01.the brothers' war.pdf

8/11/2019 01.The Brothers' War.pdf

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JEFF GRUBB "The Brothers' War"

(Magic: the Gathering. Artifact cycle. Boo !.

#R$%$GUE

$##$&!TE& ATTRAT () AR

!t *as the night +efore the en, of the *orl,.

The t*o ar-ies ha, gathere, on oosite si,es of a +laste,

/ale. $nce this ha, +een a /er,ant /alley0 its *i,e lain shae,

+y a *i,e0 -ean,ering strea-0 its flaning hills +lanete, +ythic gro/es of oa0 +lanch*oo,0 an, ironroot. 1o* these trees

*ere gone2 no -ore than ragge, st3-s re-aine,0 the grass +3rne,a*ay0 an, the earth +eneath ace, har, an, +arren. The strea-

*as a sl3ggish flo* hi,,en +y a thic fil- of oil0 its s3rface+roen only +y the sha,o*y -asses of na-eless soli,s.

Thic0 iny clo3,s conceale, the -oons an, stars fro- sight.!t ha, +een o/ercast an, col, on Argoth0 ,esite 3nseasona+ly

*ar-er *eather else*here on Terisiare. Both si,es in the 3co-ing+attle ha, taen to torching the forests they fo3n,0 if only to

,eny their oonents s3lies an, s3ort. By ,ay the clo3,canoy *as a ,3ll gray0 a sheet of rolle, an, 3nfinishe, steel.

By night it *as lit only fro- +elo*0 +y the tho3san,s ofca-fires an, fo3n,ries that no* ,otte, the lan,scae. Along the

oosite ri-s of the /ale the fla-es lit +y +oth in/a,ing forcesgli--ere, lie e/il eyes in the ,arness.

&anning the shallo* strea- *as a air of tole, giants0re-nants of an earlier +attle +et*een one of the in/a,ers an, the

original inha+itants of this lan,. $ne of the fallen giants ha,

+een -a,e of li/ing *oo,0 an, ha, +een slintere, into a tho3san,shar,s. !ts h3ge foreste, hea, lay on the gro3n,0 screa-ing

silently to the 3ncaring night. !t ha, +een the last cha-ion of

the nati/es of Argoth0 the a/atar of their go,,ess0 an, *ith its,eath asse, a*ay all hoe for the islan, eole.

The /ictor in the +attle ha, also +een ,estroye, in thestr3ggle. This h3ge h3-anoi, -onster *as -a,e of stone0 its

4oints constr3cte, of -assi/e lates of itte, iron an, great+rass gears. !ts lithic +o,y ha, +een +roen an, atche, a n3-+er

of ti-es0 an, great sheets of -etal ha, +een +olte, to its hi,eto hol, it together. The +attle *ith the li/ing forest +east ha,

o/erta5e, its istons an, ar-at3res. !ts final l3nge ha,slintere, its oonent2 no* it sra*le, for*ar,0 face,o*n0 a

+ri,ge o/er the tei, strea-. $ne of the stone giant's ar-s ha,+een rie, loose fro- the +attle an, lay a fe* h3n,re, feet

a*ay0 its fingers raise, to cla* the sy. $n the +ac of the granite giant's silent corse a lone

fig3re *aite,. !n his yo3th he ha, +een +roa, sho3l,ere, an,han,so-e0 +3t the years of *ar an, ser/ice to his -aster ha,

e5ha3ste, hi-. 6is sho3l,ers *ere sl3-e, no*0 an, his fra-ecarrie, the a,,itional *eight of +oth his resonsi+ilities an,

his age. 6is once7to3sle, +lon, hair *as *orn short0 an, the

first atch of sin *as aarent at the cro*n of his hea,0 heral,of e/ent3al +al,ness. &till0 he *as taller than -ost of this

fello*s0 so others ,i, not see it 3nless he *as seate,. For the

-o-ent he ace, along the giant's +ac.

Ta*nos 3lle, his ro3gh0 +ro*n *oolen cloa tighter aro3n,hi-0 c3rsing the col, an, ,ar. As he ,i, so his fingers scrae,against the -etal +reastlate +eneath. !t ,i, not fit hi-7/ery

little that ha, not +een -a,e secifically for his large fra-e


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,i,0 an, he ha, +ro3ght it along only as an aftertho3ght. The-essage ha, +een *ar- an, *elco-ing0 +3t it ca-e fro- the ene-y

ca-. Ur8a *o3l, +e irritate, if his for-er st3,ent let his g3ar,,o*n so easily.

There *as -otion along the far si,e of the giant's +ac0 near*here its s-ashe, hea, lay at a t*iste, angle to the rest of the

+o,y. Ta*nos ,i, not see her cli-+ 30 +3t s3,,enly she *as

there7a flash of re, hair s3rro3n,e, +y an e+on cloa. !t *as asif she *ore a iece of the night itself0 an, *ore it /ery *ell. &he *as alone0 as she ha, ro-ise,. As she crosse, to*ar,

hi-0 Ta*nos 3lle, a s-all ,e/ice fro- his ocet. !t *as aflattene, shere *ith a la-'s *ic 43tting fro- the to. 6e

resse, a st3, along the si,e of the shere0 an, the ,e/ice

s3ttere,. The *ic +3rst into a +rief0 yello* fla-e0 *hich

s3+,3e, to a soft orange h3e as Ta*nos -ani3late, the s-all st3,along the si,e. Ashno, ,re* into the light0 an, he sa* that she

ha, that +e-3se, s-ir that he ha, al*ays fo3n, attracti/e. 6ealso sa* that there *ere no* sil/er hairs a-ong the scarlet.

"!', hear, yo3 *ere ,ea,0" he sai,. "9on't +elie/e e/erything yo3 hear0 93c0" relie, Ashno, the

Uncaring *ith a +roa, s-ile. "!'/e hear, ! ,ie, at least fi/eti-es in the ast ten years." The s-ile fa,e, an, the /oice

t3rne, sole-n. "o3 ca-e. Than yo3." "o3 sent a -essage0" sai, Ta*nos.

"!t co3l, ha/e +een a tra0" sai, Ashno,. "!t co3l, ha/e +een0" a,-itte, Ta*nos an, oene, his cloa.

6is +reastlate reflecte, the s-all light0 *hich gli--ere, offthe t*o sets of ornate *eaons that ro,e on his his. Ashno,

s-ile, again. "Goo, to no* yo3're still ca3tio3s0" she sai,.

"#reare,0" o+ser/e, Ta*nos. "That is all. #reare,." Ashno, sl3ng her ac on the gro3n, an, nelt ne5t to it.

Ta*nos hesitate,0 then 4oine, her. They sat in relati/e silence

for a long -o-ent. Far off0 in the ,istance on either si,e of the/ale0 *ere the ha--ers of forges rearing for the +loo,y

+3siness of the ne5t ,ay.

"o3 sent a -essage0" ro-te, Ta*nos. "This is the last one0 yo3 no*." sai, Ashno,0 staring o3t

into a night ierce, +y re, fires. "The last +attle. The finalconflict. $ne *ay or another0 the resol3tion of the *ar +et*een

yo3r -aster an, -ine." "Bet*een Ur8a an, Mishra0" sai, Ta*nos *ith a no,.

"They are +oth here0" Ashno, a,,e,. "There are noreinforce-ents. 1o retreat is ossi+le for either si,e. $ne *ay

or another0 it all en,s here." Ta*nos shifte, 3nco-forta+ly. !t ha, +een a long ti-e since

he ha, sat cross7legge, on har, stone. "!t is a goo, ti-e for aen,ing0" he sai,. "All this has gone on far too long."

Across fro- hi-0 Ashno, +o*e, her hea, in the light. "An,*aste, so -3ch."

"Many ha/e lost their li/es0" agree, Ta*nos. Ashno, giggle,0 an ill7lace, so3n, that raise, the hairs of

Ta*nos's nec in irritation. "%i/es;" she sai,. "%i/es arenothing. Thin of all the forests g3tte,0 the laes ,raine,0 the

lan,s l3n,ere, to get 3s to this oint. Thin *hat *e co3l, ha/e

,one *ith those reso3rces. An, eole: yes0 ho* *e co3l, ha/e3se, the-0 other*ise."

As she soe Ta*nos co3l, feel his face tighten in

,isaro/al. E/en in the ,i- glo* Ashno, co3l, feel his silent

irritation. "&orry0" she sai, at last. "! soe +efore !tho3ght." "Goo, to no* there are 3ni/ersal constants0" sai, Ta*nos

stonily.


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"&orry." There *as another a3se0 an, in the ,istanceso-ething clattere,. !t so3n,e, lie a -echanical ,e-on la3ghing.

"6o* is he;" she sai, at last. "The sa-e0 only -ore so0" Ta*nos relie,. "o3rs;"

Ashno, shoo her hea,. "&o-ething's ... *rong." Ta*nos raise,an eye+ro* an, she a,,e,


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hater = T$A&!A

The Argi/ian archaeologist re-o/e, her lenses an, r3++e, her

tire, eyes. The ,esert grit *as e/ery*here0 all the -ore so *henthe stiff +ree8e +le* east*ar, fro- the inlan, *astes. The ,esert

air *as *ar- as forge coals0 +3t Tocasia *as gla, for the gentle

*in,. Witho3t the +ree8e it *o3l, +e -erely 3n+eara+ly an,stiflingly hot at the ,ig site. The age, researcher sat at an ornate ta+le0 a h3ge

-onstrosity *ith thic0 fl3te, legs an, a hea/y to inlai, *itholishe, shell. !t *as a gift fro- one of the no+le fa-ilies of

Argi/e0 a re*ar, for "straightening o3t" an errant scion of their

line. The heirloo- looe, al-ost co-ical erche, on the

o3tcroing that Tocasia ha, clai-e, as her hea,


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recei/e, *ere g3ilty of nothing -ore than +eing tyical yo3ngeole0 an, their arents *ere only seeing to get the- o3t of

the -anor ho3se. $nce on the site0 their interest in the ast/arie, fro- -ini-al to none5istent. They *ere gla, to +e a*ay

fro- the erf3-e, an, rotecte, co3rts of #enregon0 its ettyintrig3es0 an,7-ost i-ortant7 their arents. Tocasia entr3ste,

the- *ith as -3ch resonsi+ility as they accete,. &o-e

s3er/ise, the Falla4i ,iggers0 *hile others hele, glean an,catalog the ,e/ices they +ro3ght to light. &till others *erecontent to -an the graeshot cata3lts that flane, the ca- an,

ser/e, as a ,eterrent to ,esert rai,ers an, the sca/enging rocs.The yo3ng -en an, *o-en ca-e0 ser/e, their ti-e0 an, fle, +ac to

the cities *ith eno3gh tales to i-ress their frien,s an, eno3gh

-at3rity to -ollify their arents.

An, a fe*0 s3ch as %oran0 ha, the intelligence0 the *is,o-0an, the resence of -in, to co-e +ac after their first

e5erience. %oran *as on her thir, season an, co-ing into thef3ll flo*er of *o-anhoo,. Tocasia ne* it *as only a -atter of

ti-e +efore the girl starte, to care -ore for +all go*ns an,,inner arties than for artifacts an, ,ig sites0 +3t for this

s3--er0 at least0 she *as lease, to ha/e her there to helcatalog0 organi8e0 an, coor,inate.

Tocasia +line,0 3she, her sectacles +ac 3 on her nose0an, arche, an eye+ro* at the st3,ent. %oran *o3l, ne/er sea

3ntil soen to0 tho3gh Tocasia *as trying to +rea her of thatha+it.

There *as a a3se0 an, then %oran sai, softly0 "The cara/anfro- Argi/e has arri/e,."

Tocasia no,,e,. They ha, +een *atching the rising ,3st clo3,fro- the east all -orning0 +3t she', tho3ght it *o3l, +e late

afternoon +efore Bly's *agons *o3l, reach the-. The ol, *agon-aster -3st ha/e finally sr3ng for ne* +easts0 or else the ol,

a3rochs ha, finally faile, hi-. What %oran -eant *as that Bly's

*agons ha, finally asse, thro3gh the stoca,e gates0 an, Tocasiaha, +est +e there to sa/e her st3,ents fro- the +a,7te-ere,

-erchant's i


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rocs a*ay. Within the *alls -ost of the acti/ity of the ca- *asslo* in the s3--er heat. $ne artic3lar hill0 *here they ha,

reco/ere, the s37chi s3ll0 ro/e, artic3larly ro-ising0 an,*as no* co/ere, *ith a gri, of string an, staes for f3rther

e5a-ination. The slo*7foote, on3lets lo,,e, to -eet the *agons0steere, +y no+le +oys *ho en4oye, th*acing the great al+ino

+easts *ith their -aeshift goa,s.

The gate ha, close, on the last *agon no*0 an, a *i,e7girthe,fig3re leat fro- the lea, carriage0 *a/ing his ar-s in anani-ate, fashion. Bly see-e, to en4oy terrori8ing the st3,ents

o3t here0 erhas +eca3se he ha, to o*to* to their arents +acin #enregon.

Tocasia s-ile, at the tho3ght of Bly +ac in the Argi/ian

caital7hat in han,0 hea, +o*e, slightly0 trying to en3nciate his

re


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ar-. "What's going on here0 Bly;" sai, Tocasia.

The *agon -aster *heele, on the scholar0 +lining as if heha, only 43st then notice, her. "A ri/ate -atter0 Mistress

Tocasia. 1othing -ore." The leaner of the t*o yo3ths stee, for*ar,. "o3 are

Tocasia the &cholar;"

"We're not finishe,0" Bly starte,0 +3t Tocasia hel, 3 a han,an, relie, to the yo3th. "! a-0" she sai,.

"! a- Ur8a0" sai, the yo3th. "This is -y +rother Mishra." Thest3r,ier of the t*o +oys no,,e,0 an, the lean yo3th fishe, o3t a

+attere, en/eloe fro- *ithin his /est. The seal on the fla0 the

i-rint of a fa-iliar no+le ho3sehol,0 *as intact0 +3t it looe,

as if the letter ha, -a,e the entire tri ne5t to the +oy's sin.Bly ,re* in his +reath sharly at the sight.

Tocasia looe, at the t*o yo3ths0 then at the *agon -aster.&he sli, a san,+laste, nail +eneath the fla an, oe, the

letter oen. The scrit *as fl3i, an, *ell for-e,0 ,ictate, to ascri+e0 +3t the signat3re along the +otto- *as recogni8a+le0 if

*ea an, 4ery. There *as a silence for a -o-ent as she rea,0 an, +oth Bly

an, Mishra shifte, i-atiently0 *aiting for the oort3nity tostart the arg3-ent again. The yo3th Ur8a stoo, i-assi/ely0 han,s

fol,e, in front of hi-. Tocasia fol,e, 3 the letter again an, sai, tho3ghtf3lly0

"Well0 that's that." To the t*o +oys she sai,0 "Get yo3r things0an, follo* %oran there to yo3r


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"&o yo3 ga/e the +oys a +rea0 *ore, the- lie sla/es0 an,trie, to ee the-0 since no one *o3l, notice their fate0" sai,

Tocasia. "That's lo*0 e/en for yo30 Bly. 1o* get the s3lies3nloa,e,0 an, yes0 !'ll ,o a co-lete in/entory0 than yo3. An,

then *e'll loa, the *agons for ret3rn. There are so-e ite-s therethat *ill fetch yo3 a goo,ly rofit0 ,esite yo3r scan,alo3s

+eha/ior."

Tocasia *ante, to lect3re Bly a +it longer0 +3t %oran ca-er3nning 3. "Mistress Tocasia0 the ne* +oys@" Tocasia sco*le, at the st3,ent. The yo3ng girl ha, act3ally

soen 30 so it -3st +e i-ortant. "es;" "They're in a fight0" sai, %oran. "With Richla3 an, a co3le

of the other +oys."

Tocasia 3ttere, a -il, c3rse. Bly ch3cle,. "! can al*ays

tae the- +ac if yo3 *ant0 scholar0" he sai,. The scholar shot the *agon -aster a loo that *o3l, sin an

o5 at fifteen aces. To %oran she sai,0 "Get Ah-ahl an, a co3leof the other ,iggers to +rea it 3. An, +ring the +oys to -y

tent." %oran hesitate,0 an, Tocasia ractically sta-e, her foot."1o*@"

The yo3ng girl ,isaeare, in a 3ff of ,3st0 an, Bly sai,0"! thin that air are -ore tro3+le than they are *orth0 if yo3

,on't -in, -e saying." "! *o3l,n't +e s3rrise,0" gr3nte, the scholar. "Their father

*as al*ays a han,f3l." "&o yo3're going to ee the-;" ase, the *agon -aster0

shaing his hea,. Tocasia sighe,. "Aye. ! o*e their father that -3ch. For an

ol, fa/or." "M3st +e so-e fa/or0" sai, Bly. "What ,i, he gi/e yo3;"

"$nly -y free,o-0" sai, Tocasia0 an, t3rne, a*ay fro- the*agon -aster *itho3t *aiting for a rely.

Bly looe, at Tocasia's +ac as she *ale, +ac 3 the hill.

Was it his i-agination0 or ,i, she see- to +e ol,er an, -orefragile than she ha, +een a fe* -o-ents ago; Then he hear, hoarse

sho3ts a-ong the *agons0 an, the tho3ght *as ,ri/en fro- his

hea,. "o3 lot@" he +ello*e, at the tea-sters0 thro*ing hi-self

+ac into the *or. "6a/e yo3 ne/er ha3le, freight +efore; Thatst3ff's ,elicate@ 6an,le it lie yo3 *o3l, yo3r sister's ne*+orn0

or *e ,on't get ai,@" The hill see-e, steeer to Tocasia on the *ay 3 than it ha,

on *ay ,o*n0 an, the +oys *ere alrea,y *aiting for her *hen shereache, the to. Ah-ahl an, %oran *ere there as *ell.

The lea,er of the ,esert7tri+e ,iggers no,,e, sharly atTocasia. !n Falla4i0 the ,esert tong3e0 he sai,0 "Watch the

little one. 6e *as all fists an, +ites *hen *e 3lle, hi- off. &o-3ch fire in one so s-all. The +ig one +loo,ie, Richla3's nose0

+3t nothing's +roen." Tocasia reson,e, in the sa-e lang3age0 "Richla3 ,eser/es to

ha/e his nose +loo,ie,. Tell hi- he's on itchen ,3ty for therest of the -onth. An, -o/e the +oys' gear to 6a/ac's +arracs

instea,." Ah-ahl no,,e, an, left the tar. %oran -a,e no -o/e tolea/e 3ntil Tocasia instr3cte, her to ee an eye on Bly.

The archaeologist stro,e aro3n, her ta+le0 sli,ing the

*aling cane +ac into its hol,er0 a ,r3-7shae, +aset -a,e fro-an on3let's foot. &he leane, on her al-s on the ,es an, looe,

at the t*o +oys. Their fine /ests ha, +een shre,,e, in the

+attle0 an, Ur8a's ocets ha, +een torn o3t in the fight. Mishra

ha, ac


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"Fifteen -in3tes an, yo3're alrea,y in a fight. A ne* recor,0e/en for this lace."

Both +oys starte, taling at once. Ur8a sai,0 "! *o3l, lieto aologi8e on +ehalf of e/eryone in/ol/e,7"

Mishra +3rst o3t *ith0 "!'- sorry +3t it really *asn't o3rfa3lt if7"

"&ilence@" Tocasia slae, the ta+le har,0 so har, the s37chi

s3ll 43-e, slightly0 an, a iece of the earl inlay +o3nce, o3tof its setting. The t*o +oys


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They re


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+y internal *ar0 fa-ine0 or lag3e." &he sighe,. "We ha/e no i,ea e/en of *hat they loo lie.

They co3l, ha/e looe, lie 3s. $r they co3l, ha/e looe, lieo3r frien, here." &he 3she, the s37chi for*ar, on the ,es an,

atte, it. Mishra reache, for*ar, an, gra++e, the s3ll. Tocasia *as

s3rrise, +y the see, that only ,esert re,ators an, s-all

chil,ren can -anage. 6e t3rne, it o/er an, o/er in his han,s. "&to7" +egan Tocasia. &he *ante, to say0 "&to that an, 3tit +ac ,o*n0" +3t she *as too late. At the first so3n, fro- her

Ur8a leat on his little +rother. "#3t it ,o*n@" snae, the san,y7haire, +oy. "!t -ight +e

,angero3s@"

"!ts not ,angero3s0" snarle, his ,arer7haire, +rother. "!f

it *as ,angero3s0 she', ee it so-elace *here *e co3l,n't to3chit@"

"Then its fragile@" sho3te, Ur8a. "o3'll +rea it@" "!f ! +rea it0 it'll +e +eca3se yo3 -a,e -e@" relie,

Mishra. The air for-e, a tight not0 the s37chi s3ll +et*eenthe-.

"Gi/e@" sho3te, Ur8a. "1o@" reson,e, Mishra.

"Eno3gh@" roare, Tocasia0 th3n,ering +oth han,s on to of theta+le. At once +oth +oys *ere on their feet again0 an, the s3ll

*as rocing gently against the earl inlay *here it ha, +een a-in3te +efore.

The scholar sco*le, at the +oys. "o3 t*o tal a goo, ga-ean, see- to ha/e eno3gh energy to +3rn. Goo, eno3gh. o3're going

to sen, the rest of the -onth learning fro- the gro3n, 3.o3'll start +y *oring in the itchen. Alongsi,e Richla30 so !

strongly reco--en, yo3 fig3re o3t ho* to ,eal *ith hi-. !f ! ha/eany -ore tro3+le *ith the air of yo30 !'ll sen, yo3 +ac *ith

Bly." &he glare, at the-. "9o ! -ae -yself clear;"

As one0 +oth +oys no,,e,. "Goo,." Tocasia settle, her thin fra-e in the chair. "1o*

reort to the -ess tent an, start eeling t3+ers. They're ser/ing

a +ig feast tonight for Bly's -en. ! tr3st there *ill +e no -orero+le-s;"

Both +oys no,,e, in 3nison again. Tocasia *a/e, the- o3t0 an,they /anishe, fro- her tar0 lea/ing trails of ,3st +ehin, the-

as they sca-ere, ,o*n the hillsi,e. 9esite herself Tocasia s-ile,. They *ere so close in age0

+3t their +irth or,er set their attit3,es. Ur8a *as ten yetcarrie, hi-self as if he *ere -3ch ol,er an, felt resonsi+le for

his yo3nger +rother. Mishra *as nearly ten +3t acte, yo3nger an,*as -ore e53+erant. 6e *o3l, ro+a+ly al*ays +e *illing to try

ne* things0 tho3ght Tocasia0 +eca3se +ig +rother *o3l, +e thereto *atch o3t for hi-.

&till0 she -3se,0 a *or, to Richla3 *o3l, ro+a+ly +e *ise.%et hi- no* she *o3l, not areciate hearing he *as -aing life

,iffic3lt for the t*o ne*est an, yo3ngest st3,ents. That -ightcreate -ore har, feelings if the "ne* chil,ren" *ere no*n to +e

fa/orites0 +3t that *as a s-all rice0 an, a te-orary one. Atthe en, of this season0 this +atch of yo3ng no+les *o3l, hea,

+ac to #enregon an, a ne* gro3 *o3l, tae their lace. The

+rothers sho3l, +e caa+le of han,ling the-sel/es +y then0 shetho3ght0 or they *o3l, +e gone.

Tocasia's s-ile ,ie, as she ice, 3 the -etallic s3ll of

the s37chi. &he e5a-ine, it caref3lly to see if the +oys ha,

,a-age, it f3rther in their graling. &o-eho*0 she sa*0 theirfight ha, 4ostle, the t*o hal/es of the o*er crystal together.The longit3,inal crac ha, /anishe,0 an, the crystal no* *as a

soli, iece. More interesting0 there *as a flicer of light ,ee


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*ithin the crystal0 a *ea glo* +3t one that in,icate, that thecrystal still hel, so-e of its energy.

Tocasia stare, at the s3ll an, its crystalline +rain 3ntil%oran ca-e to fetch her for ,inner *ith the *agon -aster's -en

an, her o*n st3,ents. B3t her eyes an, her tho3ghts straye, often,3ring the -eal to the t*o +oys *ho ha, so recently arri/e, in

the ca-.

hater ? $R1!T6$#TER

Tocasia ,i, not sen, the +oys +ac *ith Bly that tri0 or for

any other tri to #enregon for the ne5t si5 s3--ers. Ur8a ca-e to

ter-s *ith Richla30 an, Mishra *as -ore caref3l a+o3t sitting on

others' +3ns. %oran *ent +ac to #enregon an, staye, a*ay forfi/e years. Bly *ore o3t the ne* o5en an, trie, to +3y one of

Tocasia's on3lets0 to no a/ail. Tocasia contin3e, to ,ig an, to+ring 3 the t*o +oys 3t into her care.

At first Tocasia tho3ght of Ur8a an, Mishra as t*o arts of asingle entity. 6er inclination *as reinforce, +y the *ay the t*o

looe, at each other +efore ans*ering a


13/255

his st3,ies. The *or in the ,esert s3n to3ghene, Mishra. 6e *as -ore

-3sc3lar0 the res3lt of long ho3rs at the ,ig sites0 an, hisflesh ha, a ,ee0 *orer's tan. 6is ,ar hair traile, after hi-

lie a +anner0 ornately +rai,e, in the -anner of the ,esert. 6eha, *i,er sho3l,ers an, a sta3ncher fra-e than his el,er +rother

an, co3l, no* han,le hi-self in any scra *itho3t Ur8a's hel.

Both +oys *ere tireless *orers0 an, Tocasia sa* *hy Bly ha,trie, to ee the-. B3t so-ething -ore than their *or +o3n, the-to her. Each of the +rothers ha, an enth3sias- for his tass that

*as contagio3s. Tocasia felt no nee, to tal to the- as chil,ren2rather she soe to the- as tr3ste, a,3lts0 an, they ret3rne, her

tr3st.

&oon the air *ere consi,ere, as /ital an, er-anent a art

of the enca--ent as Tocasia herself. Within t*o years0 the yo3ngno+les arri/ing fro- #enregon *ere the sa-e age as Ur8a an,

Mishra0 an, the +rothers alrea,y ne* the lay of the lan,.Re-e-+ering their o*n e5eriences0 the air al*ays so3ght o3t the

rosecti/e +3llies a-ong the gro3 an, -a,e it clear that noersec3tion of the s-aller st3,ents *o3l, +e er-itte,. Within

another t*o years the +rothers *ere consi,ere, the ,e factolea,ers of the st3,ent contingent0 allo*ing Tocasia -ore ti-e for

her o*n e5a-ination of artifacts an, their o*er stones. !n the fall of the secon, year *or, reache, the ca- /ia

Bly's cara/an that Ur8a an, Mishra's father ha, asse, on after along illness. The *or, *as in a terse note0


14/255

,i, not care for: it ignore, the iss3e. %oran ha, -a,e the long an, ,iffic3lt 4o3rney o3t to the

enca--ent ri-arily to see Tocasia again0 an, Tocasia ne* it.Most of the high -anners an, ,e+3tante softness ,isaeare, +y

the en, of the first e/ening0 an, +y noon of the secon, ,ay %oran*as ro*ling alongsi,e Tocasia as she -o/e, fro- e5ca/ation to

e5ca/ation.

Tocasia ha, so-ething to sho* %oran0 a story for her to carry+ac to the other for-er st3,ents in the Argi/ian caital. Thereha, +een a s3,,en ,o*no3r the -onth +efore0 a har,7hitting

,esert rain that ha, threatene, se/eral of the ,ig sites. Rah3,0one of Ah-ahl's ,iggers0 ha, hear, fro- a no-a,ic fa-ily -e-+er

that the rain ha, hit e/en har,er farther to the north0 an,

floo,e, o3t an ol, ,ry *ash0 re/ealing *hat looe, lie a Thran

-achine. Rah3, tol, Mishra0 Mishra reorte, to Tocasia0 an,*ithin a ,ay the gro3 ha, -o3nte, a s-all e5e,ition north.

!t *as a ,e/ice they fo3n,0 an, one ,efinitely of Thrancreation. !t looe, at first lie so-e sort of sailing craft0 an

i-ossi+ility in the ,esert. %ong oles of ancient can,le*oo,43tte, fro- the e5ose, +an0 to *hich ha, +een attache, *hat

looe, lie sail rigging. Ur8a e5a-ine, it an, then0 to Tocasia'sa-a8e-ent0 confi,ently ,eclare, it to +e a flying craft0

so-ething 3nseen in Terisiare's sies sa/e only in the ol,est ofstories.

For the ne5t *ee the ca- acti/ity -o/e, to the ne* site0seeing to ry loose the +ir,lie flying -achine an, ha3l it +ac

to the -ain enca--ent. The ,iggers ha, to *or


15/255

f3nction in flight. !t *as Ur8a *ho ,isco/ere, that the sail7lie*ings ha, to +e ri++e, *ith thin shoots of can,le*oo, in or,er to

-aintain their for- in flight. For his art Mishra confir-e, that+y +ringing slen,er +o*s of snae, *ing ri+s +ac fro- the ,ig

along *ith stran,s of fraye, *ire. Ur8a sa* that the *ire *as+etter for controlling the shae of the *ings than -ere roe0 an,

another or,er *as lace, *ith Bly. The t*o yo3ng -en sent ho3rs

together oring o/er the ,esign0 trying to ,eter-ine ho* the tailasse-+ly *o3l, f3nction. !n all it too eight -onths for the ornithoter to +e

re+3ilt. The ey *as the +o5 of *ires an, ,iss that ser/e, asthe craft's engine. Ur8a0 Mishra0 an, e/en Tocasia ,i, not no*

e5actly ho* the s-all engine co3l, o*er the large ornithoter2

they only ne* that it ,i,. Ur8a 3se, the s-all0 *ea crystal

that ha, +elonge, to the s37chi to o*er the ,e/ice. !t *as the last ,ay of the year0 Mishra's +irth,ay0 *hen the

craft *as rea,y at last. The ,ay *as s3rrisingly *ar-0 an, asoft *in, +le* fro- the ,esert. There *as so-e ,e+ate o/er *ho

*o3l, get the honor7an, the ,anger7of the first test flight. "! sho3l, ,o it0" sai, Ur8a. "After all0 ! 3n,erstan, the

*orings of the o*er crystal cra,le." "! sho3l, ,o it0" co3ntere, Mishra. "The flight le/ers

controlling the *ings are -3lish0 an, they nee, a strong han, toee the- in line."

"!'- lighter0" sai, Ur8a. "!'- stronger0" snae, Mishra.

"! a- caa+le of hol,ing the le/ers in lace0" sai, Ur8a. "An, ! 3n,erstan, the o*er crystals as *ell as yo3 ,o0"

a,,e, Mishra


16/255

strain as the s-all craft0 lie a fle,gling roc lea/ing the nest0leat into the air. The ornithoter cli-+e, into the sy0 an,

there *as a shar clatter as Ur8a thre* the locing -echanis-into lace0 fi5ing the *ings into a soli,0 gli,ing s3rface.

Ur8a *as aloft for ten -in3tes. 6e circle, the enca--entt*ice0 an, there *as a tense secon, *hen the craft s3,,enly

,roe, ten feet0 +3t it


17/255

the hori8on. Tocasia an, Ur8a looe, at each other. "#erhas one of the steering *ires +roe0" offere, Tocasia.

"$r the little fool *ante, to see ho* far he co3l, go0" Ur8agr3-+le,0 r3shing for the rocy tor +ehin, the- to get a +etter

/ie*. Ur8a ha, -a,e it only half*ay 3 the hill *hen the so3n, of

*ings c3tting thro3gh the *ar- air heral,e, Mishra's ret3rn. The

yo3nger +rother circle, the ca- t*ice an, then lan,e, 43st+eyon, the stoca,e gates. By the ti-e Mishra ha, to3che, ,o*nUr8a *as *aiting0 his face as stern as stone.

"What ,i, yo3 thin yo3 *ere ,oing;" he sho3te, as Mishracli-+e, o3t of the ho3sing. "Ba, eno3gh that yo3 ro+a+ly o/er7

stresse, the 3lleys *ith yo3r ,i/ing a+o3t@ B3t to fly o3t of

sight of the ca-@ o3 -ight ha/e +een attace, +y rocs. !f yo3

ha, crashe, in the ,esert0 *e -ight not ha/e fo3n, yo3@" Mishra ,i, not see- to +e listening. !nstea, he sai,0 "! sa*

the ,ra*ings. 9i,n't yo3;" Ur8a *as +ro3ght 3 short an, looe, at his +rother0 388le,.

The ,ar7haire, +rother t3rne, to Tocasia. "$3t in the,esert0 there are ,ra*ings. Mo3n,s of ,ar earth against the

lighter s3rro3n,ing san,. We'/e asse, the- +efore on foot +3tne/er notice,. B3t fro- a+o/e0 yo3 can see that they're ict3res@

There are ,ragons0 genies0 rocs7e/en -inota3rs." 6e t3rne, to his+rother. "o3 sa* the-0 ,i,n't yo3;"

Ur8a +line, at his +rother. Then0 -ore ca3tio3sly0 herelie,0 "! *as -ore *orrie, a+o3t the erfor-ance of the craft."

Mishra ,i, not +other to listen. "They s3rro3n, a largehilloc. !'ll +et if *e chece, that o3t0 *e', fin, it's so-e

sort of ol, Thran enca--ent." "!t co3l, +e so-e Falla4i holy lace0" starte, Ur8a0 +3t

Mishra shoo his hea,. "1o." 6e *as e-hatic. "There's nothing in the ol, tales

a+o3t Falla4i settle-ents in this i--e,iate area. ! thin it's

Thran0 an, ! thin *e sho3l, in/estigate it." "We sho3l, in/estigate the ,a-age the flights ,i, to the

ornithoter0" sai, Ur8a0 alrea,y ro*ling along the *ings0

3lling at the sailcloth an, r3nning his han,s along the str3ts. Tocasia srea, her han,s in a gest3re that enco-asse, +oth

+rothers. "We sho3l, cele+rate0" she sai,. "There *ill +e ti-eeno3gh to ,o e/erything else in the -orning."

That night st3,ents an, ,iggers +3ilt a great +onfire in theca- an, gathere, aro3n, the rising fla-es. There *as an air of

e5cite-ent a-ong the st3,ents. The yo3ng no+les ha, ne* tales totae +ac to Argi/e. They ha, +een resent *hen Ur8a too the

first flight an, *hen Mishra fo3n, the great ,ra*ings in the,esert. After long -onths of +ac+reaing *or in shallo*

trenches an, ,etaile, cleaning of long7,ea, +its of -etal0 hereat last *as so-ething to +e ro3, of. There *ere songs0 an, the

na+i8 flo*e,. Rah3, trie, to teach se/eral of the no+le +oys atra,itional Falla4i ,ance. The +oys ha, no concet of the ,ance's

rhyth-0 +3t since it in/ol/e, *a/ing ointe, stics they 4oine,in *ith the sirit of a,/ent3re. Mishra tol, an, retol, the story

of his flight0 an, Tocasia ne* that e/ery yo3ng -an an, *o-an inthe enca--ent *o3l, +e cla-oring for their oort3nity to fly in

the near f3t3re.

Ur8a re-aine, at the e,ge of the ca-fire0 neither ,ancing0nor ,rining0 an, nor taling.

Tocasia *ale, o/er to hi-. "o3 are en4oying yo3rself;"

"Well eno3gh0" relie, the yo3th. "B3t ! thin *e sho3l,

chec the rigging for any *ear an, tear. An, if yo3 *ant to 3t alarger ho3sing7" "To-orro*0" sai, the ol, *o-an. "o3 are yo3ng eno3gh for a

lot of to-orro*s. En4oy yo3rself this e/ening."


18/255

"! en4oy *oring on the ,e/ices0" sai, Ur8a0 *atching his+rother across the fire it. The yo3nger +oy *as s3rro3n,e, +y

st3,ents as *ell as a fe* of the ,iggers. !t see-e, to Tocasiathat his story gre* longer an, -ore e5citing *ith each telling.

"There are other en4oy-ents0" sai, Tocasia0 follo*ing Ur8a'sga8e. "o3r +rother see-s to ha/e ,isco/ere, that."

The t*o *ere silent in the flicering firelight for a -o-ent.

Then Ur8a sai,0 "! ha, nothing against Mishra taing his flight." "! ne/er sai, yo3 ,i,0" ret3rne, Tocasia. "!t's 43st that there is stress on any o+4ect that is 3t to

the test for the first ti-e0" contin3e, the ol,er +rother. "Wesho3l, ha/e ,one a f3ll chec +efore letting hi- go aloft."

"$f co3rse0" sai, Tocasia in a le/el tone.

"6is o*n reclessness asi,e0 he co3l, ha/e +een h3rt0" sai,

Ur8a. "es." Tocasia a3se,. "B3t tell that to a yo3ng -an *ho

*ants to +e his +rother's e


19/255

-o3n, containing *rece, artifacts an, o*er stones. 93ring thene5t t*o years researchers locate, al-ost t*enty s3ch -o3n,s.

&till the +ig


20/255

*recage. There sho3l, +e so-e0 e/en +y acci,ent." "An, yo3 ha/e a theory0 Brother;" ase, Mishra.

"#lag3e0" sai, Ur8a cal-ly. "&o-ething s*et thro3gh that notonly ille, the Thran +3t ,estroye, their re-ains as *ell. That

also e5lains *hy the *recage is so *i,ely scattere,." Mishra shoo his hea,. "1ot lag3e. War. #lag3e *o3l,n't

e5lain *hy there is no art. War *o3l,. The /ictors +3rne, *hat

co3l, +3rn: aintings0 +oos0 +o,ies. Then they ,estroye, therest. We ha/e fo3n, ash its a-ong the /ario3s sites." "Those are the res3lt of -an3fact3re0 not +attle0" o+ser/e,

Ur8a. "An, if yo3're right0 *hat +eca-e of the /ictors;" "They +eca-e the sca/engers0" retorte, Mishra tri3-hantly0

setting ,o*n his glass. "That's *hat it has to +e. A sla/e race

of h3-ans that ,estroye, the -inota3r -asters0 then fell aart

itself *itho3t the -inota3r science to s3ort the-." Ur8a ch3cle,. "A erfect arg3-ent. Each oint 3ses as roof

another


21/255

recogni8e,0 an, ignore, the lines0 *hich *e ,i, not. B3t thelines are -ore i-ortant."

Mishra leane, o/er the -a an, sco*le,. "%ines on aer0" hesnorte,. "o3 sa* the arc an, calc3late, the center0 then looe,

for 43stification in the lines of the /ario3s -o3n,s." "&o yo3 ,isagree *ith -y arg3-ent0 Brother;" ase, Ur8a


22/255

1o*0 fro- the stern loo on his face0 Tocasia got the feelingshe *as a+o3t get a -essy ,ose of the last


23/255

too -3ch earth0 yo3 an, !0 for 3s to art *ays o/er agran,-other's story."

Tocasia allo*e, herself a s-all grin0 then t3rne, a ste- faceto the ol, -an. "Go0 then0 an, fin, o3t a-ong yo3r ,iggers *ho

+elie/es in gran,-others' stories an, *ho ,oes not. 9isco/er *ho*o3l, go to a ,ig site in the -o3ntains an, *ho *o3l, re-ain. 9o

not challenge their ri,e or their co3rage0 for then e/en those

*ho thin it sacrilege *o3l, co-e along0 an, feel the *orse forit. ! ,o not no* if *e *ill fin, anything0 +3t if *e ,o *e *illin/estigate it."

Ah-ahl no,,e, an, rose to his feet. "! ,i, not thin yo3*o3l, shy a*ay fro- any challenge0 Tocasia. o3 are lie a -an in

that regar,."

Tocasia rose as *ell in resect. "! ,i, not thin yo3 *o3l,

hi,e any infor-ation ! nee,e, to no* fro- -e. Than yo3." Ah-ahl +o*e, an, *as gone. Tocasia shoo her hea, as she

*atche, his sha,o* 4oin the others of the early e/ening. o3 arelie a -an0 he ha, sai,0 an, -eant it as a co-li-ent. Tyical

,esert ,*eller0 after all these years. et he *as still *illingto ,efy ol, stories an, gi/e her a *arning.

Tocasia shoo her hea, again an, ret3rne, to intricacies ofthe s37chi's leg -echanis-s.

They left the ne5t -orning0 acing eno3gh rations for a ,ay

an, a half's flight o3t an, +ac. Both of the yo3ng -en accete,Tocasia's co-anionshi *itho3t co--ent0 an, neither s3ggeste,

that she not co-e along. &he left antar7one of the -orero-ising ol,er st3,ents of that season7in charge *hile she *as

gone an, tol, hi- not to arg3e *ith Ah-ahl or 6a4ar an, to ,eferany ,is3tes or -a4or ,ecisions 3ntil they ret3rne,.

The ornithoter *as the original one they ha, re+3ilt years

ago. 1o* the for*ar, ho3sing *as enclose, +y a larger *oo,enfra-e containing -ore than eno3gh roo- for the three e5lorers

an, their s3lies. The control le/ers re-aine, in the -i,,le of

the ho3sing0 so either yo3ng -an co3l, han,le the-. The o*er ofthe stone *as nearly ine5ha3sti+le0 +3t h3-an flesh *as

other*ise. After a+o3t fo3r ho3rs of flight they *o3l, ha/e tochange oerators.

Fro- the gro3n, the +or,ers of the Great 9esert *ere a lo*3n,3lating *aste of +lo*n ,3st -arre, *ith fre


24/255

the general north an, slightly7*est ,irection +3t *an,ering +acan, forth along that line. !f an interesting for-ation ca3ght

Mishra's eye0 he steere, to*ar, it 3ntil Ur8a *arne, hi- they*ere off co3rse. Then the yo3nger +rother sighe, an, +ro3ght the

ro* of the craft +ac on trac. $ccasionally they ha, toreengage the *ings to regain lost altit3,e. Then Ur8a *o3l, chec

three ti-es to -ae s3re of their osition.

$nce they asse, o/er another series of lines. These hel, noh3-anoi, fig3res0 only sirals an, angles 435taose, against oneanother. Mishra circle, the site as the ol,er +rother setche,0

then no,,e, in confir-ation. The angles ointe, in the ,irectionthey sho3l, tra/el.

At the en, of the first ,ay they set ,o*n on a artic3larly

high -esa. Far fro- the rotection of the stoca,e an, its

graeshot cata3lts0 they ca-e, *itho3t a fire an, slet *ithinthe ornithoter's ho3sing. Tho3gh Tocasia ha, not ha, to -an the

control le/ers ,3ring the flight0 she *as *orn +y the contin3al-otion. 6er hea, ache, fro- the tinny r3sh of the *in, o/er the

*ires. &he slet *itho3t ,rea-s that e/ening an, a*oe stiff fro-the cra-e,


25/255

"We're large0 an, *e're -o/ing@" relie, Tocasia0 screa-inga+o/e the *in,. "!t ro+a+ly thins *e're another roc."

Mishra c3rse, an, 3lle, +oth le/ers +ac as far as they*o3l, go. "! ,on't thin *e can get a+o/e it@ !t's too fast for

3s@" The roc *as alrea,y o/er the- again0 -aing another ,i/e.

Mishra reengage, the *ings an, 4ine, the craft to the right0 +3t

the roc *as rea,y for the -ane3/er. !t shifte, slightly2 there*as a horren,o3s ri along the right si,e0 an, Tocasia sa* thatone of the *ing str3ts ha, +een rie, loose an, *as no*

fl3ttering in the *in,. Better than the entire *ing -issing0tho3ght Tocasia0 +3t eno3gh to crile the-.

"We can't o3tfly it@" yelle, Mishra. "!'- going to 3t 3s

,o*n."

"$/er there@" sho3te, Ur8a0 ointing to the nest of +roen-etal si,ers. "! thin there's a hole in the cliff *all."

"Won't -ae it@" sho3te, Mishra0 3lling first one le/er0then the other0 trying to shae the roc off their tail.

"That's +eca3se yo3're flying lie a +ir,@" snae, Ur8a0sho/ing his +rother asi,e an, gra++ing the control le/ers

hi-self. "Fly it lie a -achine an, *e'll -ae it." Un,er Ur8a's control0 the craft no longer 8ig8agge, across

the sy +3t instea, rocete, for*ar,0 s*ooing lo* o/er the*rece, lan,scae of oilos. The roc0 its si-le a/ian +rain

e5ecting the craft to act lie another flier0 e5ecte, it to,o,ge or to t3rn. The +ir, hesitate, +efore 3rs3ing. !ts

in,ecision *as all the ti-e that the three nee,e,. Ur8a charge, the cliff *all. Mishra sho3te, in anic. Tocasia

s3,,enly re-e-+ere, a rayer she ha, learne, as a chil, +ac inte-le school *hen te-les *ere still fashiona+le in Argi/e. &he

-3ttere, the *or,s softly as the far *all close, on the-. &3,,enly Ur8a +ane,0 +ringing the ro* of the craft 3. 6e

3nloce, the -echanis- that hel, the *ings in osition0 an, they

a3to-atically +egan to fol,. Witho3t the s3ort0 the craftl3--ete,. Again0 the roc asse, thro3gh e-ty sace that -o-ents

ago ha, ho3se, the flier. Ur8a ,roe, a+o3t fifty feet0 then

reengage, the *ing locs. The *ings srea, o3t i--e,iately0catching the ,esert air an, slo*ing their fall. &till0 they

lan,e, *ith an 3ncere-onio3s +3- on the san,. 6a, they lan,e, onroc0 Tocasia ha, no ,o3+t they *o3l, ha/e +roen the s3orting

str3ts0 not to -ention a fe* +ones. Ur8a 3nlatche, the *ing locs0 an, the *ings fol,e, in*ar,

again0 the ,a-age, str3t sticing o3t at an o,, angle. Tocasia*as alrea,y at the hatch0 scanning the sies.

"!t'll +e +ac0" she sai,0 scanning the e-ty hea/ens. "%et'snot +e here *hen it co-es."

"&ho3l,n't tae off again i--e,iately any*ay0" sai, Ur8a. "!t-ight +e *aiting. Besi,es0 *e nee, to get the str3t reaire,.

%et's -ae for that ca/ern entrance. Are yo3 all right0 Brother;" "o3 sho3l, care@" sai, Mishra hotly as Tocasia t3rne, at the

hatch0 afrai, the yo3ng -an ha, +een h3rt. "! ne* *hat ! *as,oing@ o3 ,i,n't nee, to sho/e yo3rself into things@"

Ur8a +line, an, sco*le,0 his concern relace, *ithirritation. "o3 *ere laying its ga-e0 flying lie another roc.

$f co3rse it co3l, o3tfly yo3 that *ay. We only lost it +eca3se !

-a,e for7" "&helter no*. Arg3-ent later0" Tocasia +roe in sharly. "An,

+ring the torches an, *ater. We -ight +e here 3ntil ,ar."

1either +rother relie,0 +3t neither arg3e, *ith the ol,

scholar. They cla-+ere, 3 the san,y +an +ehin, her0 +reainginto a f3ll7fle,ge, r3n as the roc's sha,o* asse, o/er the-. Tocasia *as at the entrance first. &he s3n an, scanne, the

hea/ens. A+o/e the-0 the roc circle, the canyon of +roen


26/255

-achinery an, *rece, +3il,ings. "We'll ha/e to +ring the cata3lts *ith 3s ne5t ti-e0" she

sai,. "$r fig3re o3t a *ay to -o3nt the- on an ornithoter0"

o+ser/e, Mishra. "We're going to +e here for a *hile0" sai, Ur8a. "&ho3l, *e

see *here this assage goes;"

The ca/ern *as an entrance*ay. The first ten feet or so *erenat3ral roc0 +3t after that the san,stone ga/e *ay to s-ooth0olishe, granite. Tocasia ran her han,s along the *all. !t *as

constr3cte, of searate +locs0 in/isi+le to the eye0 ,etecta+leas in,i/i,3al stones only +y to3ch. &he *histle, a lo* note. E/en

a-ong the Thran r3ins she ha, e5ca/ate,0 there *as no *or-anshi

this recise. Behin, her0 Mishra lit the can,le*oo, torches. The

g3ttering fla-es s-oe, +3t *ere +etter than no light at all. "!t *as fort3nate yo3 sa* this oening0" sai, Tocasia to

Ur8a. "!t *as o+/io3s0" he ret3rne,0 taing a torch fro- his

+rother. "The *recage of the +3il,ings in,icate, roa,s0 all of*hich ra,iate, fro- this sot. This is the center of the Thran's

s3ose, 'secret heart.' " "The heart of the heart0" sai, Tocasia.

They soe in *hisers0 as if their *or,s -ight *ae the long,ea,. Tocasia trie, to raise her /oice to a nor-al le/el0 +3t the

/ery e-tiness of the sace ,efeate, her. Mishra e5a-ine, the corri,or +efore the-. "1o creat3res li/e

here. %oo at the ,3st. 1o footrints +3t o3r o*n." Ur8a hel, 3 his torch0 the light flaring fro- the *alls.

"An, no +ats0 either. 1othing has +een here for a long ti-e." Both yo3ng -en looe, at Tocasia. "Right then0" she sai, at

last. "For*ar,. B3t stay together an, stic to the -ain ath." There *as little *orry0 for the fe* oenings to either si,e

*ere -ere alco/es0 an, the ca/ern ran straight +ac into the

hillsi,e itself. They asse, se/eral sets of stairs an, one ort*o large cha-+ers0 +3t nothing that *o3l, in,icate any

occ3ants0 recent or other*ise. 9ea, crystalline lates ,otte,

the ceiling a+o/e the-0 reflecting the light of the torches +3tro/i,ing none of their o*n.

The first alco/es *ere e-ty0 +3t as they -o/e, for*ar,Tocasia notice, so-e *ere fille, *ith the re-ains of s37chi

constr3cts. These *ere r3ste, relics0 little +etter than the onesthey ha, 3lle, fro- the ,ig. &e/eral *ere nothing -ore than

lo*er torsos0 the 3er hal/es lost to ti-e or0 erhas0 to to-+ro++ers. Tocasia notice, *ith so-e satisfaction that the nees of

the creat3res ,i, in,ee, +en, +ac*ar,. They ha, reache, anotherstaircase lea,ing ,o*n into the ,arness *hen they hear, it7or

rather0 felt it. A ,ee thro++ing ca-e fro- *ithin thes3rro3n,ing stone0 as if the earth *ere h3--ing so-e 3nno*a+le

,itty. Tocasia looe, at the yo3ng -en. They stare, at eachother0 an, the scholar *as once again re-in,e, of the silent

co--3nication they see-e, to share. Then the +rothers looe, +acat Tocasia an, no,,e,. The three ,escen,e, to*ar, the noise.

Ahea, there *as light. 1o -ore than a gray s-3,ge against the+lacness0 it slo*ly refine, itself0 gro*ing *ith each assing

ste. There *ere no -ore s37chi alco/es no*0 only straight *alls

lea,ing to*ar, the goal. They entere, a cha-+er as large as any they ha, asse,

thro3gh. The *alls *ere nat3ral0 +3t s3orte, *ith ancient steel

an, illars of the sa-e closely set +locs that Tocasia ha, seen

earlier. The *alls *ere littere, *ith -achines. They *ere clearlyof Thran ,esign +3t *ith a ,ifference. These aeare, f3nctional.Their cogs *ere grease, an, shining0 their s3rfaces olishe, an,

-irrorlie in their finish. !t *as0 Tocasia tho3ght0 as if the


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Thran ha, left only -o-ents +efore. There *ere lights as *ell. Within this cha-+er the ceiling7

lates *ere alit *ith their o*n a-+ient glo*. &-all +alls ofra,iance ,ance, aro3n, so-e of the -achinery0 or+iting the- lie

s-all0 glo*ing -oons. B3t this *as all o3t,one +y the largecrystal in the center.

!t *as a o*er stone0 3n-arre, +y age an, 3n+roen +y

acci,ent. !ts facets *ere s-ooth an, reflecti/e0 the e,ges shareno3gh to c3t the fa+ric of reality itself. !t *as a+o3t the si8eof t*o h3-an fists. et it calle, to Tocasia's -in, the i-age of

t*o hearts0 for it 3lse, *ith its o*n rhyth-. A rain+o* ofcolors laye, across it as it thro++e, *ith life.

The o*er stone *as on a lo* latfor- flane, +y -irrors0

*hich in t3rn *ere attache, +y *ires to /ario3s -achines aro3n,

the eri-eter. The o*er stone -ight +e resonsi+le for nothing-ore than the lights0 the archaeologist note,0 or it -ight +e a

f3lly oerational -achine *ith a greater 3rose. Before the o*er stone's e,estal *as a s-ooth +an of -etal0

shae, lie an o/ersi8e,0 oen +oo. !ts ages *ere -etal an,glass0 an, the glass *ine, lie an e/il eye in the night. 1e/er

ha, Tocasia seen a ,e/ice lie this one. &he reali8e, this -ightha/e co-e at the en, of the cycle of Thran ,e/elo-ent. #erhas

*hat they ha, +een e5ca/ating so lo/ingly *ere nothing -ore thanol, scrayar,s0 *here the ancient an, 3n*ante, re-nants of the

Thran's ast *ere ,iscar,e,. &he stare, at the crystal itself0 *hile the t*o yo3ng -en

-o/e, ahea, of her0 ,ra*n +y its incan,escent ra,iance. Theystoo, +efore the oen -etal +oo0 ,*arfe, +y its si8e an,

-agnificence. Their /oices rattle, against the *alls of the ca/e0re+o3n,ing an, gaining strength fro- the s3+li-inal h3- that

s3rro3n,e, the-. "!t's +ea3tif3l0" sai, Mishra. "%oo ho* it glo*s."

"!t's intact0" sai, Ur8a. "Thin *hat *e can learn."

"These -arings0" sai, Mishra0 srea,ing his han,s o3t to*ar,the -etal +oo7glyhs. "They're so -3ch lie the Thran *ritings

*e'/e seen0 +3t -ore ,etaile,. More a,/ance,."

"9on't to3ch anything@" calle, Ur8a sharly0 thr3sting o3this o*n han, to intercet his +rother's. "We ,on't no* *hat they

,o@" Tocasia co3l, not tell *hich +rother *as resonsi+le for *hat

haene, ne5t. &he co3l, not tell *hich +rother to3che, theartic3lar glyh0 or e/en if either ,i,. %ater0 neither +rother

a,-itte, to anything0 an, each acc3se, the other of ca3sing the,isaster.

All Tocasia co3l, say *as that as Ur8a reache, o3t to stohis +rother0 the glo* intensifie,0 s3,,enly an, hotly. There *as

an e5losion0 +3t one *itho3t so3n,0 an, the h3ge o*er stone0the heart of the heart of the secret heart0 shattere, in a

+losso- of light.

hater C D!&!$1&

This is *hat Tocasia sa*.

The o*er stone at the center of the roo- s3,,enly +egan to

glo* hotter0 to cons3-e itself *ith its o*n ra,iance. !t shone asif a iece of the s3n itself ha, +een ,etache, an, set ,o*n a-ong

the-. !nstincti/ely Tocasia fl3ng her ar-s 3 in front of her to

shiel, her eyes0 +3t alrea,y the t*o +rothers *ere nothing -ore

than f388y silho3ettes against the ge-'s ra,iance. &he sho3te,o3t their na-es +3t her /oice *as s*allo*e, +y the e5losion. There *as an e5losion0 tho3gh its so3n, *as in *a/elengths

that she co3l, not hear. !t reso3n,e, thro3gh the length of the


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ca/erns an, rattle, e/ery +one in her +o,y. There *as ress3re0 as if a great han, *as ressing ,o*n 3on

her0 then ressing thro3gh her0 lea/ing her stan,ing. There *as heat0 as if she ha, s3,,enly asse, thro3gh a

f3rnace. Then the heat *as gone as *ell. An, finally there *as a r3sh of air0 fro- +ehin, her0 as if

the *orl, *as straining to fill the ga of *hat ha, +een lost. !t

*as the force of the +lo* fro- +ehin,0 3nanticiate, an,3ne5ecte,0 that noce, her to her nees. &he st3-+le, to her feet0 her ancient 4oints co-laining0 her

eyes still seare, +y the +rilliance of the o*er stone'si--olation. The stone *as no longer on its e,estal0 an, the ,ee

h3--ing of the ca/ern no longer reso3n,e, thro3gh her +ones.

Tocasia +line, +ac the +rilliance. &lo*ly her sight

ret3rne,0 first at the eri-eter of her /ision0 then slo*lyret3rning to the center of her eyes. &he +line, +ac a sheen of

ne*7sr3ng tears0 an, *ith it the last +its of her +lin,ness. The e,estal *as e-ty. The o*er stone *as gone.

Both of the yo3ng -en *ere on the floor0 +3t alrea,ystirring. 1either ha, +een h3rt hysically +y the +last as far as

she co3l, tell0 +3t they 3lle, the-sel/es 3 lie ol, -en0caref3l not to shatter their o*n +ones +y rising.

Then she notice, that the o*er stone *as not gone. !t ha,+een slit in t*o0 an, each of the +rothers hel, half in his left

han,. More of the lights ca-e on in the ca/ern0 an, she hear, the

tra- of -etal feet against stone. This is *hat Ur8a sa*.

6e *as reaching o3t to sto Mishra +3t *as too late. There*as a +rilliant flash that cons3-e, the- +oth. 6is last clear

/ision *as of his +rother's face0 his e5ression s3rrise,0 his+ear, s3rro3n,ing an oen -o3th. &ho3ting a c3rse or a *arning;

Ur8a co3l, not hear hi-0 an, s3,,enly he *as s3rro3n,e, +y the

*hiteness of the +last. Then he *as so-e*here else.

6e *as floating2 flying o/er a lan,scae that he ha, ne/er

seen +efore. The earth +eneath hi- *as -a,e of ca+les of corro,e,-etal0 crosse, an, recrosse, against the-sel/es 3ntil they for-e,

a thic *o/en -at. 63ge gears +roe thro3gh the -etal lan,scae0t3rning slo*ly an, straining against the s3rro3n,ing ca+les.

oer7colore, snaes -o/e, a-ong the -at0 +3t Ur8a sa* that they*ere instea, -ore ca+les0 +lin,ly seeing their ath thro3gh the

-orass of *o/en *ires. There *ere other great circ3lar lates0gears t3rne, si,e*ays0 as thic as Ur8a *as tall an, coate, *ith

a thic atina of corrosion. Ur8a notice, that the entire lan,scae *as 3n,3lating

slightly0 lie a li/ing thing0 fro- the -otion of cogs an, *heels+eneath. 6ills for-e, aro3n, hi-0 -o/ing slo*ly0 3shing the

corro,e, gears relentlessly to his right. !n that ,irection7*esthe tho3ght0 tho3gh in this shifting *orl, it *as ,iffic3lt to +e

s3re7there *as a re,,ish glo*. Ur8a lan,e, on one of the gears0 an, it carrie, hi- along as

it -o/e,. The -at of coer7colore, ca+les snae, aro3n, hi- +3t,i, not to3ch hi-. The lan,scae see-e, to +oil *ith -etal

snaes.

There *as a stor- ahea,0 e+on clo3,s +3il,ing against the,arer s3rro3n,ing. Bl3e lightning arche, +et*een the clo3,s0

gi/ing the- ,efinition.

A *a/e of rain s*et o/er the lan,. !t taste, of oil0 +3t it

asse,


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-etal ca+les an, gears as it ,i, so. !t *as -a,e of thic latesof hea/y -etal hel, together +y -an7si8e, +olts0 an, co/ere, *ith

ang3lar r3nes. !t istone, 3*ar,0 an, the gear 3on *hich Ur8astoo, rose an, or+ite, it as it shot 3 a+o/e the 3n,3lating

hills. Then the to*er retracte, into the earth as


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*ere ar-e, in the sa-e -anner as his si,er. 1o* he sa* the glo* ahea, ca-e fro- a great fo3n,ry0 of the

tye 3se, to -ae s*or,s an, horseshoes. The f3rnace *as -a,e ofro3gh iron an, shae, lie a -onstro3s hea,. %ong0 c3rle, horns

fra-e, a gaing -o3th fille, *ith tong3es of flicering fla-e.Ur8a ne* he *as a half7-ile a*ay fro- it0 +3t e/en so he co3l,

feel its heat. !t co3l, -elt the flesh fro- his +ones0 he ne*0

ha, he any flesh. A great ra- of re,7tinge, -etal le, 3 to the-onster f3rnace's -o3th. The +ron8e7colore, ,rea- si,er an, the other +ron8e si,ers

*ere -o/ing no*0 along *ith the elehants0 o5en0 an, titans. The,iss ca-e to rest at the foot of the long ra-0 an, the /ario3s

constr3cts l3rche, for*ar,0 o*ere, +y their o*n internal

engines. &tea- an, sars leae, fro- their 4oints. The

artificial creat3res for-e, a air of lines0 one to either si,eof the ra-.

1o* the fig3res in *hite0 the +3il,ers of these -ightyconstr3cts0 +egan to -o/e as *ell. &lo*ly0 al-ost rel3ctantly0

they inche, 3 the ra-. As they -o/e,0 the cylin,rical *eaonsato the re,,ish7gol, -achines follo*e, the-0 acing their

aroach +eneath their +arrels. $ne of the fig3res nearest to Ur8a hesitate, for a -o-ent0

then t3rne, +ac. $r rather0 it trie, to. The nearest -achine0the gol,en ,rea- si,er the fig3re ha, hele, +3il,0 fire,

so-ething fro- its t3rret. A +ea- of incan,escent light srangfro- the ti of the cylin,er an, c3t ,o*n the fleeing fig3re.

Ur8a sa* the creat3re's yello*ish +ones clatter to the gro3n, an,roll to the foot of the ra-.

The other fig3res in *hite ai, no attention to the ,ea,,efector. !nstea, they slo*ly -a,e their *ay 3 the ra-0 to*ar,

the fla-es0 +en,ing +eneath the *eaons of the gol, artifacts.Ur8a trie, to sho3t a *arning0 +3t all he co3l, -ae *as a so3n,

of s-ithies an, ringing ha--ers.

&o-e of the fig3res *ere -elting no*0 *hile others +3rst intofla-e fro- the heat. Their co-anions 3rge,0 ,ragge,0 an, ha3le,

the- for*ar, 3ntil they reache, the -onstro3s -o3th of the

f3rnace itself. An, then they itche, the-sel/es in.

Ur8a screa-e,. 6is cries see-e, to thro* hi- +ac a*ay fro-the -onster f3rnace0 a*ay fro- the *orl, of gol,en snaes an,

-o/ing hillsi,es an, +e*eaone, -achines. The f3rnace's -o3th,i-inishe, to a s-all re,,ish ,ot as he fle,0 an, he felt

so-ething *ar- +ehin, hi-. 6e t3rne, to*ar, the ne* sensationan,...

...*oe on the floor of the cha-+er. 6e *as cl3tching half ofthe o*er stone in his han,. !n the ,istance0 Ur8a hear, the

tro- of -etal feet against stone.

This is *hat Mishra sa*. Ur8a l3nge, for*ar,0 an, Mishra looe, 3 at hi-0 +3t +y the

ti-e he sa* his +rother's face0 stern an, angry0 the *hite glo*ha, alrea,y cons3-e, the- +oth. All Mishra sa* *as Ur8a's sco*l.

An, then he *as so-elace else.

!t *as in,oors0 insi,e a great hall*ay. This *as 3nlie thes-ooth halls +ore, thro3gh the -o3ntain0 for the *alls see-e, to

+e -a,e of li8ar, sin0 +lac an, lia+le. 6e to3che, one of the

*alls0 an, it flinche,. Mishra co3l, see the entire assage

rile0 al-ost as if it *ere sleeing all aro3n, hi-. The air *asthic an, -oist. The hall*ay e5ten,e, ahea, of hi- fore/er. 6e t3rne, aro3n,.

The hall*ay e5ten,e, ahea, of hi- fore/er. 6e t3rne, aro3n,


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again. The hall*ay e5ten,e, ahea, of hi- fore/er. 6e t3rne, aro3n,

one last ti-e an, hea,e, ,o*n the en,less hall*ay. 6is foot cr3nche, against so-ething0 an, he stee, +ac.

Beneath his feet *as a s-all toy -a,e of gol,. !t *as in theshae of a h3-an fig3re0 an, irrationally Mishra *on,ere, if Ur8a

*as so-e*here near. An, Tocasia7he re-e-+ere, Tocasia ha, +een

*ith the- 43st a -o-ent ago. 6e looe, at the fig3re0 +3t it *asno one he recogni8e,. 6e ha, ina,/ertently +roen off thefig3re's ar-0 an, the fig3re's face *as transfi5e, in a screa-.

The floor ahea, *as littere, *ith s-all screa-ing fig3res.&o-e *ere h3-ans0 +3t there *ere el/es an, orcs0 -inota3rs an,

,*ar/es a-ong the-. 6e trie, to -o/e thro3gh the- *itho3t

steing on the-0 +3t there *ere too -any. Then he reali8e, that

e/en those fig3res that he *as not steing on *ore screa-ing/isages as *ell. Reass3re, that he *as ,oing no a,,itional ,a-age

an, that the fig3rines *ere ro+a+ly not ali/e0 he resse, on0scattering the toys in his *ae.

1o* there *ere alco/es on either si,e of hi-0 each set *ith a,ar -irror against the +ac. Mishra stoe, at the first one an,

sa* a h3-an for-. 1o0 a h3-anoi, for-0 nae,. !t see-e, to t*istas he looe, at it0 t3rning first into one race0 then another0

then a thir,. !t *as a stat3e0 shae, fro- so-e ,ar stone0 yetfl3i,. !t reache, the en, of the series of transfor-ations an,

+egan the se


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3lle, the ge-stone fro- his +reast. !t felt *ar- to the to3ch0al-ost co-forting. The great 4e*el *as car/e, in glittering

facets aro3n, half of its s3rface0 +3t along one si,e a largeiece ha, +een +roen off0 lea/ing a ragge, 43nct3re +ehin,.

The creat3re reache, 3 an, to3che, its si,e of the -irror.9esite hi-self0 Mishra felt his o*n han, raise in resonse0 as

if he *ere the i-age an, the creat3re no* the original. 6e

resse, his han, for*ar,0 al-ost to3ching the glass itself. The,e-on of -etal0 +one0 an, leather s-ile,. &o-eone calle, his na-e. 6e *as s3re of it. &o-eone +ehin,

hi- calle, his na-e. 6e t3rne, a*ay fro- the -irror0 fro- the,ar creat3re +ehin, it0 s3,,enly ca3ght 3 in a *a/e of

+rilliant *hite light0 an, ...

...*oe on the floor of the cha-+er. 6e *as cl3tching half of

the o*er stone in his han,. !n the ,istance Mishra hear, thetro- of -etal feet against stone.

Tocasia st3-+le, to*ar, the t*o +rothers0 *ho *ere slo*ly

3lling the-sel/es fro- the gro3n,. Whate/er they ha, ,one0 theh3ge o*er stone ha, slit in t*ain0 an, each +rother hel, a

ortion of it. Unlie other clea/e, stones Tocasia ha, fo3n, atthe ,ig site0 these ge-s retaine, their la-+ence an, energy. They

flicere, *ith the o*er that still re-aine, *ithin. Each ge-flashe, *ith a range of colors0 tho3gh Ur8a's shone -ost often

re,0 *hile Mishra's glo*e, hea/ily green. Tocasia +line, an, reali8e, it *as +righter in the cha-+er.

The crystal lates along the ceiling *ere lighter no*0 an, there*ere -ore flashes along the -etal7late, *alls.

Ur8a *as alrea,y at Mishra's si,e. The yo3nger +rothershr3gge, off his el,er's offer of ai, an, stoo, on his o*n. 6e

roce, slightly as he stoo,0 as if his legs *ere ne* things to

hi-. Ur8a's face *as as ale as a ghost's0 the colors of the

fract3re, o*er stone laying across it. "What haene,;" he

gase,. Tocasia looe, at the t*o +rothers. They see-e, *oo8y +3t

relati/ely intact. "The o*er ge- e5lo,e,0" she sai,. "o3'/e got the

frag-ents." Mishra ointe, at his +rother. "!t *as his fa3lt@"

"! *as trying to sto yo3@" Ur8a snae,. "Eno3gh@" sho3te, Tocasia0 her /oice echoing off the *alls.

"%isten@" Both yo3ng -en stoe, for a -o-ent an, hear, the slo*0

rhyth-ic trea, of -etal feet against stone. 13-ero3s an, 3nifor-0the footstes *ere hea/y an, relentless. An, they *ere getting

closer. &haes aeare, at the far en, of the cha-+er. Tocasia ,i,

not re-e-+er a ,oor +eing there +efore the e5losion2 erhasthere ha,n't +een. There *as an oening no*0 she reali8e,0 an,

thro3gh it ca-e a half7,o8en titanic shaes. &37chi0 the g3ar,ians of the Thran0 *ith their l3ine faces

an, +ac*ar,7-o3nte, nees. For all their h3ling0 t*iste,

str3ct3re0 they co3l, -o/e fast0 tho3gh. They +ore ,o*n on thetrio.

"Flee@" sho3te, Tocasia.

"1o0" sai, Ur8a. "! thin ! can han,le this." 6is ge- see-e,

to glo* +righter as he soe0 an, he hel, the +a3+le in front ofhi-. A single +ea- of r3+y light shone fro- the e,ges of thestone an, lance, across the roo-0 +athing the si5 o/ersi8e,

-echanis-s. They hesitate,0 ,rining in the ra,iance. Then they


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34/255

co3l, still hear their clattering trea,0 the *hir of the-echanis-s *ithin their chests0 an, the clan of their 4oints.

Ahea, there *as another gro*ing +rightness7this one nat3ral. Theyha, reache, the entrance an, *ere safe.

Ur8a hel, o3t an ar- across the assage0 catching +othTocasia an, Mishra0 *ho let o3t a lo* c3rse. The ol,er +rother

ointe, *ith his other han, to the entrance.

A sha,o* -o/e, across the san, in front of the ca/ern's-o3th. &o-ething large *as *aiting for the-. Tocasia looe, +ac for a sign of the 3rs3ing s37chi0 as

+oth +rothers cret for*ar,. The roc *as erche, ,irectly a+o/ethe U of the ca/ern0 lie an o*l *aiting a+o/e a ro,ent's hole

for its rey to aear. Ur8a c3rse,.

"%et -e try0" sai, Mishra0 hol,ing o3t his stone. This ti-e

Ur8a ,i, not sto hi-. Mishra e,ge, for*ar, to get a clear shot at the roc *ith his

stone. Ur8a staye, ,irectly +ehin, hi-. Mishra hel, his half ofthe ge- aloft0 an, the greenish arcing light0 /isi+le e/en in the

,aylight o3tsi,e0 +3rst for*ar, an, streae, 3 to*ar, the roc.The great +ir, let o3t a tre-en,o3s shrie. !t too to flight0

fl3ttering a+o3t a h3n,re, yar,s a*ay to a large0 rocy s3r0*here it settle, again. The greenish rays follo*e, it +3t ,i, no

a,,itional ,a-age. "Fall0 ,a-n yo3@ Fall@" -3ttere, Mishra thro3gh clenche,

teeth. "o3're *eaening it0" sai, Ur8a0 "+3t it's too +ig to fall.

Too to3gh." "o-any co-ing0" sai, Tocasia +riefly. Far off in the

,istance *as the clatter of the aroaching s37chi. "Bet*een the ,esert an, the ,ee0 +riny sea." Mishra


35/255

*ater0 an, Tocasia sa* that the si,er's ar-or *as shre,,e, in ahalf7,o8en laces an, *as -issing -ost of its for*ar, legs.

Thro3gh the eele, si,e lates she co3l, see Ur8a frantically3lling le/ers an, ressing +3ttons. There *as a re,,ish glo*

aro3n, hi-0 gi/ing the stea- that o3re, o3t of the +east's si,esa hellish a3ra.

"6e's o*ering it *ith the stone0" sai, Mishra. "6e's fitte,

his stone into the -achine. !t -3st -ae artifacts stronger." "1o. The stone's in his han,0" correcte, Tocasia. "B3t yo3'reright. 6e's 3sing that stone to -ae the -achine -ore o*erf3l0

to enhance *hate/er o*er it has." "Whate/er0" gr3nte, Mishra0 ointing to*ar, the oening.

"6e's r3nning o3t of ti-e. %oo@" At the entrance to the ca/ern

*ere the re-aining s37chi0 l3rching into the s3nlight.

The t3rret on the +ac of the si,er's +ac ga/e a high7itche, -etallic ras as it s3n on grit7fille, cogs an, +ro3ght

a+o3t a long0 ,angero3s7looing +arrel. Tocasia ne* at once it*as a *eaon.

The roc screeche, an, leat for*ar, to it the tasty -orselfro- its shell lie a seag3ll eating a cra+. Tocasia hear, Ur8a

sho3t so-ething 3nintelligi+le0 an, the +arrel sat fla-e. Thereso3n,ing th3n,er of the *eaon as it fire, rattle, thro3gh the

canyon of oilos. The fla-e ca3ght the roc in the center of its chest0 igniting

its feathers an, eng3lfing its +o,y in fla-es. The great *inge,+east trie, to fly0 +3t the fire *as insi,io3s0 creeing along

the roc's *ings an, setting the- alight as the creat3re raise,the-. For an instant the roc +eca-e the hoeni5 of Falla4i

legen,0 +athe, in fla-e. B3t instea, of rising lie the -ythical+ir,0 the roc fell0 l3--eting to the canyon floor +elo*.

The great +ir, fell ,irectly in front of the ca/ern -o3th*here the s37chi no* stoo,. The *eaene, creat3res ha, ti-e to

loo 30 an, Tocasia hear, a shar -etallic *hining noise that

-ight ha/e +een a screa-. Then the -assi/e +o,y of the fla-ingroc s-ashe, ,o*n on the-0 cr3shing the- 3tterly.

There *as another screech0 this one sharer0 -ore high

itche,. !t ca-e fro- the r3ste, an, torn -etal si,er *ith *hichUr8a ha, ,efeate, their oonents. The stea- that ha, s3rro3n,e,

the craft no* +eca-e +lac s-oe2 fla-es an, sars lice, thecraft's fra-e*or. Ur8a ha, cli-+e, loose of the ,e/ice an, *as

r3nning. Tocasia notice, he cra,le, the re,,ish ge- against hischest.

The *hining noise fro- the si,er +eca-e higher. !t reache, aitch that al-ost slit Tocasia's +rain. Then0 *ith a crescen,o

of th3n,er0 the -etal si,er e5lo,e,. The noise of the +lastre/er+erate, fro- the cliff si,es an, *as ans*ere, a fe* secon,s

later +y echoes farther 3 the canyon. Ur8a staggere, 3 to the others. Tocasia chece, the ca/ern's

entrance0 +3t all that *as /isi+le *as the s-oing re-ains of theroc.

"That taes care of that0" sai, Ur8a. 6is face an, hair *erestreae, *ith soot0 an, he s-elle, of +3rnt leather an, -etal.

"o3 *ere l3cy0" sai, Mishra *ith a fro*n. "We all *ere l3cy0" sai, Tocasia. "%3cy to fin, this lace0

l3cy to escae the roc. %3cy to escae the ca/erns *itho3t

erishing. 1o* let 3s +e s3fficiently l3cy to get +ac ho-e." "o3 *ere l3cy0" reeate, Mishra to his +rother.

"%3c ha, nothing to ,o *ith it0" relie, Ur8a0 a s3rly note

in his /oice. "! tho3ght ! ne* *hat those si,er things ,i,0 an,

! ha, the o*er to -ae a ,ifference. !t *as fast lanning0erhas0 +3t not l3c." "o3 ha, no i,ea0" resse, Mishra. "o3 acci,entally -a,e the

g3ar,ians stronger *ith the o*er of the stone."


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"$ne learn fro- one's -istaes0" sai, Ur8a0 shr3gging. "Atleast ! ,o. o3 ee -aing ne* -istaes all the ti-e."

"Boys0" ca3tione, Tocasia0 "this isn't the ti-e for this." "! +eat the s37chi *ith -y stone@" snae, Mishra.

"o3 +le* 3 the crystal in the first lace@" rioste, Ur8a. "! ,i, not@ ! ,i,n't to3ch anything@" yelle, Mishra. "That

*as yo3@"

"6ol,@" sho3te, Tocasia0 steing +et*een the t*o yo3ng -en."We can arg3e a+o3t this once *e get aloft. For the -o-ent *enee, to reair the ornithoter an, get +ac." &he -otione, *ith

her hea, to*ar, the s-ol,ering re-ains of the roc. "We ,on't no*if that +ir, *as solitary or one of a larger fa-ily."

Tocasia t3rne, a*ay fro- the air. &he *on,ere, if there *as

so-ething a-ong the ,e+ris she co3l, 3se as a *aling stic. !n

the flight fro- the ca/erns she ha, lost hers0 an, she co3l, feelthe -3scles in her legs cra-ing fro- o/er3se. &he looe, for*ar,

to a long rest after this a,/ent3re. Behin, her0 neither of the +rothers -o/e,. Tocasia t3rne, an,

sai,0 "To,ay0 if yo3 ,on't -in,." Both +rothers0 she notice,0looe, as if stea- *ere going to o3r fro- their ears.

"!n a -o-ent0" sai, Ur8a finally. "B3t first0 gi/e." 6e hel,o3t his right han,. 6is left still cl3tche, the re,7glo*ing ge-.

"What;" ase, Mishra0 hol,ing his o*n stone to his chest. "The stone0" ret3rne, Ur8a. "Gi/e it to -e. #erhas *e can

fit the ieces +ac together." Mishra hel, the stone tighter0 an, Tocasia co3l, s*ear she

sa* the stone flicer0 as yello*7green as a cat's eyes0 in hishan,. "1o0" he sai,. 6is face *as set in a ,ee sco*l.

"There is a chance that *e can restore it0" sai, Ur8acrossly.

"Goo,0" snae, Mishra. "Gi/e -e yo3rs." Ur8a's face gre* longer. "! can't. o3 -ight +rea it."

"! ,on't +rea things@" sai, Mishra hotly. 6is /oice *as

shrill. To Tocasia it see-e, on the /erge of +reaing0 as it ha,,one se/eral years +efore ,3ring his a,olescence. "o3're the one

*ho al*ays thins yo3 no* e/erything0" he contin3e,0 "+3t yo3

al*ays +la-e -e@ Well0 yo3're not as s-art as yo3 thin yo3 are.E/eryone no*s that@"

"! no* +etter +eca3se !'- ol,er0" sai, Ur8a col,ly. "Then yo3 no* ! ,on't *ant to gi/e 3 -y stone0" retorte,

his +rother. "!f yo3 *ant to fit it together0 gi/e -e yo3rs0Master 6igh7an,7Mighty Too7Goo,7for7the7Rest7of7Us@ &ho* -e

yo3're all7*ise0 Brother. Gi/e -e yo3r stone@" "o3 *ant it;" snarle, Ur8a. "Fine. Tae it0 then@ o3 al*ays

tae things that aren't yo3rs@" Tocasia starte, to sho3t0 +3t it *as too late. Ur8a's han,

lashe, o3t0 the stone still grie, tightly in his fist. Mishrastee, for*ar,0 ,irectly into Ur8a's 3nch. The ge- connecte,

*ith the yo3nger +rother's forehea, an, he *ent ,o*n in a hea. Ur8a leat for*ar,0 neeling o/er the fallen for- of his

+rother. "!'- sorry0 Mishra. ! ,i,n't -ean to hit yo3." Mishra ha, alrea,y 3she, hi-self 3 on his el+o*s an, *as

trying to +ac a*ay. "Get a*ay fro- -e0 ,a-n yo3@" Tocasia 3lle, on Ur8a's sho3l,er. "Get 3. o3 sho3l, no*

+etter@" she snarle,. 6er te-er *as fraye, to the +reaing

oint. "o3're al*ays saying yo3're the ol,er an, s-arter one0"she rae, o3t. "Well0 loo *hat yo3'/e ,one."

Ur8a starte, to sea0 then looe, at his +rother. The ge-

ha, c3t Mishra's face0 an, cri-son +loo, alrea,y *elle, in the

*o3n, at his te-le. Ur8a looe, at Tocasia again. "!7!'- ... sorry0" hesta--ere,. 6e hel, o3t his e-ty han, to Mishra. "! ,i,n't -ean

to. !'- sorry."


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Mishra lashe, o3t0 nocing a*ay Ur8a's han,. "Go a*ay@ !,on't nee, yo3r hel@"

Tocasia starte, to sea. "1o*0 Mishra0 yo3r +rother is 43sttrying7"

"An, ! ,on't nee, yo3 to e5lain things a*ay for hi-0either0" Mishra interr3te,. "!'ll +e fine." 6e t3rne, to his

+rother. "The stone is -ine. o3 ha/e one of yo3r o*n."

Tocasia felt her insi,es -elting *ith anger. Both yo3ng -en*ere st3i,0 ighea,e, fools. &he ha, no ti-e for this. &he+reathe, hea/ily0 controlling her te-er +y an act of *ill.

"Fine0" she sai, at last. "Ur8a0 yo3 ten, to the str3t on theornithoter. Mishra0 chec the re-ains of the roc to see if any

of the s37chi g3ar,ians s3r/i/e,. &ho3t if any ,o."

1either +rother -o/e,0 an, Tocasia 3t steel in her /oice.

"1o*0 chil,ren@" Both t3rne, to their tass0 +3t Tocasia notice, that each

glo*ere, at the other as if they *ere ri/al ,ogs. The tri +ac to Tocasia's ca- *as -a,e in -oo,y silence0

an, they fle* into the night to a/oi, ha/ing to ca- again.1either +rother soe -ore than three *or,s at a ti-e to the

other. They confine, the-sel/es to ractical s3+4ects s3ch as the*ay the ,a-age, *ing *as han,ling0 the *eather ahea,0 an, the

resent co3rse of the ornithoter. 1either soe a+o3t the secretheart of the Thran0 the roc0 or their fight.

Tocasia reali8e, that -ore than the o*er stone ha, +eenshattere, that ,ay.

hater

&U19ER!1G

The *orl, change, after oilos an, +eca-e a ,arer lace inthe -onths that follo*e,.

Ur8a retreate, to the


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-anner of the Falla4i talis-ans. Tocasia ,i, not no* if theshattere, o*er stone ha, create, the anger *ithin her t*o +est

st3,ents or -erely 3nearthe, an, crystalli8e, resent-ents thatha, fer-ente, for years. &oon after oilos0 she *ent to each an,

ase, to e5a-ine the stones the-sel/es0 seeing to 3nloc their-ystery.

Ur8a ref3se, to gi/e 3 his stone. !nstea,0 he sai,0 he

*ante, to e5a-ine it hi-self. &3rely Tocasia tr3ste, hi- to -aea fair an, rational e5a-ination; What he ,i, not say0 tho3ghTocasia sense, it0 *as that he *as afrai, she *o3l, t3rn o/er the

stone to his +rother. Mishra *o3l, lay on the ol, scholar'sfeelings. 6e *as the yo3nger +rother2 therefore Tocasia *o3l,

gi/e Mishra a chance to e5a-ine +oth hal/es of the stone.

Mishra in t3rn *o3l, not gi/e 3 his stone. !f Ur8a et his

half of the stone0 he sai, conte-t3o3sly0 he *o3l, hol, his as*ell. What he ,i, not say0 +3t *hat Tocasia felt0 *as that he *as

afrai, she *o3l, t3rn o/er the stone to his +rother. Ur8a *o3l,aeal to her reasoning. Ur8a *as the el,er +rother2 therefore

Tocasia *o3l, gi/e Ur8a the chance to e5a-ine +oth hal/es of thestone.

The archaeologist *as thoro3ghly fr3strate,. 1either +rother*o3l, -o/e *itho3t the other2 neither tr3ste, her s3fficiently to

let her e5a-ine the ge-s. &he t3rne, to the other stones0 +oththe flicering frag-ents that still hel, so-e o*er an, the ,3ll0

crace, re-ains that ha, lost their energies. There *as nothing there. 1one of the other o*er stones they

ha, ,isco/ere, ha, si-ilar o*ers. Mishra's stone see-e, toin,3ce *eaness in its targets0 *hether li/ing or artificial.

Ur8a's ge- aarently strengthene, its targets an, in factallo*e, the sar of ani-ation to enter the +arest of -echanical

h3ss. 1o other stones0 Tocasia note, sa,ly0 see-e, to ha/eenco3rage, s3ch a/arice an, anger in their ossessors.

The nat3re of the energy itself contin3e, to el3,e Tocasia.

&he ne* it e5iste, an, that it co3l, +e harnesse, +y the ,e/ices3sing the Thran ,esigns they ha, ,ecihere,. et the nat3re of

that energy *as +eyon, her. What *as it0 an, ho* ,i, it co-e into

+eing; Was it nat3ral to the crystals0 or *as it so-ething theThran ha, entrae, there; The


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40/255

she an, her follo*ers 3lle, the Thran ,e/ices0 as soli, as the-etals they caref3lly iece, together in the *orshos.

A silence gre* +et*een her an, Ah-al. The only so3n, *as thecracle of the +ra8ier.

"o3 are not thining of the ,esert tri+es or yo3r ,ig site0"sai, Ah-ahl at last. "o3 are thining of yo3r t*o yo3ng -en."

Tocasia let the silence contin3e0 then sai,0 "They ha/e +een

fighting again." "E/er since they /isite, the &ecret 6eart of the $l, $nes0"sai, Ah-ahl. Tocasia shot the lea,er of the ,iggers a loo an, he

hel, 3 a han,. "1o0 they ,i, not tell -e *hat haene, there. 1oone tells this ol, ,igger anything. B3t it is clear to -e an, to

e/eryone else that they ha/e ha, a great falling o3t. The in, of

+attle that +rothers ,o not reco/er fro-. %ast *ee they al-ost

ca-e to +lo*s at the ,ig site." 6e shot her a si,elong glance."o3 no*;"

Tocasia no,,e,. "Ur8a tho3ght Mishra *as ,igging too ,ee tofin, any arts for an on3let. When the ,iggers fo3n, s3ch arts0

Ur8a all +3t acc3se, Mishra of lanting the fin, there in thetrench."

"Mishra fo3n, the ieces of that on3let's sho3l,er -o3ntingfairly0" sai, Ah-ahl. "B3t then he ,ro/e the ,iggers on into the

heat of -i,,ay0 *hen *e nor-ally na. 6e *o3l, ha/e +een hay*ith nothing less than a co-lete on3let arising fro- the earth0

f3lly for-e, an, ali/e0 43st to ro/e his +rother *rong." Tocasia no,,e,. "Each ,ay they get *orse0 an, neither *ants

to tal to the other a+o3t it. Whene/er they are in the sa-elace0 the con/ersation +reas ,o*n into arg3-ent. Then each

contin3es arg3ing *ith -e after*ar,0 trying to sho* -e *here theother *as *rong. An, *hen ! try to sho* the- that they -ay +e

*rong0 each acts as if !'/e si,e, *ith the other. The ast fe*-onths ha/e +een the *orst of all the years ! ha/e no*n the-."

Ah-ahl leane, for*ar,. "The Falla4i +elie/e that -an is -a,e

of stone an, fire0 sy an, *ater. The erfect -an hol,s all theseele-ents in +alance. The yo3ng +rother7he ha, -ore fire than he

nee,e, on the first ,ay ! -et hi-0 an, he has -ore fire than he

nee,s no*. The ol,er +rother is cons3-e, +y stone: col, an,3nyiel,ing. Una+le to +en,0 he *ill shatter or +e *orn a*ay."

"The Argi/ians ha/e a si-ilar +elief0 tho3gh fe* follo* itthese ,ays0" sai, Tocasia. "The *orl, is ,i/i,e, into reality an,

,rea-s. The ol, te-le riests of Argi/e *o3l, say that +oththose yo3ng -en ha/e +een cons3-e, +y their ,rea-s an, are

forgetting their reality." Ah-ahl gr3nte,. "9oes Ur8a sea of ,rea-s to yo3;"

Tocasia shoo her hea,. "Ur8a seas to no one any-ore. 1otto -e2 not his +rother." &he looe, at the lea,er of the ,iggers.

"9oes Mishra;" Ah-ahl no,,e,. "1ot to -e0 +3t he ,oes sea. To 6a4ar0 one

of -y yo3nger assistants0 *ho is closer to hi- in age an,te-era-ent. 6a4ar has +een +itten har, +y the fire as *ell0 an,

he ,rea-s of +eing a great *arrior. ! fear *e *ill lose hi- tothe &3**ar,i an, soon. B3t Mishra has tol, 6a4ar0 *ho has tol, -e

an, ! tell yo30 that Mishra has ,rea-s." "$f *hat;" ase, Tocasia0 o3ring herself -ore na+i8.

"9arness0" sai, Ah-ahl0 srea,ing his fingers o3t to catch

the *ar-th of the +ra8ier. "6e says there is ,arness o3t there0a ,arness that sings to hi- an, tries to ,ra* hi- to it. !t t3gs

at hi-0 lie a 4acal hanging onto his tro3ser legs. An, he fears

it."

"6e sai, that;" ro-te, Tocasia. Ah-ahl shr3gge,. "Mishra tals to 6a4ar. 6a4ar tals to -e. !tal to yo3. Each ti-e so-eone tals to another0 things are

a,,e,0 other things forgotten. #erhas yo3 sho3l, as hi-


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42/255

There *as a -o/e-ent to his left an, the so3n, of a san,alscraing against the ,irt. &lo*ly Ah-ahl t3rne, to*ar, the noise0

eeing his hea, raise, to*ar, the stars +3t allo*ing his eyes tos*ee the sha,o*s. The -oonless night *as ,ar +3t not ,ar

eno3gh to foil the shar eyes of the Falla4i. There *as a r3stle along the sha,o*e, si,e of one of the

st3,ent +arracs. Then ca-e a soft0 -3ffle, co3gh.

"&o-eone there;" calle, Ah-ahl0 s3,,enly looing ,irectly atthe sha,o*. "&ho* yo3rself0 sha,o*y one0 or !'ll *ae the ca-@" A lean for- stee, fro- the sha,o*s0 ,resse, in ,ar linen.

Thin0 an, *iry2 Ah-al recogni8e, 6a4ar0 chief a-ong hisassistants. The yo3ng Falla4i s-ile, g3iltily0 his teeth filling

his narro* face.

"!t *as a +ea3tif3l night0 an, ! co3l, not slee0" he sai,.

"! tho3ght ! *o3l, go for a *al." Ah-ahl s-ile,. "!t is a +ea3tif3l night0 an, ! ha/e +een

*aling -yself0" he sai,. "%et 3s stroll +ac together." The ol,,igger t3rne, a*ay0 +3t 6a4ar ,i, not -o/e fro- his osition.

"Are yo3 co-ing;" Ah-al ase,0 then a,,e, *ith a s-ile0 "$r areyo3 not alone;" To the sha,o*s +ehin, 6a4ar he sai,0 "o3 can

co-e o3t no* as *ell." Ah-ahl ha, e5ecte, 6a4ar's co-anion to +e one of the no+le

girl st3,ents entr3ste, to Tocasia. &3ch ro-ances0 tho3ghofficially fro*ne, 3on0 *ere co--on eno3gh0 an, Ah-ahl still

re-e-+ere, his o*n yo3th *ell eno3gh to no* all the43stifications an, e5c3ses one -aes in s3ch sit3ations. A stern

lect3re an, a *or, to Tocasia to ee an eye on the Argi/ian girl*as all that 3s3ally res3lte, fro- s3ch a ,isco/ery.

Ah-ahl *as th3s s3rrise, *hen the fig3re *ho stee, fro-the sha,o*s *as not a yo3ng *o-an +3t the fa-iliar0 +roa,7

sho3l,ere, for- of Mishra. Ah-ahl's s-ile t3rne, to 388le-ent0an, the ol, ,igger sai,0 "Goo, e/ening0 yo3ng -aster. Are yo3

en4oying the +ea3tif3l night;"

Mishra s-ile,0 an, e/en in the starlight Ah-al co3l, see it*as a thin0 inconse


43/255

"A s-all -atter0" sai, Ah-ahl. "! co3l, 3se the hel. B3t !tell yo3 again0 ! ,on't thin yo3r +rother is a*ae. 6is la-s

are o3t." Mishra shoo his hea,. "&o-eti-es -y +rother lies a*ae in

the ,arness an, lots into the night. ! *o3l, +e s3rrise, if he*ere tr3ly aslee."

Ah-ahl raise, his han,s in -oc s3rren,er. "As yo3 say. o3

no* hi- +etter than !. o-e0 6a4ar. ! ha/e *or for yo3." The *iry Falla4i crosse, to*ar, Ah-ahl0 an, the ol,er -ant3rne,. The air starte, +ac to*ar, the ,igger's ca-.

Ah-ahl looe, +ac. Mishra ha, alrea,y -elte, +ac into thesha,o*s. "&o *hy *ere yo3 there0 6a4ar ;"

The narro*7face, yo3th sco*le, in the starlit ,arness. "! ,o

not no* if ! can tell yo3."

"We are Falla4i0" sai, the ol,er -an. "!f ! care, to fin,o3t0 ! co3l, sho* that yo3r -other's fa-ily an, -y -other's

fa-ily share, a co--on -other. o-e o3t *ith it. What *ere yo3 3to0 stining of na+i8 an, slining thro3gh the sha,o*s lie

4acals." The yo3nger Falla4i stoe,0 as clearly -otion an, -oral

tho3ght ,i, not *or si-3ltaneo3sly. Ah-ahl *aite,. At last theyo3th sai,0 "o3ng Master Mishra *as angry."

"Angry at Ur8a;" ase, Ah-ahl. The sha,o* no,,e, in the ,arness. "A+o3t ho* Master Ur8a *as

al*ays icing on hi-. Was al*ays sho*ing hi- 3. 6o* his +rother*as trying to tric hi- o3t of his stone."

"An, finally he got ,r3n eno3gh an, angry eno3gh to ,oso-ething a+o3t it0" finishe, Ah-ahl.

The narro* sha,o* shr3gge,. es0 that *as it0 tho3ght Ah-ahl.Wae yo3r +rother 3 in the -i,,le of the night to finish an

arg3-ent fro- three ,ays +efore. Get all yo3r tho3ghts line, 30soa the- *ith alcohol0 an, set the- on fire.

!f he *as lanning for Ur8a to +e a*ae *hen he got there. A

nasty tho3ght crystalli8e, in Ah-ahl's -in,. #erhas the yo3nger+rother *as in,ee, going to Ur8a's to retrie/e so-ething.

The tho3ght sent a s-all chill 3 the ol, ,igger's sine.

"3icly0 " he sai, to 6a4ar. "! ha/e an erran, for yo3 afterall. Go 3 to Tocasia's tar. &he sho3l, +e sleeing there in a

chair. Wae her. Tell her *hat yo3 tol, -e0 an, tell her to -eet-e at the +rother's ... at Master Ur8a's


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+est co3rse of action *o3l, +e to *ait0 at least to *ait forMistress Tocasia.

The so3n, srea,2 other la-s *ere co-ing on0 fro- the+arracs an,


45/255

+righter +y the -o-ent. Tocasia raise, her han,s an, sho3te, so-ething Ah-ahl ,i, not

3n,erstan,. 1either +rother ai, the slightest attention0 sointent *ere they on their ri/ate ,3el. Tocasia crie, o3t again

an, stee, for*ar, into the +an,s of re, an, green0 her han,sraise, as if she *ere trying to hysically silence the +oys an,

their ge-s.

Ah-ahl 4oine, her cry hi-self an, leat for*ar,0 +3t he *astoo late. Tocasia +roe one of the r3+y7green0 4a,e7re, +ea-s. Asone0 +oth +rothers stare, 3 at her. Their concentrations

slie,0 their lancing +ea-s s3,,enly sraye, in all,irections... .

An, the roo- e5lo,e,.

Ah-ahl felt hi-self hysically lifte, +y the +last an, thro*n

+ac*ar,0 o3t *here the ,oor sho3l, ha/e +een. The +last +le*a*ay all fo3r of the *alls an, -ost of the roof an, sho*ere, the

o+ser/ers o3tsi,e *ith slinters an, fla-ing ch3ns of *oo,. Ah-ahl reali8e, he *as looing at the stars again. They s3n

gently a+o/e his 3t3rne, face. &lo*ly he 3lle, hi-self to hisfeet0 feeling so-ething soft gi/e in his left nee. The ol,

,igger gri-ace, an, 3lle, hi-self 3. There *ere -oans aro3n, hi- fro- the *o3n,e, onlooers an,

sho3ts fro- those atten,ing the-. 6e ha, not hear, the noise a-o-ent +efore an, *on,ere, if he ha, gone ,eaf for a -o-ent fro-

the +last. There *ere -ore torches no*0 he sa*0 an, so-eone ha,lit a +onfire. Ah-ahl staggere, to his feet an, sa* the re-ains

of the ol, ca+in. !t *as al-ost entirely ,estroye,0 only one corner still

stan,ing. The entire eri-eter *as s-oing0 fra-ing the for-s*ithin. There *ere t*o0 neeling o/er a thir,.

Ah-ahl li-e, into the *recage of the ca+in. Tocasia's for-lay on Ur8a's la0 *hile Mishra nelt at her si,e. &he lay lie a

+roen ,oll0 her nec cante, at an o,, angle to her +o,y. Mishra

hel, his fingers to her nec0 then looe, 3 at Ah-ahl. Theyo3nger +rother shoo his hea,.

Ur8a looe, 3 as *ell0 ignoring Ah-ahl an, glaring at his

yo3nger +rother. !t *as a hate7fille, stare that +la8e, thro3ghthe tears strea-ing ,o*n his chees. Ah-ahl co3l, not re-e-+er

Ur8a e/er crying in all the ti-e the yo3ng -an ha, +een in theca-. B3t +eneath the tears0 the ,igger sa* acc3sing f3ry in

Ur8a's eyes. Mishra fell +ac fro- his +rother as if he ha, +een str3c.

6e rose an, staggere, a fe* aces a*ay fro- Tocasia's +o,y. Ur8a,i, not -o/e2 nor ,i, he say anything. Mishra too a ste a*ay0

then a secon,0 an, then the yo3nger +rother *as r3nning0 a*ayfro- the shattere, ho3se an, into the night.

1o one stoe, hi- in his flight.

Ah-ahl lai, the last of the cairnstones in lace. Thest3,ents ha, ai, their resects0 as *ell as the ,iggers0 an,

6a4ar ha, /ol3nteere, to -ae a -arer stone to co--e-orate herresting lace. !n an area littere, *ith holes an, ,itches0 they

+3rie, her in the rocy soil of the o3tcroing *here her tar

ha, +een itche,. Ur8a re-aine, +esi,e her thro3gh the entire ,ay as the +o,y

*as ,resse,0 the rayers soen (ol, Argi/ian in/ocations an,

Falla4i chants0 an, the last of the stones *ere lai, o/er her.

$f Mishra there ha, +een no sign0 an, e/eryone ass3-e, he *o3l,not +e seen again. Ur8a's face *as ga3nt fro- grief0 an, Ah-ahl for a -o-ent

tho3ght the yo3ng -an co3l, +e taen for ol,er than Tocasia ha,


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3rose in a s-all clas 3rse cl3tche, close to her +reast. &heha, not tol, her father the reason for her 4o3rney2 nor ha, she

infor-e, the g3ar,s assigne, to rotect her erson nor e/en there,o3+ta+le -atron *ho ser/e, as her official chaerone on s3ch

lars. B3t she ha, a 3rose0 an, that goal +ro3ght a sring toher ste.

At each sto ,3ring her itinerary she ase, a+o3t the other

shos near+y. There *ere ta/erns0 clothing shos0 hat -aers0 ge-crafters0 +ea, stringers0 an, all -anner of shos0 large an,s-all. B3t only *hen so-eone -entione, a cloc -aer ,i, her ,ar

+ro*n eyes light 3. That *o3l, +e her ne5t sto0 she infor-e,the -atron0 *ho in t3rn tol, the g3ar,s0 *ho in t3rn ase, for

,irections an, cleare, a ath thro3gh the ra++le for her royal

highness's /isit.

The cloc -aer's sho *as a s-all one0 e/en +y the cro*,e,stan,ar,s of the cro*,e, -erchant ,istrict of roog. !t *as a

narro*0 t*o7story +3il,ing t3ce, +et*een a +lacs-ith's forgean, a 4e*eler. The first floor *as -a,e s-aller still +y a lo*

co3nter that ran -ost of the *ay across the *i,th of the roo-0searating the cloc -aer's *orsho fro- the ,islay an,

c3sto-ers. The g3ar,s re-aine, o3tsi,e0 +3t only an act of the go,s

*o3l, ee the -atron fro- her lace0 gl3e, sec3rely to therincess's si,e. ayla's nose *rinle, as she entere, the sho7it

s-elle, of *oo, an, oil an, other things she co3l, not 3t a na-eto an, *o3l, rather not try.

There *as noise. $ne cloc ticing *as an a-3sing,istraction. Ten *as an irritation0 an, here there *ere no fe*er

than t*enty -o3nte, along the right an, left *alls. Greaten,3l3-s s*3ng +ac an, forth in s-ooth rhyth-s0 *hile other

ti-eieces chi-e, softly to in,icate the assage of each fleetinginstant. !t *as +oth char-ing an, o/er*hel-ing.

The cloc -aer *as tyical of his +ree,: *ell fe,0 as her

father *o3l, say0 t3rning the reference fro- one concerninganother's health to an en,orse-ent of his o*n far-ing olicies.

Act3ally this fello* *as a +it -ore than *ell fe,0 /erging on

sto3t. 6e co3l, gi/e the -atron a r3n for her -oney in the heft,eart-ent0 an, ayla *on,ere, for a -o-ent if all three of the-

co3l, stan, to +e in the sa-e +3il,ing. !n a,,ition to +eing sto3t0 the cloc -aer *as +al,ing0 *ith

gray hair sho*ing at the te-les. 6e *ore a set of Argi/iansectacles co--on to those crafts re


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her. &he set ,o*n the clas +ag on the co3nter an, oene, it. "!

ha/e an ite- here in nee, of reair. !t +elonge, to -y -other0+3t it has not *ore, in years."

&he ro,3ce, a s-all sil/er +o5 fro- her +ag. !t *as so+rightly olishe, that it see-e, to s3c s3nlight fro- o3tsi,e

the store in or,er to a,, to its l3ster. ayla ca3ght sight of

her o*n reflection in the li,7clear eyes of ,eeest +ro*n2l3stro3s0 ra/en7,ar hair2 soft lis that 43st /erge, on o3ting.&he lie, to thin that e/eryone *o3l, -ae a f3ss o/er her e/en

if she *ere not the ,a3ghter of the -ost o*erf3l -an in otia. &he han,e, it to the cloc -aer0 *ho t3rne, it o/er in his

han,s as if it *as a li/e -o3se. aref3lly he lace, a th3-+

against the latch0 an, the to srang oen so3n,lessly. "Ah@" he

sai,0 then reeate, for e-hasis0 "Ah@" ayla *as s3,,enly s3re that the cloc -aer ha, ne/er seen

s3ch a ,e/ice in all his ,ays. "!t is s3ose, to lay -3sic *henit is oene,0" she sai,.

"es@" sai, the cloc -aer


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*ere ,elicately ro+ing an, oing the aarat3s. "The -ainsringis noce, o3t of its socet. 6ol, on." 6e left the +o5 on the

co3nter an, retreate, to his o*n +ench0 ret3rning *ith a thintool *ith a crooe, ti. "This sho3l, ,o it it0" he -3r-3re,.

There *as a soft clic0 an, the stranger s-ile,. "There yo3 go."6e slie, the +otto- anel into lace *ith another lo3, sna an,

han,e, it +ac to the rincess. Their fingers +r3she, as he ,i,

so. ayla +in7roog too the +o5 an, oene, it. 1othing haene,. The -atron sco*le, ,eely. ayla regar,e, the stranger col,ly

an, lifte, an i--ac3late eye+ro*. The cloc -aer s3,,enly looe,aolectic. "!f yo3'/e +roen the rincess's -3sic +o5 7"

"Well0 yo3 ha/e to *in, it0" sai, the Argi/ian0 an, ayla *as

s3re there *as a hint of s-3gness in his /oice. "o3 ha/e the

ey0 ,on't yo3;" "ey;" sai, ayla.

"%et -e see0" sai, the Argi/ian0 hol,ing his han, o3t. Therincess han,e, the +o5 +ac0 their fingers to3ching again. The

yo3ng stranger too the -3sic

01.the brothers' war.pdf

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