing strange。〃 He laughed。 〃What a thing to say！ It is maddeningly strange。 But not unusual。 Not in these times。〃
〃Not in these times；〃 agreed Jiriki。
Eolair bowed to Likimeya； then nodded a farewell to stone…faced Kuroyi before walking out into the cold wind。 Thoughts were buzzing in his head like flies； but he knew that nothing useful could be done about any of them。 Sleep was what he needed。 Perhaps； if he was lucky； he would sleep right through the remainder of this gods…cursed siege。
Maegwin had quietly left her tent while the weary guard…he seemed a sad a