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he riddle of me Great Swords。 They had also scrutinized the translated scrolls of Binabik's master Ookequk； but so far these had provided nothing but a great deal of trollish wisdom； most of which seemed to concern predicting avalanches and singing away the spirits of frostbite。
But if Strangyeard and I do not find more success soon； Tiamak thought grimly； we may have more need of Ookequk's wisdom than we will like。
In the past few days； Tiamak had set Strangyeard to relate every bit of information that the archivist possessed about the Great Swords and their undead enemy…his own book…learning； the things old Jarnauga had taught him； the experiences of the youth Simon and his panions； everything that had happened in the last year that might contain some clue to their dilemma。 Tiamak prayed that a pattern might show somewhere； as the ripples in a river demonstrated the presence of a rock beneath the surface。 In all the lore of these wise men and women； these adventurers and accidental witnesses； someone must know something of how to use the Great Swords。
Tiamak sighed again and wiggled his toes。 He longed to be just a little man with little problems again。 How important those problems had seemed！ And how he longed to have only those problems now。 He held up his hand and looked at the play of light across his knuckles； a gnat that crept across the thin dark hairs on his wrist。 The day was deceptively pleasant； just like the surface of a stream。 But there was no question that rocks or worse lay hidden beneath。
〃Please lie back； Vorzheva；〃 said Aditu。
The Thrithings…woman made a face。 〃Now you talk like Josua。 It is only a little pain。〃
〃You see what she's like。〃 Gutrun wore an air of grim satisfaction。 〃If I could tie her to that bed； I would。〃
〃I do not think that she needs to be tied to anything；〃 the Sitha woman replied。 〃But Vorzheva； neither is there any dishonor in lying down when you are in pain。〃
The prince's wife reluctantly slumped back against the cushions and allowed Gutrun to pull the blanket…up。 〃1 was not raised to be weak。〃 In the light filtering down from the high small window she was very pale。
〃You are not weak。 But both your life and the child's life are precious；〃 Aditu said gently。 〃When you feel well and strong； move around as you like。 When you are hurting or weak； lie down and let Duchess Gutrun or me help you。〃 She stood and took a few steps toward the door。
〃You are not going to leave？〃 Vorzheva asked in dismay。 〃Stay and talk to me。 Tell me what is happening outside。 Gutrun and I have been in this room all day。 Even the monks do not speak to us。 I think they bate women。〃
Aditu smiled。 〃Very well。 My other tasks can wait in such a good cause。〃 The Sitha seated herself upon the bed once more； folding her legs beneath her。 〃Duchess Gutrun。 if you wish to stretch your legs； I will be here to sit with Vorzheva for a little while longer。〃
Gutrun sniffed dismissively。 〃I'm just where I should be。〃 She turned back to her sewing。
Vorzheva reached out her hand and clasped Aditu's fingers。 〃Tell me what you have seen today。 Did you go to Leieth？〃
The Sitha nodded； her silver…white hair swinging。 〃Yes。 She is just a few rooms away…but there is no change。 And she is growing very thin。 I mix nurturing herbs with the small draughts of water she will swallow； but even that is not enough； I fear。 Something still tethers her to her body…to look at her she seems only to be sleeping… but I wonder how much longer that tie will hold。〃 A troubled look seemed to pass over Aditu's alien face。 〃This is another way that Geloe's passing has lessened us。 Surely the forest woman would know some root； some leafy thing that might draw Leieth's spirit back。〃
〃I'm not sure；〃 Gutrun said without looking up。 〃That child was never more than half here…I know； and I cared for her and held her as much as anyone。 Whatever happened to her in the forest when she traveled with Miriamele； those dogs and merciful Usires only knows what else； it took a part of her away。〃 She paused。 〃It's not your fault； Aditu。 You've done all that anyone could； I'm sure。〃
Aditu turned to look at Gutrun； but betrayed no change of expression at the duchess' conciliatory tone。 〃But it is sad；〃 was all she said。
〃Sad； yes；〃 Gutrun replied。 〃God's wishes often make His children sad。 We just don't understand； I suppose； what He plans。 Surely after all she suffered。 He has something better in mind for little Leieth。〃
Aditu spoke carefully。 〃I hope that is so。〃
〃And what else do you have to tell me？〃 Vorzheva asked。 〃I guessed about Leieth。 You would have told me first if there was any new thing。〃
〃There is not much else to relate。 The Duke of Nabban's forces have fallen back a little farther； but soon they will stop and fight again。 Josua and the others are trying to arrange a truce so that they can stop the fighting and talk。〃
〃Will these Nabbanai talk to us？〃
Aditu shrugged sinuously。 〃I sometimes wonder if I understand even the mortals I know best。 As to those who are pletely strange to me 。。。 I certainly cannot offer any firm idea as to what these men may do。 But the Nabbanai general is a brother of the ruling duke； I am told； so I doubt that he will be very sympathetic to anything your husband has to say。〃
Vorzheva's face contorted。 She gasped； but then waved the solicitous Aditu back。 〃No； I am well。 It was just a squeezing。〃 After a moment she took a deep breath。 〃And Josua？ How is he？〃
The Sitha looked to Gutrun； who raised her eyebrows in a gesture of amused helplessness。 〃He was just here this morning； Vorzheva；〃 the duchess said。 〃He is not in the fighting。〃
〃He is well；〃 Aditu added。 〃He asked me to send his regards。〃
〃Regards？〃 Vorzheva sat up。 〃What sort of word is that from a man； from a husband？ Regards？〃
〃Oh； Elysia； Mother of Mercy；〃 Gutrun said in disgust。 〃You know that he cares for you； Vorzheva。 Let it go。〃
The Thrithings…woman sank back； her hair spreading against the pillow like a shining dark cloth。 〃It is only because I cannot do anything。 Tomorrow I will be stronger。 Tomorrow I will walk to where I can see the battle。〃
〃Only if you can drag me that far；〃 said the duchess。 〃You should have seen her； Aditu…she couldn't stand this morning； the pains were so dreadful。 If I had not caught her； she would have fallen down right on the stone floor。〃
〃If she is strong enough；〃 Aditu said； 〃then for her to walk is certainly good…but carefully； and not too great a distance。〃 She paused； looking at the Thrithings…woman carefully。 〃I think perhaps you are too excitable to look at the battle； Vorzheva。〃
〃Hah。〃 Vorzheva's disgust was plain。 〃You said your people hardly ever have children。 Why are you now so wise about what I should do？〃
〃Since our birthings are so infrequent； we take them all the more seriously。〃 Aditu smiled regretfully。 〃I would greatly love to bear a child one day。 It has been a privilege to be with you while you cany yours。〃 She leaned forward and pulled back the coverlet。 〃Let me listen。〃
〃You will only say that the baby is too unhappy to go walking tomorrow；〃 Vorzheva plained； but she did not prevent Aditu from laying a golden cheek against her tautly rounded stomach。
Aditu shut her upturned eyes as though she were falling asleep。 For a long moment； her thin face seemed set in almost perfect repose。 Then her eyes opened wide； a flashing of brilliant amber。 〃Venyha s'ahn！〃 she hissed in surprise。 She lifted her head for a moment； then placed her ear back against Vorzheva's belly。
〃What？〃 Gutrun was out of her chair in a heartbeat； stitchery tumbling to the floor。 〃The child！ Is the child 。。。 is something wrong？〃
'Tell me； Aditu。〃 Vorzheya was lying perfectly still； but her voice cracked at the edges。 〃Do not spare me。〃
The Sitha began to laugh。
〃Are you mad？〃 Gutrun demanded。 〃What is it？〃
Aditu sat up。 〃I am sorry。 I was marveling at the continuing astonishment I feel around you mortals。 And when I think that my own people count thems