Chapter 15

  THREEDAYSLATERATSUHEYCROSSEDTHEBORDERsouthofthetwofortsandDeviiganaforthefirsttimesincehisfatherhadcarriedhimawayasachild.

  OnlythemoststrugglingmusiscameintoLowerCorte,thepaniesdownontheirluddesperatefagementsofanykind,howeverslightthepay,howevergrimtheambience.EvensolongaftertheTyrantshadquered,theitiperformersofthePalmkhatLowereantbadludworsewages,andaseriousriskoffallingafouloftheYgratheheriheprovitheboinginorout.

  Itwasntasifthestorywasntknown:theLowerCorteanshadkilledBrandinsson,andtheywerepayingapribloodandmoneyandbrutallyheavyoppressionforthat.Itdidnotmakeforagenialsetting,theartistsoftheroadsagreed,talkingitoverintavernsorhospiFerrautorCorte.Onlythehungryorthenewlybeguuredtotaketheill-paying,risk-ladenjobsinthatsadprovihesouthwest.BythetimeDevinhadjoinedhimMenicodiFerrauthadbeentravelingforaverylongtimeandhadmorethanenoughofareputationtobeabletoeschearticularohenineprovinces.

  Therewassorceryinvolvedtheretoo;noonereallyuoodit,butthetravelersoftheroaderstitiouslotand,givenaive,fewwouldwillinglyveoaplacewheremagicwasknowwork.EveryoheproblemsyoucouldfindinLowerCorte.Everyohestories.

  SothiswasthefirsttimeforDevin.Throughthelasthoursofridingindarknesshehadbeenwaitingforthemomentofpassage,knowingthatsiheyhadglimpsedFortSihofthemsometimeago,theborderhadtobenear,knowingwhatlayoherside.

  Andnow,withthefirstpalelightofdawnrisingbehiheyhadetothelineofboundarysthatstretorthandsouthbetweewoforts,andhehadlookedupattheoftheold,worn,smoothmonoliths,andhadriddenpastit,hadcrossedtheborderintoTigana.

  Andhefoundtohisdismaythathehadnoideawhattothink,howtoresposcatteredandfused.HehadshivereduntrollablyafewhowhentheysawthedistantlightsofSinaveindarkness,hisimaginatiolesslyatwork.I’llbehomesoooldhimself.InthelandwhereIwasborn.

  Now,ridipastthe,Devinlookedaroundpulsively,searg,astheslowspreadoflightclaimedtheskyahetopsofhillsandtreesandfinallybathedthespringtimeworldasfarashecouldsee.

  Itwasalandscapemuchlikewhattheyhadbeenridingthroughforthepasttwodays.Hilly,withdenseforestsrangingihontherisingslopes,andthemountainsvisiblebeyond.Hesawadeerliftitsheadfromdrinkingatastream.Itfrozeforamigthem,andthenrememberedtoflee.

  Theyhadseendeeriando,too.

  Thisishome!Devintoldhimselfagain,reagfortheresposhouldbeflowing.Inthislandhisfatherhadmetandwooedhismother,heandhisbrothershadbeenborn,andfrarindiTiganahadflednorthward,aithinfantsons,esgthekillingangerofYgrath.Deviopictureit:hisfatheronacart,ohetwinsobesidehim,theother—theymusthavetakenturns—inthebackwithwhatgoodstheyhad,cradlingDevininhisarmsastheyrodethrougharedsudarkenedbysmokeandfiresonthehorizon.

  ItseemedafalsepictureinsomewayDevincouldnothaveexplained.Or,iflyfalse,itwasunrealsomehow.Tooeasyanimage.Thethingwas,itmighteverue,itmightbeexactlytrue,butDevindidntknow.Hecouldntknow.Hehadnomemories:ofthatride,ofthisplaoroots,nohistory.Thiswashome,butitwasnt.ItwasntreallyevenTiganathroughwhichtheyrode.Hehadnever

  evehatilhalfayearago,letaloneanystories,legends,iclesofitspast.

  ThiswastheprovinceofLowerCorte;sohehadknownitallhislife.

  Heshookhishead,edgy,profoundlyuled.BesidehimErleinglancedover,anironicsmileplayingabouthislips.WhichmadeDevinevenmoreirritable.AheadofthemAlessanwasridingalone.

  Hehadntsaidawordsiheborder.

  Hehadmemories,Devinknew,andinawaythatheasoddoreventwistedheehePrihoseimages,howeverpainfultheymightbe.Theywouldberootedandabsoluteandshapedofthisplacewhichwastrulyhishome.

  WhateverAlessanwasfeelingorrememberingnowwouldhavenothingoftheunrealaboutit.Itwouldallberaw,brutallyactual,thetrampledfabricofhisownlife.Devintried,ridingthroughthecheerfulbirdsongofagloriousspringm,toimagihePrincemightbefeelihoughtthathecould,butonlyjust:aguessmorethananythingelse.Amongotherthings,perhapsfirstofallthings,Alessanwasgoingtoaplacewherehismotherwasdying.Nowonderhehadurgedhishorseahead;nowonderhewasntspeakingnow.

  Heisentitled,Devinthought,watgthePrinceride,straight-backedandself-tainedinfrontofthem.Hesentitledtowhateversolitude,whateverreleaseheneeds.Whathecarriesisthedreamofapeople,andmostofthemdontevenknowit.

  Andthinkingso,hefoundhimselfdrawnoutofhisownfusion,hisstrugglingadjustmenttowheretheywere.FogonAlessanhefoundhisaveopassionagaintotheburninginwardrespoowhathadhappenedhere—andwasstillhappening.Everyhourofeverydayintheransacked,broken-downprovinamedLowerCorte.

  Andsomewhereinhisminda—fruitsofalongwihought,andoflisteninginsilenceasolderandwisermenspoke—Devihathewasnotthefirstandwouldhelastpersontofindinasihedefiningshapeandlisforthesomuchharderloveofanabstraoradream.

  Itwasthen,lookingallaroundatthesweepoflanduhewidearchofahighbluesky,thatDevisomethingpluckatthestringsofhisheartasifit.Asifhewere.Hefeltthedrummingofhishorseshoovesonthehardearth,followingfastbehindthePrinditseemedtoDevinthatthatdrummingwaswiththeharp-stringsastheygalloped.

  Theirdestinywaswaitingforthem,brilliantinhismindlikethecoloredpavilionsontheplainoftheTriadGamesthattookplaceeverythreeyears.Whattheyweredoingnowmattered,itakeadiffereheywereridingattheveryterofeventsiime.Devisomethingpullhimforward,liftingandbearinghimintotheriptide,themaelstromofthefuture.Intowhathislifewouldhavebeenaboutwhenitwasover.

  HesawErleinglanceain,andthistimeDevinsmiledbackathim.Agrim,fiercesmile.Hesawthehabitual,reflexiveirohewizardsleanface,replacedbyaflickerofdoubt.Devinalmostfeltsorryforthemanagain.

  ImpulsivelyheguidedhishorseoErleinsbrownandleanedovertosqueezetheothermansshoulder.

  "Weregoingtodoit!"hesaidbrightly,almostgaily.

  Erleinsfaceseemedtopinchitselftogether."Youareafool,"hesaidtersely."Ayoung,ignorantfool."Hesaiditwithoutvithough,aninstinctiveresponse.

  Devinlaughedaloud.

  Laterhewouldrememberthismomenttoo.Hiswords,Erleins,hislaughteruhebright,bluecloudlesssky.ForestsandthemountainsontheirleftandiancebeforethemnowthefirstglimpseoftheSperion,aglintingribbonflowingswiftlynorthbefinningitscurvewesttofindthe

  sea.

  TheSanctuaryofEannalayinahighvalleysetwithieringandisolatingcircleofhillssouthaoftheRiverSperionandofwhathadbeenAvalle.ItwasnotfarfromtheroadthathadoncebornesueoftradebadforthfromTiganaandQuileiathroughthehighsaddlebackoftheSfaroniPass.

  InallnineprovincesEannaspriestsandMorians,andthepriestessesofAdaonhadsuchretreats.

  Foundedinout-of-theartsofthepeninsula—sometimesdramaticallyso—theyservedastersoflearningandteagforthenewlyinitiatedclergy,repositoriesofwisdomandofthesoftheTriad,andasplacesofwithdrawal,wherepriestsandpriestesseswhoightlaydownthepadburdensoftheworldoutsideforatimeorforalifetime.

  Andnotjusttheclergy.Membersofthelaitywouldsometimesdothesame,iftheycouldafford"tributions"thatwerejudgedasappropriatesfortheprivilegeofshelteringforaspaceofdaysoryearswithintheambitoftheseretreats.

  MahereasonsthatledpeopletotheSanctuaries.IthadlongbeehatthepriestessesofAdaohebestbirthdoctorsinthePalm,sonumerouswerethedaughtersofdistinguishedormerelywealthyhousesthatelectedtosojournatohegodsretreatsattimesthatmightotherwisehavebeeninvefortheirfamilies.And,ofcourse,itwaswellknownthataerminatelyhighpertageoftheclergywereculledfromthelivingsthesesamedaughtersleftbehiheyreturheirhomes.GirlchildrenstayedwithAdaon,theboyswenttoMoriae-robedpriestsofEannahadalwaysclaimedthattheywouldhavenothingtodowithsuchgoings-on,buttherewerestoriesbelyingthat,aswell.

  Littleofthishadgedwheyrantscame.herBrandinnorAlbericowassorecklessorill-advisedastostiruptheclergyoftheTriadagainsttheirrule.ThepriestsandthepriestesseswereallowedtodoastheyhadalwaysdohepeopleofthePalmweregraheirworship,oddandevenprimitiveasitmightseemtothenewrulersfromoverseas.

  WhatbothTyrantsdiddo,withgreaterorlessersuccess,laytherivaltemplesagainsteachother,seeing—foritossiblenottosee—thetensionsandhostilitiesthatrippledandflaredamohreeordersoftheTriad.Therewasnothihis:everyDuke,GrandDuke,orPrihepeninsulahadsought,ineaeration,toturnthisshiftingthree-wayfritohisownat.Manypatternsmighthavegedwiththecirgofyears,somethingsmightgepastallreition,andsomemightbelotteirely,butnotthisothisdelicate,reciprocaldaateandclergy.

  Andsothetemplesstillstood,aimportaillflourishedtheirgoldandmachial,theirstatuary,andtheircloth-of-goldvestmentsforservices.Saveinoneplaly:inLowerCorte,wherethestatuesandthegoldweregohelibrarieslootedandburhatartofsomethihough,andfewspokeofitaftertheearliestyearsoftheTyrants.Eveninthisbenightedproviheclergywereotherwiseallowedtotihepreciselymeasuredroundoftheirdaysincityandtown,andintheirSanctuaries.

  Andtotheseretreatscameagreatvarietyofmenandwomenfromtimetotime.Itwasnotonlytheawkwardlyfedwhofoundreasontorideorbecarriedawayfromtheturbuleheirlives.Intimesofstrife,whetherofthesoulorthewiderworld,thedenizensofthePalmalwayskhattheSanctuarieswerethere,perchedinsnowboundprecipitouseyriesorhalf-lostintheirmistyvalleys.

  Andthepeopleknewaswellthat—foraprice—suchawithdrawalintimen,thecarefullymodulatedhoursofretreatssuchasthisoneofEannainitsvalley,couldbetheirs.Foratime.Foralifetime.Whoevertheymighthavebeeniiesbeyondthehills.

  Whoevertheymighthavebeen.

  Foratime,foralifetime,theoldwomanthought,lookingoutthewindowofherroomatthevalleyin

  sunlightatspriurn.Shehadneverbeeokeepherthoughtsfromgoingback.Therewassomuchwaitingforheriandsolittlehere,now,livingthroughtheagonizinglyslowdestoftheyears.Seasonafterseasonfallingtotheearthlikeshotbirds,arrowsintheirbreasts,throughthislifetimethatwasherown,andheronlyone.

  Alifetimeofremembering,bycurlewscryatdawnorcalltoprayer,bydlelightatdusk,bysightofeysmokerisingstraightanddarkintowinterswangraylight,bythedrivingsoundofrainonroofandwindowatwintersend,bythecreakofherbedatnight,bycalltoprayeragain,bydroneofpriestsatprayer,byastarfalliinthesummersky,bythesterncolddarkoftheEmberDays...amemorywithineadeverymotionoftheselforoftheworld,everysound,eachshareofcolor,eachstborhevalleywind.Aremembranceofwhathadbeenlosttohisplaceamoe-robedpriestswiththeirunendingritesandtheirunendiiness,andtheiracceptanceofwhathadhappehemall.

  Whichlastiswhathadnearlykilledherintheearlyyears.Whideed,shewouldsay—hadsaidlastweektoDanoleon—waskillinghernow,whateverthepriest-physimightsayaboutgrowthsinherbreast.

  TheyhadfoundaHealerinthefall.Hehade,anxious,febrile,alank,sloppymanwithnervousmotionsandaflushedbrow.Buthehadsatdownbesideherbedandlookedather,andshehadrealizedthathedidhavethegift,forhisagitationhadsettledandhisbrowhadcleared.Aouchedher—here,andhere—hishandhadbeensteadyandtherehadbeennopain,onlyanotunpleasantweariness.

  Hehadshakenhisheadthoughintheend,andshehadreadanuedgriefinhispaleeyes,thoughhecouldnothaveknownwhoshewas.Hissorrowwouldbeforsimpleloss,fordefeat,nwhoitwaswhomightbedying.

  "Itwouldkillme,"hesaidquietly."Ithasetoofar.IwoulddieandIwouldnotsaveyou.ThereisnothingIdo.”

  "Howlong?"shehadasked.Heronlywords.

  Hetoldherhalfayear,perhapsless,dependingonhshewas.

  H?Shewasverystrong.MoresothananyofthemguessedsaveperhapsDanoleon,whohadknownherlobyfar.ShesenttheHealerfromtheroom,andaskedDaoleave,aheoneslowservantthepriestshadallowedtothewomantheyknewonlyasawidowfromaenorthofStevanien.

  Asithappenedshehadactuallyknownthewomanwhoseidentityshehadassumed;hadhadherasoheladiesofhercourtforatime.Afair-hairedgirl,greeneyesandaneasymanner,quicktolaugh.

  Melionaro.Awidowforaweek;lessthanthat.ShehadkilledherselfinthePalacebytheSeawhenwordcameofSedDeisa.

  Thedeceptionwasanecessaryshieldingofidentity:Danoleonssuggestion.Almosteenyearsago.Theywouldbelookingforherandfortheboy,theHighPriesthadsaid.Theboyhewastakingaway,hewouldsoonbesafelygoheirdreamscarriedinhisperson,ahopelivingsolongashelived.

  Shehadbeenfair-hairedherself,inthosedays.Ithadallhappenedsuchalongtimeago.ShehadbeelionaroandhadetotheSanctuaryofEannainitshighvalleyaboveAvalle.

  AboveStevanien.

  Hade,andhadwaited.Throughthegingseasonsandtheungingyears.Waitedforthatboytogrowintoamansuchashisfatherhadbeen,orhisbrothers,andthendowhatadesdantilineofMicaelaandthegodshouldkodo.

  Hadwaited.Seasonafterseason;shotbirdsfallingfromthesky.

  UntillastautumheHealerhadtoldherthecoldlargethingshehadalreadyguessedforherself.Halfayear,hehadsaid.Ifshewasstrong.

  Shehadsentthemfromherroomandlaininherironbedandlookedoutattheleavesonthevalleytrees.Thegeofcolorshade.Shehadlovedthatonce;herfavoriteseasonforriding.Asagirl,asawoman.Ithadoccurredtoherthatthesewouldbethelastfallleavesshewouldeversee.

  Shehadturnedhermindfromsuchthoughtsandhadbeguntocalculate.Daysandmonths,andthenumberingoftheyears.Shehaddohmetictwidathirdtimetobesureofit.ShesaidnothingtoDanoleon,notthen.Itwastoosoon.

  Notuntiltheendofwinter,withalltheleavesgoneabeginningtomeltfromtheeaves,didshesummontheHighPriestandinstructhimastothelettershewantedsenttotheplacewheresheknew—asheknew,aloneofallthepriests—hersonwouldbeontheEmberDaysthatbeganthisspring.

  Shehaddohecalculations.Manytimes.

  Shehadalsotimeditverywell,andnotbyce.ShecouldseeDanoleonwantingtoprotest,todissuade,tospeakofdangersandcircumspe.Butthegroundwasoutfromunderhisfeet,shecouldseeitinthewayhislargehandsgrewrestlessandthewayhisblueeyesmovedabouttheroomasifseekinganargumentonthebarewalls.Shewaitedpatientlyforhimtomeethergazeatlast,assheknewhewould,andthenshesawhimslowlybowhisheadiance.

  Howdidonedenyamother,dying,amessagetoheronlylivingchild?AreatytothatchildtoebidherfarewellbeforeshecrossedovertoMorian.Especiallywhenthatchild,theboyhehimselfhadguidedsouthoverthemountainssomanyyearsago,washerlastlinktowhatshehadbeen,toherownbrokendreamsadreamsofherpeople?

  Danoleonpromisedtowritetheletterandhaveitsent.Shethankedhimandlaybaherbedafterhewentout.Shewasgenuinelyweary,genuinelyinpain.Hangingon.ItwouldbehalfayearjustpasttheEmberDays.Shehaddohenumbers.Shewouldbealivetoseehimifhecame.Andhewoulde;sheknewhewouldetoher.

  Thewindowhadbeenopenalittlethoughitwasstillcoldthatday.Outside,thesnowhadlailedriftingfoldsinthevalleyanduptheslopesofthehills.Shehadlookedoutuponitbutherthoughts,uedly,hadbeenofthesea.Dry-eyed,forshehadsinceeverythingfell,notoever,shewalkedhermemory-palacesoflongagoandsawthewaveseintobreakandfalloesandsoftheshore,leavingshellsandpearlsandiftsalongthecurvingbeach.

  SoPasitheadiTiganabrenSerazi.Onceaprincessinapalacebythesea;motheroftwodeadsons,andofonewhoyetlived.Waiting,aswinterhemountainsturinthatyear.

  "Twothings.First,wearemusis,"saidAlessan."Anewlyformedpany.Sedly:donotusemyhere."Hisvoicehadtakenontheclipped,hardcesDevinrememberedfromthefirstnightintheSandrenilodgewhenthishadallbegunforhim.

  Theywerelookingdownonavalleyrunniintheclearlightofafternoon.TheSperionlaybehiheuneven,narrowroadhadwounditswayforhoursuparoundtheshouldersofanasdingsequenceofhillsuntilthishighestpoint.Andnowthevalleyunrolledbeforethem,treesandgrasstouchedbytheearliestgreen-gold.Atributarystream,swift-runningwiththemeltingsnows,slantednorthwestoutofthefoothills,flashingwithlight.ThetempledomeinthemidstoftheSanctuarygleamedsilverinthemiddledistance.

  "Whathen?"Erleinaskedquietly.Heseemedsubdued,whetherbecauseofAlessanstoheawarenessofdanger,Devindidnotknow.

  "Adreano,"thePrincesaid,afteramoment."IamAdreanodAstibartoday.Iwillbeapoetforthisreunion.Forthistriumphant,joyoushomeing.”

  Devinrememberedtheheyoudeath-wheeledbyAlbericolastwinter,afterthesdalofthe"SandreniElegies."HelookedcloselyatthePrinomentandthenaway:thiswasnotadaytoprobe.Ifhewashereforanyreasonitwastotry,somehow,tomakethingseasierforAlessan.Hedidntknoasgoingtogoaboutdoingthatthough.Hefeltbadlyoutofhisdepthagain,his

  earlierrushofexcitementfadingbeforethegrimnessofthePrincesmanner.

  Southofthem,tabovethevalley,thepeaksoftheSfareloomed,highereventhanthemountainsaboveCastleBorso.Therewassnowonthepeaksahemiddleslopes;winterdidreatsoswiftlythishighup,thisfarsouth.Belowthemthough,northofthetouredfoothills,intheshelteredeastwestrunningofthevalleyDevincouldseegreenbudsswellingorees.Agreyhawkhunginanupdraftforamoment,almostmotionless,beforewheelingsouthanddowagainstthebackdropofthehills.DownonthevalleyfloortheSanctuaryseemedtoliewithinitswallslikeapromiseofpeadserenity,edawayfromalltheevilsoftheworld.

  Deviwasnotso.

  Theyrodedown,nothurryingnow,forthatwouldhavebeenunusualinthreemusisehereatmidday.Devinwaskeenly,anxiouslyawareofdahemanhewasridingbehindwasthelastheirtoTigana.HewonderedwhatBrandinofYgrathwoulddotoAlessanifthePrincewasbetrayedandtakenaftersomanyyears.HerememberedMariusofQuileiainthemountainpass:Doyoutrustthismessage?

  DevinhadrustedthepriestsofEannainhiswholelife.Theyweretooshrewd,byfarthemostsubtleoftheclergy,byfarthemostapttosteereventstotheirownends,whichmightlieoutofsight,geionsaway.Servantsofagoddess,hesupposed,mightfinditeasiertotakethelongerviewofthings.ButeveryohatallacrossthepeninsulatheclergyoftheTriadhadtheirowntripleuandingwiththeTyrantsfromabroad:theircollectivesileheirtaplicity,boughtinexgeforbeingallowedtopreservetheritesthatmatteredmoretothem,itseemed,thanfreedominthePalm.

  EvenbeforemeetingAlessan,Devinhadhadhisownthoughtsaboutthat.Onthesubjectoftheclergyhisfatherhadneverbeenshyaboutspeakinghismind.AndnowDevinrememberedagainGarinssingledleofdefiawiceayearontheEmberNightsofhischildhoodinAsoli.Nowthathehadbeguntothinkaboutit,thereseemedtobeagreatmanynuaheflickeringlightsofthosedlesinthedark.Andmoreshadingstohisownstolidfatherthanhehadeverguessed.Devinshookhishead;thiswasnotthetimetowanderdoath.

  Whenthehilltraallywounditswaydowntothevalleyfloor,awider,smootherroadbegan,slantingtowardstheSanctuaryinthemiddleofthevalley.Abouthalfamileawayfromthestoerwalls,adoublerowoftreesbegahersideoftheapproach.Elms,ingintoearlyleaf.BeyondthemohersideDevinsawmenwinthefields,somelayservantsandsomeofthempriests,otieofceremony,butinnondescriptrobesofbeige,beginningthelaborsthatthesoildemawintersend.Onemanwassinging,asweet,cleartenorvoice.

  TheeasterheSanctuaryplexwereopenbeforethem,simpleandunadornedsaveforthestar-symbolofEanna.Thegateswerehighthough,Devinnoted,andofheavywroughtiron.ThewallsthatenclosedtheSanctuarywerehighaswell,aohick.Therewerealsotowers—eightofthem—curvingforwardatintervalsaroundthewideembraceofthewalls.Thiswasclearlyaplacebuilt,howevermanyhundredsofyearsago,towithstandadversity.Setwithintheplex,risingserenelyaboveeverythingelse,thedomeofEannastempleshohesunlightastheyrodeuptotheopengatesandpassedwithin.

  JustinsideAlessanpulledhishorsetoahalt.Fromaheadofthemandsomedistanceovertothelefttheyheardtheuedsoundofchildrenslaughter.Inanopen,grassyfieldsetbeyondastableandalargeresidencehalladozenyoungboysiunicswereplayingmaraccowithstidaball,supervisedbyayoungpriestinthebeigework-robes.

  Devinwatchedthemwithasuddensharpsadnessandnostalgia.Hecouldremember,vividly,goingintothewoodsheirfarmwithPovarandNicowhenhewasfiveyearsold,todcarryhomehisfirstmaraccostidthenthehours—minutesmoreoften—snatchedfromchoreswhehreeofthemwouldseizetheirstidohebatteredsuccessionofballsNicohadpatientlywoundtogetheroutoflayersandlayersofcloth,towhoopandslashtheirwayaboutinthemudattheendofthe

  barnyard,pretendingtheyweretheAsolitheupingTriadGames.

  "Iscoredfourtimesonegameinmylastyearoftempleschooling,"ErleindiSenziosaidinamusingvoice."Iveneverfottenit.IdoubtIeverwill.”

  Surprisedandamused,Devinglancedoveratthewizard.Alessanturnedinhissaddletolookbackaswell.Afteramomehreemenexgedasmile.Iahechildrensshoutsandlaughtergraduallysubsided.Thethreeofthemhadbeewasuhattheappeararangerswasaohere,especiallysosoohemeltingofthesnow.

  Theyoungpriesthadlefttheplayingfieldandwasmakinghiswayover,aswasanoldermanwithafullblackleatherapronoverhisrobesofbeige,ingfromwherethesheepandgoatsandcowswerekeptinpensohersideofthetralavenue.Somedistanfrontofthemlaythearchedentrahetempleandbesideitontherightandalittlebehind,thesmallerdomeoftheobservatory—forinallherSanctuariesthepriestsofEannatrackedandobservedthestarsshehadnamed.

  Theplexwasenormous,evehanithadseemedfromaboveonthehillslopes.Therewereagreatmanypriestsandservantsmovingaboutthegroueringandleaviempleitself,wamongtheanimals,orinthevegetablegardensDevincouldseebeyondtheobservatory.Fromthatdireaswellcametheunmistakablegingofablacksmithsfe.Smokeroseupthere,tobecaughtandcarriedbythemildbreeze.Overheadhesawthehawkagain,oradifferentone,cirglazilyagainsttheblue.

  AlessandismountedandDevinandErleindidthesamejustasthetwopriestscameuptothem,atalmostexactlythesamemoment.Theyoungerone,sandy-hairedandsmalllikeDevin,laughedauredathimselfandhiscolleague.

  "Notmuchofagreetingparty,Imafraid.Wewerentexpegvisitorsthisearlyintheyear,Imustadmit.Nooicedyouridingdown.Bewelethough,bemostweletoEannasSanctuary,whateverthereasonyouhaveetous.Maythegoddessknowyouandnameyouhers."Hehadacheerfulmannerandaneasysmile.

  Alessaurhesmile."Maysheknowandsurelynameallithinthesewalls.Tobeho,wewouldnthavebeeainhowtodealwithamoreofficialgreeting.Wehaventactuallyworkedoutourentrai.Andasforearlyintheyear—well,everyoneknowsnew-formedpanieshavetogetmovingsoohaablishedoheyarelikelytostarve.”

  "Youaremusicalperformers?"theolderpriestaskedheavily,wipinghishandsoherapronhewore.Hewasbaldingandbrownandgrizzled,andtherewheretwoofhisfrohoughttohavebeen.

  "Weare,"saidAlessanwithsomeattemptatagrandmanner."MynameisAdreanodAstibar.IplaytheTregeanpipes,andwithmeisErleindiSenzio,thefiharpplayerinallofthepeninsula.AndImusttellyoutruly,youhaventheardsinginguntilyouvelisteoouryoungpanionDevindAsoli.”

  Theyoungerpriestlaughedagain."Oh,welldone!Ishouldbringyoualongtotheouterschooltogivealessontomychargesioric.”

  "Iddobettertoteachthepipes,"Alessansmiled."Ifmusicispartofyramhere.”

  Thepriestsmouthtwitched."Formalmusic,"hesaid."ThisisEanna,notMorian,afterall.”

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