variety of meals. Nearby a boy sang of heroes and great deeds in a high, melancholy voice. They entered the tent.
‘ 'Poor Artek," said Corum. ‘ ‘ What allies had you hoped to find on Ynys Scaith?"
Ilbrec shrugged. "Oh, I thought that the inhabitants—certain of them, at least, might be bribed to side with us. I suppose that my judgement was poor, as Goffanon said."
"Artek and his followers thought they saw me there," Corum told him. ' 'They thought I was one of those who slew their companions."
"That puzzles me," said Ilbrec. "I have heard of nothing like that before. Perhaps you do have a twin . . . Did you ever have a brother?"
''A brother?" Corum was reminded of the old woman's prophecy. ' 'No. But I was warned to fear one. I thought the warning might apply to Gaynor who, spiritually in some ways, is a brother. Or whoever it is lying under the hill in the oak grove. But now I think that brother awaits me in Ynys Scaith."
"Awaits you?" Ilbrec was alarmed. "You do not mean to visit the Isle of Shadows?"
' 'It occurred to me that those powerful enough to destroy the best part of the people of Fyean, fearsome enough to terrify one as brave as Artek, would be good allies to have," said Corum. "Besides, I would face this 'brother' and discover who he is and why I should fear him."
"It is unlikely that you would survive the dangers of Ynys Scaith," mused Ilbrec, seating himself in his great chair and drumming his fingers upon his table.
"I am in a mood to take most risks with my own destiny," said
Corum softly, "so long as it is not to the disadvantage to these Mabden we serve."
"I, too." Ilbrec's sea-blue eyes met Corum's eye. "But the Mabden march to Caer Llud the day after tomorrow and you must lead them in their war."
"That is what stops me from sailing immediately to Ynys Scaith," said Corum. "That is all."
"You fear not for your own life—your sanity—perhaps your soul?"
"I am called Champion Eternal. What is death, or madness to me, who shall live many more lives than this? How can my soul be trapped if it is needed elsewhere? If anyone has the chance of visiting Ynys Scaith and returning, then surely it is Corum of the Silver Hand?"
"Your logic has flaws," said Ilbrec. He looked broodingly into the middle-distance. "But you are right in one point—you are the best-fitted to seek Ynys Scaith."
"And there I could attempt to employ its inhabitants in our service."
"They would be of great use to us," admitted Ilbrec.
Cold air came into the tent as the flap parted. Goffanon stood there, his axe upon his shoulder. "Good evening, my friends," he said.
They greeted him. He sat himself down on Ilbrec's war-chest, placing his axe carefully beside him. He looked from Corum to Ilbrec and back again. He read something in both their faces that disturbed him. "Well," he said, "I hope you heard enough just now to dissuade you from the foolhardy scheme Ilbrec was considering earlier."
"You planned to go there?" Corum asked.
Ilbrec spread his hands. "I had thought ..."
"I have been there," interrupted Goffanon. "That was my bad luck. My good luck was that I managed to escape. Evil druids used that island before the Mabden grew to power on this plane. It existed as a place before the rising of the Vadhagh and the Nhadragh, even—though it was not then on this plane."
"Then how came it here?" asked Corum.
Ilbrec cleared his throat. "An accident. For some reason there were those who grew powerful enough in its own plane to be able to destroy it. As fate would have it this was at the time when we Sidhi were coming through to help the Mabden against the Fhoi Myore.
The inhabitants of Ynys Scaith were able to break through to this plane under cover of our own movements so, indirectly, the Sidhi are responsible for that place of horror existing here. Thus Ynys Scaith escaped the vengeance of the people of its own world, yet I heard that this world is inhospitable to them—they cannot leave their island without
‘ 'Poor Artek," said Corum. ‘ ‘ What allies had you hoped to find on Ynys Scaith?"
Ilbrec shrugged. "Oh, I thought that the inhabitants—certain of them, at least, might be bribed to side with us. I suppose that my judgement was poor, as Goffanon said."
"Artek and his followers thought they saw me there," Corum told him. ' 'They thought I was one of those who slew their companions."
"That puzzles me," said Ilbrec. "I have heard of nothing like that before. Perhaps you do have a twin . . . Did you ever have a brother?"
''A brother?" Corum was reminded of the old woman's prophecy. ' 'No. But I was warned to fear one. I thought the warning might apply to Gaynor who, spiritually in some ways, is a brother. Or whoever it is lying under the hill in the oak grove. But now I think that brother awaits me in Ynys Scaith."
"Awaits you?" Ilbrec was alarmed. "You do not mean to visit the Isle of Shadows?"
' 'It occurred to me that those powerful enough to destroy the best part of the people of Fyean, fearsome enough to terrify one as brave as Artek, would be good allies to have," said Corum. "Besides, I would face this 'brother' and discover who he is and why I should fear him."
"It is unlikely that you would survive the dangers of Ynys Scaith," mused Ilbrec, seating himself in his great chair and drumming his fingers upon his table.
"I am in a mood to take most risks with my own destiny," said
Corum softly, "so long as it is not to the disadvantage to these Mabden we serve."
"I, too." Ilbrec's sea-blue eyes met Corum's eye. "But the Mabden march to Caer Llud the day after tomorrow and you must lead them in their war."
"That is what stops me from sailing immediately to Ynys Scaith," said Corum. "That is all."
"You fear not for your own life—your sanity—perhaps your soul?"
"I am called Champion Eternal. What is death, or madness to me, who shall live many more lives than this? How can my soul be trapped if it is needed elsewhere? If anyone has the chance of visiting Ynys Scaith and returning, then surely it is Corum of the Silver Hand?"
"Your logic has flaws," said Ilbrec. He looked broodingly into the middle-distance. "But you are right in one point—you are the best-fitted to seek Ynys Scaith."
"And there I could attempt to employ its inhabitants in our service."
"They would be of great use to us," admitted Ilbrec.
Cold air came into the tent as the flap parted. Goffanon stood there, his axe upon his shoulder. "Good evening, my friends," he said.
They greeted him. He sat himself down on Ilbrec's war-chest, placing his axe carefully beside him. He looked from Corum to Ilbrec and back again. He read something in both their faces that disturbed him. "Well," he said, "I hope you heard enough just now to dissuade you from the foolhardy scheme Ilbrec was considering earlier."
"You planned to go there?" Corum asked.
Ilbrec spread his hands. "I had thought ..."
"I have been there," interrupted Goffanon. "That was my bad luck. My good luck was that I managed to escape. Evil druids used that island before the Mabden grew to power on this plane. It existed as a place before the rising of the Vadhagh and the Nhadragh, even—though it was not then on this plane."
"Then how came it here?" asked Corum.
Ilbrec cleared his throat. "An accident. For some reason there were those who grew powerful enough in its own plane to be able to destroy it. As fate would have it this was at the time when we Sidhi were coming through to help the Mabden against the Fhoi Myore.
The inhabitants of Ynys Scaith were able to break through to this plane under cover of our own movements so, indirectly, the Sidhi are responsible for that place of horror existing here. Thus Ynys Scaith escaped the vengeance of the people of its own world, yet I heard that this world is inhospitable to them—they cannot leave their island without
Similar Books
