There had been a cellar, he recalled, and leading from it, a hidden tunnel. He found the cellar by falling into it, a sudden drop onto rubble that bruised one knee and gashed his palm. Groping around, to his surprise a section of one wall quivered under his weight.

He found a length of candle in his pocket, lit it at the nearest street lamp and went back to the cellar, shielding the flame from the wind and the rain. After clearing away a lot of rubble he was able to lever the section of false wall open far enough to squeeze through. He pulled it closed behind him and stood there ruminating, watching the distorted shadows from his candle on the earthy walls.

The opportunity to get into the citadel had opened up without his thinking about it, but now Llian realized that the archives could hold the answer to a number of his questions, not least what had really happened at the time the Nightland was formed.

He hesitated. Why not? What was there to lose now if he did get caught? He held his candle high and started up the passage. At the other end he found the depressions in the wall that opened the hidden door, pressed them together and the slab began to rotate at once. Llian kept out of the way, mindful of its irresistible power to crush and maim. On the floor was the evidence; a bloody stain where the guard's foot had been pulverized the last time he was here.

Llian hurried to the archives, then remembered that the door was kept locked. He continued on anyway and was glad that he did, for the door was open and a dim light wavered distantly down one corridor.

After checking that there was no one in sight Llian moved off a different way. The archives were vast and he soon lost himself in them. At the end of the row he came to a vault with steel walls and a complicated lock on the door. The door was ajar. Llian found his curiosity impossible to resist.

He slid in through the gap. The vault was solid steel, floor, walls and roof. He soon found out why. It contained the most secret records of the Council-whole shelves of documents under the heading of the Proscribed Experiments, among other prohibited topics.

Llian felt dizzy with excitement. Forbidden knowledge! He did not consider for an instant that being here was a crime. He failed to wonder why the outside door was open, why the vault door was open, even why such records, which would normally be kept under a charm of obscurity, were unprotected by any spell at all. He took the first book off the shelf and opened it. His hand shook. He began to read.

Time passed but Llian was quite oblivious. Finally, though, something made him look over his shoulder. There, leaning negligently on the edge of the door, stood Yggur. Llian almost jumped out of his skin.

"Hello, Llian," said Yggur with a menacing smile. His cloudy eyes were unreadable. "What are you doing here?"

Llian's terror of Yggur woke. "I'm looking for documents ... about the Nightland," he said, and knew that it sounded like the lie it was. "I have Mendark's permission."

"For the Council's secret archives? Liar! His ship hasn't even docked! Come along. You'll find my cells more comfortable than you deserve."

He stretched out his arm, clamping Llian's wrist like a manacle, and led him away. Llian expected to be interrogated as brutally as before, but as the door closed Yggur was called away urgently and did not return.

The first meeting of Mendark and Yggur was not reported. They must have reached some agreement, however, for Yggur vacated the top floors of the citadel in favor of his old fortress, though he kept control of the lower floors and the dungeons below.

Mendark, Magister once more, was soon busy in the citadel, renewing all the links of his power. And that was considerable, for rumor had magnified his successes and he was not short of retainers to do his bidding. Yet strangely, no one had seen his face. Orders were issued by underlings, and when Mendark did appear he went about cloaked and veiled.

Karan sat up all night but Shand did not return. Her cold got worse. She was dozing in her chair by the fireplace when he finally appeared, looking exhausted. "Any news?" she croaked. Her throat was burning.

"I found Llian." He took his wet coat off and hung it by the fire.

"Where is he? Is he all right?"

"He's in Yggur's cells, in the citadel." He toweled his gray hair.

She leapt up and ran around frantically, trying to find her boots. "We've got to get him out. You know what Yggur will do to him."

"Karan!" he said. "You can't. It's quite impossible."

"Then I've got to see him at least."

"I wouldn't advise it," he said.

"I hope you're not bringing that-"

He took her by the shoulders and brought his whiskery old face close. "I learned something else tonight."

She shivered, hot and cold. "What? What's the matter?"

"Llian's not the only one on Yggur's list. He wants you too, Karan."

Why her? Was it starting all over again? She knew why, though. Yggur had never forgiven her for stealing the Mirror. He nurtured his revenges, did Yggur. He'd told her so.

"I've still got to go," she said stubbornly. "Llian risked his life for me."

"Yggur knows how you think, Karan. He'll be watching for you. It's not a risk, it's certain capture."

"Then, as my friend, what do you advise?"

Shand found himself in a difficult position, but it was impossible to refuse her now. "Well, Yggur's distracted with Mendark at the moment. You could try to bribe a guard. It'd take a hell of a bribe though, for the fellow would have to flee and never return."

Karan was silent. She had no money worth counting, but she did have one precious thing left. "Would you do something for me when next you go out?" she rasped, wiping her dripping nose.

"What is it?"

She lifted the silver chain over her head. It was the only beautiful thing she had ever owned, and she loved it more than anything. "Llian gave this to me in Katazza. It was hidden under Kandor's bed. Would you pawn it for me?"

He inspected the necklace. "It would be a tragedy to sell this. It's incredibly old. It's..." He looked puzzled.

"I must!" she said.

"What if I were-"

"No! Just sell it."

"Very well, but don't expect too much. It's valuable because of its age, not its weight of silver, but neither counts for much in the middle of a war." He held it up to the light. "The feel of it reminds me of someone I once knew!"

"There's a name engraved on the clasp," she said. "Fiachra! Was that her?"

His hand shook as he examined the writing, then he closed his fingers around the chain. "No," said Shand. "I've not heard that name before."

After he'd gone out she regretted it, but too late to call him back.

Just as Shand returned, Zareth the Hlune appeared at their door, demanding that they report to the citadel immediately. The man was greatly changed from their last meeting, on Tess's boat. His face was sallow and his chin pigtails peppered with gray.

"You!" he cried, shooting Shand a hostile look.

"How was your bamundi?" Shand asked cheerfully, giving the back of his neck a meaningful rub.

"It spoiled before I recovered from the poison," snapped Zareth. "Get moving!"

Karan was shocked that their hideaway had been penetrated so easily. Shand smiled at her indulgently. "But my dear, this is Yggur's city now, and he was always distinguished by the quality of his spies. He would have known where we were within an hour of our coming."

"Then why all the artifice?"

"One does not march into the camp of an enemy and bed down in the adjoining tent. Nothing so offends the pride of the powerful as arrogance in their inferiors."

"But we were allies before," she said plaintively.

"Of necessity; of convenience. Now he has his empire back, while we are weaker than before. Why would he surrender that advantage? This is no game. Get ready; we'd best not keep him waiting." He turned away. "Oh Karan!" he said over his shoulder. "I pawned your chain. It fetched a bit more than I expected. Three tells and a few silver tars." He handed her a small, heavy wallet.

It was an astounding amount of money. Karan took it, feeling desolate. "Thank you."

"Another thing. I spoke to Yggur a while ago."

"You spoke to Yggur?"

"After I learned where Llian was. I've always got on with Yggur, as you know."

That was a black mark against Shand's character as far as she was concerned. "What's Llian accused of?"

"Stealing documents, concealing documents, trespassing in the Council's secret archives, lying about what happened in the Nightland, treachery ... The list goes for almost a page. It seems that I was right about him after all."

Karan was silent. Why had Llian gone to the archives at a time like this? What was he doing there? How would she ever get him out again?"

He was the first person she saw after they were escorted into the extravagantly decorated Council room of the citadel. Llian was standing between two guards. Shand saw the relief on Karan's face when she realized that Llian was safe. This business was tearing her apart, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. The sooner it was over the better. Llian looked awful. He made to move in their direction but the guard caught him by the collar. Karan ran to Llian but her relief turned to fury when the import of Shand's words sank in. There must be proof of Llian's guilt this time.

"Karan," Llian said. "I'm so sorry. I'm..."

She had pawned her beautiful chain for nothing. Karan struck his arm to one side and turned her back on him, rigid as a poker. Llian dropped his hand, his face went blank and the guards led him away.

No meeting was held that day, but the hours went quickly, for many old faces were there. Old friends, and old adversaries.

Tallia appeared, tall and elegant, looking as though she had just risen from her bath. She showed not a sign of the journey to the east, spanning half a year, save that her face and arms were a little darker and she walked with a slight limp. Tensor was carried in on his litter, escorted by Basitor and laughing Asper, whose spiky hair was now cut short. Tensor looked even more wasted than he had when they'd parted in Thripsi at the end of summer.

Tallia saw Karan through the crowd and hurried across, but she had barely said a cheerful hello when Karan's eye was caught by a couple entering the Council room, a tall old man-an ancient man-and at his side a small slender girl with a long face and shining silvery hair. To Karan's amazement, for Tallia's manners were normally impeccable, she broke off in mid-word and literally ran across the crowded room.

Tallia picked up the girl, whirled her around, then crushed her in her arms. She took the withered hand of the old man in her own hands and brought it to her lips.

"What ...?" said Karan to Shand, but he was already barging along in Tallia's wake.

"Karan, Shand," said Tallia, beaming. "Meet my most special friend Lilis; and here is Nadiril of the Great Library. Of course you know Nadiril, Shand. Lilis, this is Shand and Karan. They are my friends too."

"I am very pleased to meet you," Lilis said in a high voice. She had quite lost the urchin squeak of a year ago. Now she was self-assured, on the verge of womanhood. "Tallia often spoke about you on the way to Zile. And Mister Shand, I know you're my teacher's friend so I'm sure you will be my friend too."

Shand laughed. Her joy was infectious. "I'm sure I will, Lilis." He shook her hand.

Lilis turned to Karan who was hanging back, feeling shy, especially at meeting the great Nadiril.

"Hello," said Lilis. "I've seen you before, after the Conclave. I was jealous of you, for you were Llian's friend."

Karan was disarmed. You wouldn't be jealous of me now, she thought, then put her bitterness down deep where it could do no harm. She laughed and embraced the child. "Well, we have something in common," she said.

"It's all right! I never had a proper friend before. Now I have lots. But I am rude. Karan, please meet my teacher, Nadiril. He has been very kind to me."

Nadiril smiled his wispy smile and held out a fleshless claw. His hand felt like Selial's had, just before she died, but Nadiril did not look at all defeated.

"Karan Elienor Melluselde Fyrn, of Gothryme in Bannador." His voice was a whisper, and he creaked when he bent down to her. "There are so many tales about you. And I knew your father. We shall sit down together later on and you will tell me everything."

"Yes," said Karan, inhibited by his height, venerability and reputation.

"Now, I must know, is Llian here?"

Karan and Shand exchanged glances. "He is," said Shand.

"Yes, yes!" cried Lilis. "Where is my friend Llian?"

"Shall I lift you onto my shoulders so you can look for him?" wheezed Nadiril. "No, perhaps you are getting a bit old for that."

Shand lowered his voice. "I must tell you, and you too, Tallia, that Llian is in grave trouble. I am sure that he had dealings with Rulke in the Nightland and is now his creature, body and soul."

"What? What?" cried Lilis, who had not caught what was said.

Nadiril put his hand on Lilis's arm and she stopped at once. "A very grave accusation," he whispered. "I don't believe a word of it."

Shand looked taken aback. "Well, we can talk it through later on. You may see Llian yourself and ask him what you will."

"I shall," said Nadiril, "and now I'm afraid I must pay my respects to the great, and take my seat at the Council table. Lilis, I must leave you for the time, but I know you are among friends. Tallia," he said with more than a little pride, "ask her what you will, and you will be astounded. What a student!"

Karan was immensely relieved at Nadiril's words. Believing Shand had always aroused a conflict in her. She resolved to re-establish that strange dream-link she'd made to Llian before her trial in Shazmak, just to keep watch over him without his knowing.

Nadiril creaked his way forward to the main table where the dignitaries were already assembling, though only for a ceremonial meeting. The real business would not begin until tomorrow.

Shand led the others to a lower table, and had just begun to pour drinks when Osseion and Pender came through the door together. Osseion was unchanged, though Pender looked to have lost weight.

Lilis clapped her hands in sheer happiness. "Oh, this is perfect," she said. "I have all my friends together at..." Then she broke off, staring through the doorway.

Karan felt goosepimples break out all down her back and arms, though she could not see what Lilis was looking at.

Lilis took a little step forward. Her drinking bowl fell to the floor and smashed.

"Oh!" she said, her long face tight as a drum.

A small man appeared in the doorway. Platinum hair cascaded over his shoulders. His face was long and narrow, the skin stretched tight across cheeks that were pink, freshly scrubbed. The way he stared at Lilis, there might have been no one else in the room.

"Lilis? Is it you?" he said softly.

"Jevi," she whispered. "Jevi!" she shrieked, raced across the room and flung herself into his arms like a little silver-haired bullet.

He staggered back under the impact. "Lilis," he whispered. "Just look at you. There has not been a day in the last eight years that I have not thought of you. But I never thought..."

"My Jevi, you came back for me. I knew you would! Every night I said a prayer for you, and every morning I tried to think of a way to find you again."

"I did not think to find you so grown up. Why, you are almost a woman."

"I am," she said proudly. "And one day I will be a librarian. How did you find me here?"