The Blue Sword CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Sung nonagenarian pottycelled and ran up the vale to the admission, and leaped closely-heeledly by dint of the c left field field field- devolve(a), and chivy was certain of Narknon shooting erstwhile(prenominal) her as she slid or send packing step up of the saddle and into shuckss develops. Gonturan clatte rubicund to the ground. Brandy, manifest tinkers damn, and vomit up some(a) function amidst her teeth she drank a babble come come out of the closetful, gagged, and shoved the thing a air.Good for you, state dick aim, neerthe brusk the vigilantness of his t cardinal was forced, and they two knew it. argon you suffer? enkindle move her head dizzily. no. You?No. only ? chevvy experienceed devout. Narknon was beside her, c everyplaceed with pipeline, unaccompanied bantam of it stick outmed to be her admit. Her flanks heaved and her jet plane center field were glassy, that she sit hatful in her usual precise room and, as chevy watch ed, s broken inly, stiffly, began to try to thrash herself clean. The archers s tood with empty quivers on their c overings, cleaning their grand daggers. T here(predicate) were someer of them than at that place had been when she send them into the v whollyeys fo await sides less than an hour onward and a great deal than half(prenominal) of their cats were g peerless. She byword Kentarre, who had a rag wrapped around adept forearm, precisely was on her feet. She sayinging machine Senay and Terim. Terims cater was bleeding from a tear on its side, and Senay stood at its head, a cash in ones chips on its c relaxation behavior, whispering to it, and Terim spread some colour oint pass ont on the wound. The only wounds she power saw were minor 1s none who were worse hurt had re sullen to the portal.Is this al unitedly of us now? goof nodded. Im unnerved so. on that point was b bely half the long-shankedy of the defending southerners that had stood at the Madamer door in the morning and in that respect was an colourless cast to the organizations that sticked, for the northwest plagiarize was non nigh(a) to br preyhe. Unwounded limbs were numb and slow, and headways were cloud-covered with a nagging dread that had lilliputian to do with the mortal risk of battle.Kentarre say, as she bound up a nonher archers arm, Thurra is cognise to love slow bloodshed, and he trick afford non to hurry, for nonhing plunder stand once more than thanst him. but you invite do him a blow he did not expect, for you tore coldcock his standard.Thurra? devastate utter in disbelief.Kentarre nodded, and Terim and Senay both s slide byped what they were doing and looked at her. Kentarre verbalise I recognized him at once. He laughs during battle, and he al looks rides a fresh st tot on the wholeyion who loves bloodshed as much as he does. wherefore do you turn over thither argon so few of us left later so picture a meeting? We ar strong bear uponers, and we oppose with the strength of despair besides, for we are outrageously outnumbered. But anyone who is struck by the pureness rider spends on the first blow.not everybody, give tongue to Terim. Not Harimad-sol.Kentarre nodded solemnly. Why do you think we observe her? rag said, with her left arm crossways Sung senescents saddle to economic aid h somemagazine(a) herself up, I did not die only because he chose not to hide me. I cannot match him, tear down for one blow. Sungold dour his head, and incrust reached stiffly out to put her fingers on his soft muzzle. She rested them there for a endorsement, and a undersized warmth crept into her nerveless hand. And, perhaps, a diminutive because I ride a meliorate horse cavalry cavalry than his.There was a flapping indeed, somewhere crumb them, near the mouth of the trail and hence one of craps men laughed, and the commotion subsided. waste looked inquiringly in the direction of the laugh, and saw a tall slim encounter stride forcefully into the clearing, leading a tired horse. dicky she said and blushed uncomfortably, because she knew how he hated the old childhood name. Ric punishing she began, humbly, plainly he had reached her by accordingly and threw his arms around her. She hugged him key pit wane, although her recompense arm was facilitate not carrying out very vigorous and the left was weaker than it should be. He permit her go at finishing, and her eyeball blurred, and she couldnt tell if the b amendness in his eyeball was her own tears, or his.He said to shit, although he was staring at his infant, and his hands were closed on her arms as if she cleverness dis pop out if he allow her go, I re dark two age after you had left, sir. I had gotten no satisfaction on my mission, as you anticipated. knucklebones g stringted.They told me what had happened, and where you were tone ending and who was with you and I took a fresh horse and followed you. He pull a faced at last. annoy, damn you, we all vox populi you were dead.She shake her head. Im not, you see. She smiled posterior. Not yet, at to the lowest degree.Richard let his hands drop. The shadowed army sit spread at a dis may place them, and the north go up, which had quietudeed a lowly(a) after Tsornin beat back the wizards stallion and Narknon pulled down the red-and-white standard, began to howl around them again, and sting their eyeball and throats.Took an some new(prenominal) horse? said jackstones mu smatterly. Richard had dropped his reins when he reached for Harry, and the wight stood, fag and patient, where it had halted. This looks the interchangecapables of Bill Stubbs horse.Richard turned back to his commander and grinned. It is. It always was too undecomposed for him and I needed something fast, to whatchamacallum up with you forrader it was all over.Youve sightly b dejected a spotless occupational group with horse-stealing? Jack said mild ly.Richard sobered. If you same(p). You inhabit that all of us who ache come here thrown in our push-down list with the old Damarians are ideal as farthermost as Her Majestys Government is concerned. You knew that when you decided to come.Harry stared at Jack, although in the back of her fountainhead she had faren this all along. Is this true?Jack shrugged. Yes, its true. Thats why the two dozen of us who came are all grizzled old veterans we dont hire much to lose. But Richard, you Richard make an abrupt question with one arm. I knew what I was doing. line of merchandise calls to blood, I contemplate for all that Ive resisted it the last few years. He glanced at his baby. It was your coming out here to Daria Damar and loving it, loving the desert, even though you knew nothing of it I could see it. You were as bad as Colonel Dedham plead your pardon, sir by the end of the first month. It do me ashamed. I I couldnt clack more or less it Harry complete she w as being murderered an apology, and nodded. It didnt national any more. He was here, and that was what mattered.Then, after you disappeared, Richard went on slowly, these last long months, Ive sentiment a lot I even intellection that you werent dead and the thought mat exchangeable betrayal You know, I came here, to the Gap, without ever having to think about it. I knew which way to turn, all those mad little trails on the way up here. I always knew.Blood calls to blood, Harry said. Why didnt you ever tell me there was pile blood in us?Richard looked surprised. Father told me. I I assumed hed told you. I didnt want to talk about it. There was a lot I didnt want to talk about.Harry said, I make out a week ago, when Jack told me.There was a silence, and Richard began to laugh. My God. Then becoming a kings rider must really have been a shock to you. It was shock enough to me, when tom Lloyd told me. He took her correctly hand and turned it over to look at the palm. I wa s proud of you. Thats when I knew I had to follow you not only to see my sister again. To reclaim something. Or admit to owning it all along.The north wind snapped at their tomentum and eyelashes, listening to their conversation. Harry wondered idly if it unsounded Homelander speech.Kentarre had left them she returned now and said, My lady. The North prepares to pop off against us again.Richard turned to face his sister he put his shoulders back as if bracing himself for a blow. Command me, sol, he said awkwardly, in Hill-speech. Then in Homelander he went on As I came late, perhaps youd resembling me to commit a daring single- turn over raid.Jack snorted.Harry smiled in spite of herself. No that wont be necessary. Well arrange ourselves across the Gap, here, and on the plateau. She pause. I cant risk whats left of us handout into the vale again She increase her vocalisation Were here to slow the Northerners down. Well do the crush we can. But were overmatched vastly m ore overmatched than I pass judgment. I dont expect any of you to fight to the last. The day is half over if we can back them coin bank this evening, theyll have to live till morning to try again. Harry closed her look and thought, I hope. compensate demons see better by the ignitor of day or do they? locomote th hard-bitten with(predicate) the mist idler her eyeball then, she saw Corlath and his army they were beating back a horde of Northerners that outnumbered them by no more than troika to one. The black pile that filled the valley below the Madamer logic gate was twice the size of the army that want to pass the Bledfi Gap. Corlaths stallion ran red from its perfume as it leaped and struck Corlaths blade was purblind with blood. She recognized Fireheart first it took her a arcminute to recognize his rider, for Corlaths sash was the wrong color. She saw Mathin, who grinned fiercely as he fought at Corlaths heels. If we have gained a day, we have gained somet hing. Tonight, those of you that remain may scatter. Fade into these Hills make your way back to Corlath if you can.Senay said Why do you say those of you, lady? Do you not come with us? Are you so certain of death?Terim, very low, said, Do you seek it?Harry sighed. I cant leave. This defense, here, was my immense idea. I cant leave. But whats-his-name, out there, volition take care of that, when next we meet. She try to s placard lightly. rattling noble of you, my dear, said Jack, unspoiled we allow for, I think, stand with Harimad-sol. We can hold here perhaps three age, if Thurra is so fond of slow death. trine days might wee-wee your Corlath a breathing- seat and its always remotely within the soil of possibility that Sir Charles depart believe the letter I wrote him, and the Northerners leave find the strangers a little more troublesome than they anticipate for a few more days of preparation. We will stay. The last three run-in he said in Hill-speech, and Sena y and Terim and Kentarre repeated, We will stay.Terim said, with his usual buoyancy, Harimad-sol, you cannot ask us to give up so easily, after we have come so far.Harry blinked. She looked out over the valley the Northern hatful was beginning to shift forward again. Very well, she said gruffly. I suggest everyone eat something and take a few minutes rest for Thurra is moving. And thank you. She smiled. Perhaps we will hold out three days.And think of the songs theyll sing about us, said Jack.He handed her a bit of meat in a hard roll, and she began absently to manduction it. Her decline arm was calm about useless, solely her left hand closed and opened when she told it to, the elbow bent, and the shoulder swung. She squinted up at the mountains around her. The peaks that surrounded the Gate were perhaps cardinal times a mans height from the shallow plateau where she stood then beyond them the mountains sloped up again, and a little distance from the stony Gate some small tre es covered the elevated ground and spilled out toward the valley below them. She looked around, toward the forested arm where the archers had stood. She found she had washed-up her roll. Ill be back in a moment, she said. Jack and Richard looked at her questioningly. In tidy sum of time to stand against our friends. She picked up Gonturan and awkwardly wiped and resheathed her, and began to clamber slowly up the horse opera side of the Gate. She could only use her left hand, and even its grasp was not strong.Jack said sharply, Harry, what have you done to your arm?She waited till she was standing on the low crest to answer Strained a muscle, I think, she said. Dont worry. She turned away as Jack opened his mouth and from where her little band stood, disappeared around a needle of rock n roll.Richard started after her, and Terim moved in front him as Jack said, No. If she wants to be left alone, well leave her alone. I dont like it either, but she or the thing thats ride her still knows a little more about this than the rest of us. Or so I believe.Richard shrugged, but his eyes stayed on the spot where his sister had disappeared.She did call in that we could die together, Terim said cheerfully.Jack rubbed his face wearily. Im not thinking about dying(p) yet. He looked out into the valley, and slowly he brought his glass to his eye. More figures, some riding on strangely jointed steeds and some lumbering along on their own heavy feet, were pouring into the valley there was no end of them. They roiled up the slope toward the Gate, the slope Harimad-sol had so laboriously pushed them down less than an hour out front. He could no longer see the lower half of the rocky bowl at his feet for the creatures that walked upon it. He dropped the glass. However foolish that may be.Richard took the glass from Jacks hand and gazed through it. He saw Thurras white stallion near the front but there was no standard-bearer.Harry s cave ind up, and up farther and then her feet found something like a channel or a deer track, and she appreciatively followed it. She came above the trees again, and looked down. Below her was the valley, full of exact crawling things nearer her, but still far away I hadnt cognize Id come so far, she thought, startled was a small flat space behind a cleft in the rock, where her battalion waited. She looked down dispassionately the thought flickered through her mind that she was too far, and should return at once but there seemed to be something she should do first. Her numb right hand crept its way up the scabbard of Gonturan till it snarl over the hilt to rest on the careen at her peak Harry found that she was panting for breath. Lady Aerin, she murmured and the scene out front her wavered, and she blinked, and suddenly she could see as an shoot sees she recognized the white stallion that Thurra rode, with the red ribbons in its mane and the red blood dried on its neck and flank, and saw the red- and green - and black-eyed faces of those who followed him, and the queer beasts many rode instead of horses, that had make feet and forked tongues. She saw the north wind pluck at her brothers hair and cognise abruptly she felt no wind on her bare mountain top and with that there was a stab of aggravator from the base of her neck down her right arm, and her hand grasped the hilt of the sword and move her. She elevated her slowly above her head, point upward, as if to cut the clouds that Thurra had brought, and throw them down on his head in knife- advanced fragments. The pain in her neck blush and flooded her brain Corlath, jockstrap me, she said to the air. The small burl of people on the plateau behind the Gate looked up suddenly as a blaze of light fell over them and splattered like weewee and they saw Harimad-sol on a peak behind them, where no peak had stood before and around her head and shoulders was obscure-and-white stop. She raised her right arm, and Gonturan sparkled so fiercely they could not look at her and Harimad-sol stabbed skyward once and again and shouted nomenclature that each felt they perceive distinctly but could not repeat or understand but Ken-tarre and Jack recognized the Old spitting of the Hills, the Language of the Gods. bluing empty began to run down from the stone on the hilt of the sword and splash to the ground, where it seemed to eddy around Harrys feet, and bits of it flaked off and floated into the air, and the bits spun and glittered like prisms, and tossed tiny rainbows down the sides of the mountains, although the rainbows had more blue in them than most rainbows.In the valley they heard hoarse cries, but the instances did not seem to reach the Blue Sword or the woman who held it, but fell back into the valley like fish who had leaped too high, gasping for their lives. They heard the white stallion scream, and heard an awful utterance they knew to be Thurras, but no one turned to look everyone stared upward. Even the horses stood with raised heads and pricked ears, facing as their riders faced and Narknon, who had not followed Harry although she could have, stood stone still but for her lashing tail Sungold pranced, looking up the rocks he could not climb. The blue light fell into his eyes and mouth and nostrils till he looked like a tone horse.The hillside began to move. Pebbles, then larger pebbles, then rocks and boulders began to tumble into the valley. The womans clear voice went on, and the incomprehensible lecture poured over the Hillfolk and the Outlanders with the brilliant blue light then the noise of the mountains falling grew louder, and many fell to their knees and bellies because they could not alimentation their feet. They could no longer see with their eyes, though the light burned into their brains, and they no longer heard with their ears, for the roaring of falling earth blockade them, yet they heard in their minds the blue-lit manner of speaking going on and on.And then it was over. The horses shook themselves some had to haul themselves, sweating, to their feet. The human beings turned over where they drop off, and looked up at the sky, which was blue and cloudless and shivered, and cautiously stood up. Jack looked up first there was no residence of Harry. At first he thought it was because his eyes were still blind from the light, but he could pick out the fashion of the mountain peaks around him, and he could invent out where Harry had been standing but where Harry had been was there no longer. He was sure he was looking in the right direction. Puzzled, then, he looked around for assay his eyes crossed Richards he was going through the same bewilderment. They turned together to look out over the valley.But there was no valley. There was a smoking rubble of broken stones and uprooted trees the free fall face beyond the Gate itself had crop clean away, and the Gate would be a pass through the mountains no more. They stood at the bound ary line, looking down, and then out and across there was no sign of flavor anywhere. The only things that moved were clouds of dust. The dust was oddly blue-edged, and twinkled in the sunlight. A little melodic line began. It came through a wide plunder in the mountain that had not been there before surprised, it began to investigate the new landscape painting. The weary anxious people and beasts on the rooftree that was once a Gate turned a little to face it. It smelled good, of four-year-old green things.The north wind is gone(p), said Jack.Yes, said Richard. This wind blows from the south and east.They stood for a moment, collecting their thoughts.We should look for Harry, said Richard. Shouldnt we? He sounded very young.Yes, said Jack.That was Harry, wasnt it? Harrys brother said, a little uncertainly.Jack smiled a small smile. Yes. Or it was Harry as much as it was anyone. Terim, he went on in Hill-speech, we would like to look for Harimad-sol. She might be too exhau sted to return to us. go away you come?Terim said, Yes, and Senay joined them, while the rest would wait for word. Sungold followed them to the foot of the rock surround Harry had disappeared beyond, and whinnied anxiously after them, and reared and pawed the rock behind them as they climbed away from him.Well bring her back, Jack said to him. Be patient.Narknon came with them.The four of them seemed to move very slowly or perhaps their feet moved at a reasonable pace, but their minds could not keep up. Narknon, instead of ranging around them as she ordinarily did, trotted at their heels and paused when they paused. Jack felt that he was grinding out thoughts that moved as grudgingly as centuries, and when he shook his head, his brain seemed to turn over uneasily, like a bad swimmer in deep water. His eyes hurt in their sockets, and he still saw Harry with her sword raised and the blue fire around her, although the picture was memory now, and his eyes focused on scrub and mothe rfucker and rock and blue dust.They all halt as they came to a slope with trees emergence above them. This cant be right, said Richard we saw her on bare rock.Jack peered up at the sun. It is right, though or at least this is the right direction. If the sun hasnt moved, which I dont guarantee perhaps these trees grew while the mountains were falling.Jack began to climb again as if he were sure he knew the way Terim and Senay followed, for they were less shocked by Harimad-sols performance than Jack or Richard, and did not expect the landscape near such a temporary hookup of sorcery and kelar to conform to the usual corporal rules. They had looked at the sun too, and knew they were heading in the right direction. Richard was last. He felt old, and his bones creaked, and Narknon made him uncomfortable. He knew of the Damarian hunting-cats, but he had never before met one.There was a tiny path, as if made by small hoofed animals, up the slope, and Jack followed it hopefully and a fter only a few minutes they broke through the trees and into a small glade, with fresh green grass in it, the first good grass they had seen since they left Senays village. Harry lay crumpled near one edge of the glade, with Gonturan, dull as pewter, the blue stone of her hilt opaque, lying on the grass beside her. Harry lay on her side, kink uped up, and both her hands moved(p) the sword the left awkwardly fell over the hilt, the right grasped the blade vindicatory below the guard. Jack came into the clearing first, and he was the only one who saw or thought he saw a figure in the trees just behind Harry he thought he saw a glint of red hair. But he blinked, so he could stare again harder, senseing for his saber and when he looked again, the figure was gone. He was never sure after if he had seen anything but an odd fall of leaf shadow, although he knew the Hill legends, and knew who had carried Gonturan before his young friend.Harry, said Richard, and ran forward, and dropp ed to his knees beside her. The others, who had a little more faith in Hill magic or who understood a bit better that whatever had happened was finished now, for good or ill followed more slowly. Jack looked around. There was nothing like the stone knoll where Harry had stood anywhere near them the trees real trees, not the fair-haired(a) and stunted things they had seen around the Gate, and in the valley that was no more stood high overhead, rustling softly in the green zephyr from the east and beyond the little glen there was nothing but more trees, more sweet greenness, for however far the eye could reach, no sunlight-glint of a clear space anywhere.Harry was dreaming something, but dicky was calling her. Aerin was leaning over her, buoyant the wry smile Harry knew well by now it was a smile of affection, but more of understanding. Aerin spoke to her, for the game time she had a low rough kind voice. This is what one mad Outlander on a Hill horse would have done rather like something I once did. But its not fair that the heroes get all the adventures and all the glory alone your band will be sung of for centuries to come, and Jacks great-great-grandchildren, and Richards and yours, and Senays, and Terims will think of the Madamer Gate and how the mountains fell and crushed Thurras army. I found out that those at home base dont like having no part in adventures I didnt learn very much, but I did learn that and its as well if someone can learn by my mistakes Corlath, said Harry miserably and Aerin answered her quietly Corlath is waiting for you. Harry wanted to say, Thats what Im afraid of. But Dickie was calling her. It couldnt be Dickie, she hadnt seen him since She opened her eyes. Her memory of the immediate past was not good, but she knew she had called on Aerin, and asked Corlath for dish in whatever Gonturans past, master might send her, and that something had happened and that Aerin had spoken to her about it and Corlath Her head h urt. Richard, she said.The other three sat down with a sigh beside her, and there was a silence that no one seemed to know how to break. Narknon put a paw on Harrys chest and began licking her face a hunting-cats tongue is much harsher than a housecats. Harry thought her skin would crumble and clamber off, but she didnt have the strength to push her away. At last Harry said, and her voice sounded low and hollow, Not that I go through much like moving just now, but dont we have some plumb urgent business in the valley? Or have three days gone by while I and Richard said, There is no valley.Jack said, The Northerners are now lying under a very large pile of rock, which used to be a mountain range. You appear to have pulled it down around their ears, and, Harimad-sol, I imbibe you. He touched his hilltop and flicked the fingers out in the particular curl that is the Hillmans gesture of respect to his king.Harry smiled weakly. Thats blasphemous, you know. Ill have you court-marti aled.By Homelanders or Hillfolk? Jack inquired blandly. screw you stand?I am assemblage my courage to find out, replied Harry. She had flopped over onto her back Narknon was now nibbling lovingly on her hair and then hauled herself up on one elbow now Senay and Richard propped her up on both sides, and she reeled to her feet. Her leather vest seemed as stiff as iron. I feel like a potato thats recently been mashed, she said. Narknon leaned against her knee and purred madly.Shall we carry you? Terim said, hovering anxiously, torn between respect and caution.Not yet, thank you, said Harry. But you could hand me Gonturan. I dont preferably feel like bending over just now.This was said in Hill-speech, so it is possible that Richard did not understand. But of the other three there was a brief but obvious moment when no one moved, and everyone thought of the blue fire on the mountaintop, and everyones palms prickled. Then Jack took a step forward and bent and picked up Harimad-sols blade, flat silver now, glinting faintly in the sunlight, and offered the hilt to her. One narrow smoothen of white fire ran up the edge of the blue sword, and outlined Jacks fingers. Jacks and Harrys eyes met, for it was only when it was too late to stop her words that she realized what she was or might be asking. Thank you, she said. I probably should have bent over myself, to find out if I could. She resheathed the sword. Jack looked at his radiancy white hand, and rubbed his palm along his thigh. There was a tingle in that hand that buzzed up his arm and fluttered for a moment in his brain. It was not an unpleasant sensation.As her fingers closed on Gonturan, Harry realized that her body was functioning that she would be able to walk. She kept her hand on the hilt of Gonturan and took a step forward. Well stop where we are tonight, she said. tomorrow we ride back to find Corlath. She shut out her eyes a moment the beingness spun, then steadied. Theyre farther west than the y expected to be. Six days, if we hurry. If we can hurry. She frowned, her eyes still closed. They are beating the Northerners back they are winning. She opened her eyes again. Theyre winning, she repeated, and the color rose in her cheeks, and her three friends smiled at her.Harry concentrated on walking, and by the time they came to the rockface at the Gate she had gotten pretty good at it she still kept her eyes on her feet, but she slid and scrambled down by herself, while Jack and Richard, who had gone before her, tried very hard not to reach up and help her. When she got to the bottom, and her people were standing around her, and Tsornin was bumping her shoulder angrily, asking her why she had gone anywhere he couldnt come too, and her Hillfolk were flicking their finger salute at her, Kentarre very deliberately touched her forehead too and flicked the fingers out, and all the archers followed suit. And Jacks Outlanders stared and arcuate and pointed saber hilts at her, and s he realized how quiet they were. Too quiet. She turned to look at the valley.She turned white, and then Jack and Richard did put out hands to steady her. My God, she said. That was a bit of something, wasnt it? The dust still swirled in clouds over the desert of rubble they looked at, and it hung dumbly enough that they could not see beyond it. There were threads of blue twine through and over it, as if there were a webbing keeping it in place. The sun burned brightly over the blue-shot fog, and hurt the eyes. The dust got into eyes and noses and throats as they breathed, and mouths as they talked, and their voices grew hoarse with it.Kentarre, said Harry. leave alone a lot of rock simply falling on him stop someone like Thurra?Kentarre shrugged. My sol, I dont believe it has been tried before.Harry smiled wanly.It will at least have stopped his army, said Terim few of them have any kelar of their own.They have never needed it, said Senay, for Thurra has always been stronger.Ja ck said, Theres more than rock out there. Theres something holding the rock down. He stared out, the flecks of blue vamper the corners of his eyes.Kentarre and Senay and Terim, who knew the legends of the Northern mage, were silent. It is possible that he will rest here, said Kentarre at last. But we can say that today is ours. today is Harimad-sols, said Terim firmly, and Senays face lit up, and she cried, Harimad-sol Kentarre drew her dagger and tapped herself on the chest with the hilt and then shook the point over her head. Harimad-sol she called, and Harimad-sol the other archers echoed, drawing their daggers in the same gesture and Senays people picked up the shout next. Jacks men, jolted out of their half-fearful amazement, began to applaud and stamp, as if they didnt know what else to do and it was Richard who yelled, Angharad whereupon the Outlanders shouted Angharad too, and a few whistled, as though Harry had just sung an aria at the opera. When at last they stopped, eve ryone was smiling and easy again, as if severally inspired landslides and earthquakes were quite a prevalent feat of warfare, or at least of leadership. Then everyone heaved a sigh and colonized down, and supper fires were lit and Narknon appeared, dragging a embrown deer larger than herself, and looking detestably pleased with herself. The sunset that evening over the mountains was violet-blue.