"Come on, everyone," Falken said with a laugh. "This is our old friend we told you about. Make that our very old friend."

The stranger--the one called Tome--looked up and fixed the bard with his brilliant gold eyes. "And a fine one you are to talk about age, Falken of Malachor!"

Grace wasn't certain exactly how it happened, but minutes later they all sat around the fire, laughing anr1 drinking from wooden cups Tome handed them, and which Grace was not altogether certain contained just maddok.

Like the drink, Grace suspected there was more to Tome than first metthe eye. He was old, certainly. Deep lines etched his face, and his beard--as pure white as his robe--tumbled over his chest, while his bald pate was polished smooth.

However, Grace guessed Tome's wrinkles were the result of mirth as much as wisdom, and bright gold rings dangled from each of his ears. Aryn clapped her hands together and giggled--a rare gift these days--as the old man handed her a cup, and Tira almost immediately set up camp in his lap.

498 * mark anthony Tome's joyous demeanor, for the knight hunched on the edge of the firelight and sipped quietly from his cup. It seemed Beltan's eyes moved once toward Travis and lingered there. Had something happened between them in the battle with the kiondrim-- something Travis hadn't told them about? Before Grace could wonder more, she felt a cup pressed into her hand.

"Drink up, Your Radiance," Tome said, eyes shining. He refilled the cups of Lirith and Aryn, who sat beside Grace. "And you as well, Daughters of Sia."

Grace took a sip from her cup. "Who is Sia?" she said without really thinking about it. Maybe it was just that she had heard the word spoken so many times--by Lirith, by Melia, and even by the dragon. Tome grinned, displaying the most beautiful teeth ;j Grace had ever seen. 509 "Who is Sia you ask? Now that, dear child, is a good question. Oft I've wondered the same myself. Perhaps Lady Melia would care to 11, answer?"

Melia crossed her arms. "I should think not!" S The regal lady's cheeks were bright with color, and I she listed noticeably to one side.

Had Grace not known better, she might have thought the lady to be drunk.

1 Falken peered at Lirith over the rim of his cup. "And should not Grace and Aryn's teacher in these matters answer the question? Indeed, I'm surprised "" she has not already."

I;! Startled, Grace glanced at Lirith, and Aryn did the I same. The Tolorian woman nodded, then set down ill ^ her cup. The laughter quieted as all leaned close to listen to her.

"Sia is called by many names in many places, but all of them mean one thing: the Goddess. From Sia springs the Weirding, the web that weaves all life to 499 dirt. "It was Sia who gave birth to the world. And who is the world, for all of Eidh is her body."

Travis scratched his scruffy chin. "But I thought the Worldsmith forged the world when he spoke the First Rune." He glanced at Falken. "At least, that was how I heard it."

"So the Runespeakers believe," Lirith said, her voice cool. "But there are other tales of the beginning of Eidh than those told by the men of the Gray Tower."

Aryn brushed the circle with a finger. "But if it's from Sia that theWeirding comes, why haven't you spoken of her before?"

Lirith seemed to choose her words with great care. "There are those among the Witches who would rather not speak the name Sia these days."

"Why?" Grace said, startled.

510.

Lirith shrugged. "Some associate Sia with the old days, and the workings of hags and hedgewives."

Now Grace understood. "So Sia conjures an image the Witches would rather forget, is that what you're saying?"

Lirith's silence was answer enough. Grace opened her mouth to ask another question, but Melia spoke first, and any traces of intoxication Grace might have detected a minute ago were nowhere to be seen.

"I hate to break up this interesting conversation about theology, but we do have some important matters to discuss. Such as why you are here, Tome." She cast her amber gaze toward the old man. "I thought we were supposed to meet you in Spardis."

At once all traces of merriment fled the circle. Grace set down her cup, and all watched Tome.

The old man looked at Melia. "We were. But when I reached Spardis and you weren't there yet, I thought I'd come meet you instead. You see, I've learned r' /-*-- ^^-l-- 1 -- -- .-"L. ", , a. A.L ^ /*** .-^ -nrl- /- lirtr'

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