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Yis…hadra stopped at the base of the stairs and chimed anxiously to her husband。 Yis…fidri replied。 They bent to examine the cracked stone baluster。
〃This place；〃 Yis…fidri said。 〃If you follow these steps upward； you will e at last to the mortal castle built atop this one。〃
〃Where？〃 asked Miriamele。 She dropped her bow and pack to the tunnel floor and slumped against the stone。 〃Where in the castle？〃
〃We know not；〃 Yis…hadra said。 〃All has been built since our day。 No Tinukeda'ya touched those stones。〃
〃And you？ Where will you go？〃 She looked up the stairwell。 It spiraled up far beyond the weak light of the dwarrow's batons； twisting into darkness。
〃We will find another place。〃 Yis…fidri looked at his wife。 〃There are few of us left； but there are still places that will wele our hands and eyes。〃
〃It is time for our going；〃 Binabik said urgently。 〃Who is knowing how far away the Norns are？〃
Miriamele asked the dwarrows； 〃Why don't you e with us？ You are strong； and we can use your strength。 You should know by now that our fight is yours； too。〃
Yis…fidri shuddered and raised his long hands as though to fend her off。 〃Do you not understand？ We do not belong in the light； in the world of Sudhoda'ya。 We have already been changed by you； done things that Tinukeda'ya do not do。 We have 。。。 we have killed some of those who were once our masters。〃 He murmured something in the dwarrow…tongue and Yis…hadra and his other remaining folk chorused unhappily。 〃It will take us long to learn to live with that。 We do not belong in the world above。 Let us go to find the darkness and deep places we crave。〃
Binabik； who had spoken much to Yis…fidri during the last part of their flight； stepped forward and extended his small hand。 〃May you find safety。〃
The dwarrow looked at him for a moment as if he did not understand； then slowly put out his own spidery fingers and wrapped them around the troll's。 〃And you。 I will not tell you my thoughts； for they are fearful and unhappy。〃
Miriamele bit back words of argument。 The dwarrows wished to go。 They had fulfilled the promise that she had forced out of them。 They were already frightened and miserable； aboveground they might be less than useless； more a responsibility than an asset。 〃Farewell； Yis…fidri；〃 she said； then turned to his wife。 〃Yis…hadra； thank you for showing me how you tend the stone。〃
The dwarrow bobbed her head。 〃May you also fare well。〃
Even as she spoke； the lights of the batons flickered and the underground chamber seemed to shift； another convulsion without movement； a moment later； when things were again as they had been； the remaining dwarrows began to whisper。
〃We must go now；〃 Yis…hadra said； her dark eyes wide with fear。 She and her husband turned and led their troop of shuffling； spindle…legged kin away into the shadows。 Within moments the corridor was as empty as if they had never existed。 Miriamele blinked。
〃We must go also。〃 Binabik started up the stairs； then turned。 〃Where is the monk？〃
Miriamele looked back。 Cadrach； who had been at the rear of the assembled dwarrows； was sitting on the ground； his eyes half…closed。 The flicker of Binabik's torch made him seem to sway。
〃He's useless。〃 She bent to pick up her belongings。 〃We should leave him here。 Let him follow if he wants to。〃
Binabik frowned at her。 〃Help him； Miriamele。 Otherwise； he is left for the Norns' finding。〃
She was not sure the monk didn't deserve just that； but she shrugged and went to him…anyway。 A tug on his arm brought him slowly to his feet。
〃We're going。〃
Cadrach looked at her for a moment。 〃Ah；〃 he said； then followed her up the ancient stairway。
As the pany of Sithi led them farther into the deeps below the Hayholt； Tiamak and Josua found themselves staring around in astonishment； like Lakeland farmers on their first visit to Nabban。
〃What a treasure trove this is！〃 Josua breathed。 〃And to think it was below me all those years I lived here。 I would gladly spend a lifetime down here； exploring； studying。。。。〃
Tiamak； too； was overwhelmed。 The rough corridors of the outer tunnels had given way…to a decayed splendor he could never have imagined； and even now could scarcely believe。 Vast chambers which seemed to have been painstakingly carved out of living rock。 every surface a minutely detailed tapestry； seemingly endless stairways； thin and beautiful as spiderwebs； that curled up into shadow or stretched across black emptiness； entire rooms carved in the likeness of forest clearings or mountainsides with waterfalls； though everything in the chamber was solid stone…even as crumbling ruins； Asu'a the Great was astonishing。
They Who Watch and Shape； Tiamak thought； seeing this place has made every bit of my suffering worthwhile。 My lame leg； my hours in the ghant nest…I would not trade them if I must also lose the memories of this hour。
As they wound through the dusty byways； Tiamak tore his eyes away from the wonders that surrounded him long enough to observe the strange behavior of his Sithi panions。 When Likimeya and the others stopped to let the mortals rest； in a high…roofed chamber whose arching windows were clogged with dirt and rubble； Tiamak sat beside Aditu。
〃Forgive me if my question is rude；〃 he asked softly； 〃but do your people mourn their old home？ You seem。。。 distracted。〃
Aditu inclined her head； bending her graceful neck。 〃In part； yes。 It is sad to see the beautiful things our people built in such a state…and for those who lived here 。。。〃 she made an intricate gesture； 〃it is even more painful。 Do you remember the chamber carved with great flowered steps…the Hall of Five Staircases； as we call it？〃
〃We stopped there a long time；〃 Tiamak said； remembering。
〃That was the place where my mother's mother； Briseyu Dawnfeather； died。〃
The marsh man thought of how Likimeya had stood expressiontessly in the center of that wide room。 Who could know these immortals？
Aditu shook her head。 〃But such are not the greatest reasons we are； as you put it； distracted。 There are 。。。 presences here。 Things that should not be。〃
Tiamak had himself felt more than a touch of what he thought Aditu meant…a riffle of wind on the back of his neck that seemed insistent as probing fingers； echoes that almost sounded like faint voices。 〃What does it mean？〃
〃Something is awake here in Asu'a that should not be awake。 It is hard to explain。 Whatever it may be； it has given a semblance of life to what should not have one。〃
Tiamak frowned； unsure。 〃Do you mean 。 。。 ghosts？〃
Aditu's smile was fleeting。 〃If I understood First Grandmother when she taught me what the mortal word means； no。 Not as such。 But it is hard to show the difference。 Your tongue is not suited for it； and you do not see or feel what we do。〃
〃How can you tell？〃 He looked across to Josua； but the prince was staring fixedly at the ornately carved walls。
〃Because if you did；〃 Aditu replied； 〃I suspect you would not be sitting there so calmly。〃 She rose and crossed the rubble…strewn floor to where her mother and Jiriki stood in quiet conversation。
In the middle of emptiness； Tiamak suddenly felt surrounded by danger。 He slid closer to Josua。
〃Do you feel it； Prince Josua？〃 Tiamak asked。 〃The Sithi do。 They are frightened。〃
The prince looked grim。 〃We are all of us frightened。 I would have liked a full night to prepare for this； but Camaris took that away from me。 I try not to remember where it is we are going。〃
〃And all with no idea of what to do when we get there；〃 Tiamak mourned。 〃Was there ever a battle fought so confusedly？〃 He hesitated。 〃I have no right to question you； Prince Josua； but why did you follow Camaris？ Surely others less crucial to our success than you could have tried to track him。〃
The prince stared ahead。 〃I was the only one there。 I sought to bring him back before he was lost to us。〃 He sighed。 〃I feared others would not e in time。 But even more 。。。〃
The strange perturbation of air and stone came again； sudden and disorienting； cutting Josua off in mid…speech。 The Sithi's l