;,' /, too, had my war with tallfolk. I never called them brothers ^ as you did. This strange hoard about me is not mine. Those who ) brought it did not even know me, only that I am Reindeer.

^ We try new ways as Mabh did. We try to find the Mnole on our back.

^; And found the world larger than you knew, as I did, and of 'JfjB different shape. My war was as much with my own as tallfolk.

364 And mine, sister.

Those who were afraid to so and called it wisdom. Those afraid to lose what they had, catling it caution and me a moon- dreaming fool. The world does not change. Look on your sister, Dorelei.

The torches burned low, the shadow of the hide- covered chair dancing on the wall. The seated figure was dim but majestic, her black hair deep shadow about the strong face.

Be most fair, great sister.

/ am of Tir-Nan-Og. I am young forever.

We would tind it, Mabh. Show us the mole on our back beyond the tallfolk world.

The gray eyes looked through Dorelei to her soul, calmly merciless, as if to pin that quivering essence and hurl it through the spirit-hole on the singing wind.

For the few gems who dare, there is always a place. My foot trod the wet earth at the very edge of the ice before Lugh melted it into river and sea. With this flint knife, my magic cut the sea between the lands. Have you not sung of it?

Many times. My mother to me, and 1 to my own wealth.

What magic have you made?

I put the good of fhain before all else, tried new ways, and found the truth and folly in them. I have borne wealth, and here are the marks on my belly as yours. I have found the Fool of the World who wears my own face in my mirror, laughed at her, tamed her, and forgiven her. This 1 have done, my sister, and more beside. Lugh gave taHfolk a magic so strong we dared not name it but gave it a ward-name, Blackbar. For tens of seasons, no magic could stand against it.

It seemed the small figure bent forward slightly in curiosity.

What is this Blackbar thai Prydn must hide from it?

Dorelei rose from her knees to stand straight before the ancient throne. Be called iron. I spoke its name aloud and defeated it. As Mabh led fhain where none dared go before, I found a new path. I tamed the iron into a good servant of many uses.

Dorelei held out the knife. See, sister. No edge will break it, yet it broke Prydn until I walked Mother's breast.

365.

, Even Reindeer called me fool, but Salmon wilt always go where she must to make new life. This was my magic. Am I not a gem as Mabh?

In the flickering gloom, it might be thought the small head moved in assent, even admiration.

My sisters made a law out of fear, Mabh, but I was not afraid.

The smile was not Dorelei's imagination, a slight, hard curve. / was.

Ai-yes. I too.

But not so afraid f could not cross the salt marsh.

Nor I to dare the iron.

A braw knife, sister. Would dare for such myself.

Did cost us much. It is a thing hammered out of fire, yet we could not beat the whole evil from it. There was much death, much blood. There are those nights still.

even in my husband's arms. when I am too much atone.

Does my sister think I came any surer to this land? I was young as you when we started, old as you when we reached vwrid's-edge. There were many harrowed behind, many spirits who ride with me yet in my dreams that others never saw.

Aye. sister. That is the way of it.

The supple, delicate hand moved in the shadows, grasping the hint knife fallen from her side.

WiU you dare Tir-Nan-Og?

I must, Mabh. There is no way but forward.

The knife stretched forward to her, its facets glinting red in the last of the light.

Will you rode with me to see what you have asked, the mole on your back?

What does Mabh ask of me?

Only what you asked of Mother. Does your courage fail?

Can I dare to let it fail, any more than Mabh could?

/ see the end of Prydn coming sure as night. Do not say you have not seen it or that you are without fear.

But without hope if I yield to it. Who is not without fear? I have seen Bruidda, your own sacred blood, ask for truth and then run from it. I must dare. Show me Tir-Nan-Og.

Across world sea wider even than dream of it?

Show me.

Beyond world's-edge with no returning, east to west as the wind blows?

366 "Show me!"

Hold out the iron.

Dorelei stretched forward her hand with the knife.

The flint blade dipped to touch it.

She had struck fire many times from flint and iron, but this light suffused the chamber, blinding her. She felt weightless, picked up by the wind like dust, sucked through t.ie spirit hole, rising to lightness and freedom. Whirled like an autumn leaf, her hand in Mabh's, up through bright sunlight. The barrow receded below them, smaller and smaller, and wider the world in Dorelei's wondering sight.

"Come." Mabh veered gracefully as Hawk on the wind.

"Will ride with Lugh."

They were of Lugh Sun himself, part of him in his radiant course over the earth, and there, impossibly far below them, was Mother, the full, true shape of the breast Dorelei was born in. Lowlands, mountains, loughs, glens, and rivers-all drew together into the whole, like wrinkles in a skin. She saw where and why they all joined, saw their common purpose, and cried out in her joy.