The Stone of Farewell (118 page)

Snow covered the forest floor, a blanket so thick and cold that it was hard for Simon to remember that Jao é-Tinukai‘i itself had not been covered, that in that one place winter was still held at bay: here outside the magical circle of the Zida'ya, the Storm King's handiwork was so terribly real. But now, he realized, even that circle had been broken. Blood had been spilled in the very heart of summer.

They walked through the morning and early afternoon, gradually leaving the densest part of the woods and moving toward the forest fringe. Aditu answered Simon's few questions, but neither had the strength for much talk, as though the awful cold had withered the affection that had once flowered between them. As uncomfortable as her presence had often made him, still Simon was saddened, but the world had changed somehow and he had no more strength to struggle. He let the winter world flow over him like a dream, and did not think.

They walked for some hours beside a swift river, following it until they reached a long gentle slope. Before them lay a vast body of water, as gray and mysterious as an alchemist's bowl. A shadowed, tree-covered hill jutted from it like a dark pestle.

“There is your destination, Seoman,” Aditu said abruptly. “That is Sesuad'ra. ”

“The Stone of Farewell?”

Aditu nodded. “The Leavetaking Stone.”

The abstraction finally made real, Simon felt as though he were stepping from one dream into another. “But how will I get there? Am I supposed to swim?”

Aditu said nothing, but led him down the slope to where the river rushed into the gray water, spilling across the rocks with a roar. A little distance along the shoreline, out of the way of the river's turbulent inflow, a small, silvery boat bobbed at anchor. “Once every hundred or so winters,” she said, “when the rains are particularly fierce, the lands around Sesuad‘ra flood—although this is certainly the first time it has ever happened when Reniku the Summer-Lantern was in the sky.” She turned away, unwilling to share thoughts written on her face so that even a mortal could understand. “We keep these
hiyanha
—these boats—here and there, so that Sesuad'ra will not be denied to those who wish to visit it.”

Simon put his hand on the little boat, feeling the smooth grain of the wood beneath his fingers. A paddle of the same silvery stuff lay in the hull. “And you're sure that's where I go?” he asked, suddenly unwilling to say good-bye.

Aditu nodded. “Yes, Seoman.” She shrugged off the bag she had been carrying on her shoulder and handed it to him. “This is for you—no,” she corrected herself, “not for you. It is for you to take to your Prince Josua, from Amerasu. She said she believed he would know what to do with it—if not now, then soon.”

“Amerasu? She sent this... ?”

Aditu put a hand on his cheek. “Not exactly, Seoman. First Grandmother had asked me to take it if your imprisonment did not end. Since you have been released, I give it to you.” She stroked his face. “I am glad for your sake that you are free. It pained me to see you so unhappy. It was good to know of you—a rare thing.” She leaned forward and kissed him. Despite all that had happened, he still felt a quickening of his heart as her mouth touched his. Her lips were warm and dry and tasted of mint.

Aditu stepped away. “Farewell, Snowlock. I must go back and mourn.”

Before he could even lift his hand to wave, she turned and disappeared among the trees. He watched for some moments, looking for some sign of her slender form, but she was gone. He turned and clambered into the small boat and set the sack she had given him down in the hull. It was of good weight, but he was too weary and sore-hearted even to look at what might be inside. He thought it might be peaceful to fall asleep here in the boat, at the edge of the great forest. It would be a blessing to sleep and not wake for a year and a day. Instead, he picked up his paddle and pushed himself out onto the still water.

 

The afternoon fell away and the deep chill of evening came on. As Simon floated toward the growing shadow of Sesuad'ra, he felt the silence of the winter world envelop him, until he thought he might be the only living, moving thing upon the face of Osten Ard.

For a long time he did not notice that there were torches bobbing before him on the twilit shoreline. When he saw them at last, he was already close enough to hear the voices. His arms were cold and numb. He felt as though he had no more strength left to paddle, but managed to push himself a few last strokes, until a large, splashing shape—Sludig?—waded out from the rocky verge and pulled him into shore. He was lifted from the boat and half-carried up the bank, then surrounded by an army of torchlit, laughing faces. They seemed familiar, but the sensation of dream was upon him again. It was not until he saw the smallest figure that he remembered where he was. He staggered forward and swept Binabik into his arms, crying unashamedly.

“Simon-friend!” Binabik chortled, thumping him on the back with his small hands. “Qinkipa is good! Joyful! This is joyful! In the days since I was coming here I had almost lost my hope to see you.”

Simon wept, unable to speak. At last, when he had cried himself dry, he set the little man down. “Binabik,” he said, voice raw. “Oh, Binabik. I have seen terrible things.”

“Not now, Simon, not now.” The troll took his hand firmly. “Come. Come up to the hilltop. Fires have been built there and I am sure there is something cooking. Come.”

The little man led him. The crowd of familiar strangers fell in behind, talking and laughing among themselves. The flames of the torches hissed beneath a soft fall of snow, and sparks rose into the sky to drift and fade. Soon one of them began to sing, a good, homely sound. As darkness crept over the drowned valley, the sweet, clear voice rose through the trees and echoed out over the black water.

Barnabas—Hayholt chapel sexton

Breyugar—Count of the Westfold, Lord Constable of the Hayholt under Elias

Colmund—Camaris' squire, later baron of Rodstanby

Deornoth, Sir—Josua's knight, sometimes called “Prince's Right Hand”

Eahlstan Fiskerne—Fisher King, first Erkynlandish master of Hayholt

Elias—High King, Prester John's eldest son, Josua's brother

Ethelbearn—soldier, Simon's companion on journey from Naglimund

Fengbald—Earl of Falshire

Gamwold—soldier dead from Norn attack in Aldheorte

Godwig—Baron of Cellodshire

Grimmric—soldier, Simon's companion on journey from Naglimund

Guthwulf—Earl of Utanyeat, High King's Hand

Haestan—Naglimund guardsman, Simon's companion

Helfcene, Father—Chancellor of Hayholt

Helmfest—soldier, part of company that escaped Naglimund

Hepzibah—castle chambermaid

lelda—Falshire woman, Gadrinsett squatter

Inch—foundry—master, once Doctor Morgenes' assistant

Jack Mundwode—mythical forest bandit

Jael—castle chambermaid

Jakob—castle chandler

Jeremias—chandler's boy

John—King John Presbyter, High King

Josua—Prince, John's younger son, lord of Naglimund, called “Lackhand”

Judith—Cook and Kitchen Mistress

Langrian—Hoderundian monk

Leteth—Miriamele's handmaiden

Malachias—one of Miriamele's disguise names

Marya—one of Miriamele's disguise names

Master of Scullions—Simon's Hayholt master

Miriamele, Princess—Ellas' only child

Morgenes, Doctor—Scrollbearer, King John's castle doctor, Simon's friend

Osgal—one of Mundwode's mythical band

Ostrael—Naglimund pikeman, son of Firsfram of Runchester

Rachel—Mistress of Chambermaids, called “The Dragon”

Ruben the Bear—castle smith

Sangfugol—Josua's harper

Sarrah—castle chambermaid

Shem Horsegroom—castle groom

Simon—a castle scullion, given name “Seoman” at birth

Strangyeard, Father—Archivist of Naglimund

Towser—jester (original name: Cruinh)

Arnoran—Hernystiri minstrel

Bagba—Cattle God

Brynioch of the Skies—Sky God

Cadrach-ec-Crannhyr, Brother—monk of indeterminate Order

Craobhan—old knight, advisor to King Lluth

Cuamh Earthdog—Hernystiri god of the earth, patron deity of miners

Eclair—Count of Nad Mullach, emissary of King Lluth

Gealsgiath—ship's captain, called “Old”

Gwythinn—Prince, Lluth's son, Maegwin's half-brother

Hern—Founder of Hernystir

Inahwen—Lluth's third wife

LIuth-ubh-Llythinn—King of Hernystir

Maegwin, Princess—Lluth's daughter, Gwythinn's half-sister

Mircha—Rain Goddess, wife of Brynioch

Mullachi—residents of Eolair's holding, Nad Mullach

Murhagh One-Arm—a god

Rhynn of the Cauldron—a god

Sinnach—Prince, Battle of Ach Samrath war-leader, also at the Knock

Einskaldir—Rimmersgard chieftain

Elvrit—First Osten Ard king of Rimmersmen

Endë—child at Skodi's

Fingil—King, first master of Hayholt, “Bloody King”

Gutrun—Duchess of Elvritshalla, Isgrumnur's wife, Isorn's mother

Hengfisk—Hoderundian priest

Hjeldin—King, Fingil's son, “Mad King”

Ingen Jegger—Black Rimmersman, master of Norn hounds

Isbeorn—Isgrimnur's father, first Rimmersgard duke under John, also his son's pseudonym

Isgrimnur—Duke of Elvritshalla, Gutrun's husband

Isorn—Isgrimnur's and Gutrun's son

Jarnauga—Scrollbearer from Tungoldyr

Nisse—(Nisses) Hjeldin's priest-helper, author of
Du Svardenvyrd
Skali—Thane of Kaldskryke, called “Sharp-nose”

Skendi—Saint, founder of abbey

Skodi—young Rimmerswoman at Grinsaby

Sludig—young soldier, Simon's companion

Storfot—Thane of Vestvennby

Tonnrud—Thane of Skoggey, Duchess Gutrun's uncle.

Udun—Ancient Sky God

Anitulles—former Imperator

Antippa, Lady—daughter of Leobardis and Nessalanta

Ardrivis—last Imperator, uncle of Camaris

Aspitis Preves—Earl of Drina and Eadne

Benidrivine—Nabbanai noble house, kingfisher crest

Benigaris—Duke of Nabban, son of Leobardis and Nessalanta

Camaris-sa-Vinitta—brother of Leobardis, friend of Prester John

Clavean—Nabbanai noble house, pelican crest

Claves—former Imperator

Crexis the Goat—former Imperator

Dinivan—Lector Ranessin's secretary

Domitis—Bishop of Saint Sutrin's cathedral in Erchester

Elysia—mother of Usires

Emettin—legendary knight

Fluiren, Sir—famous Johannine knight of disgraced Sulian House

Hylissa—Miriamele's late mother, Elias' wife, Nessalanta's sister

Ingadarine—noble family, albatross house-crest

Larexes III—former Lector of Mother Church

Leobardis—Duke of Nabban, father of Benigaris, Varellan, Antippa

Nessalanta—Duchess of Nabban, Benigaris' mother, Miriamele's aunt

Neylin—Septes' companion

Nuanni (Nuannis)—ancient sea god of Nabban

Pelippa, Saint—noblewoman from Book of Aedon, called “Pelippa of the Island”

Prevan—noble family, osprey house-crest (ocher and black)

Pryrates, Father—priest, alchemist, wizard, Elias' counselor

Ranessin, Lector—(born Oswine of Stanshire, an Erkynlander) Head of Church

Rhiappa—Saint, called “Rhiap” in Erkynland

Rovalles—Septes' companion

Septes—monk from abbey near Lake Myrme

Sulis, Lord—Hayholt's “Heron King” sometimes known as Sulis the Apostate: Nabbanai nobleman, founder of Sulian House, of which Sir Fluiren is best-known descendent

Thures—Aspitts' young page

Tiyagaris—first Imperator

Usires Aedon—Aedonite religion's Son of God

Velligis—Escritor

Aditu—daughter of Likimeya and Shima'onari, Jiriki's sister

Amerasu y‘Senditu no'e-Sa'onserei—mother of Ineluki and Hakatri, Jiriki's great-grandmother, also known as “Amerasu Ship-Born” and “First Grandmother”