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.Their padded hind paws made no noise at all.The larger of the two, Ceilleigh, broke formation and came forward to have hisfox ears scratched.Angharad, his mate, followed more tentatively.Lugh smiled and stretched hisfree hand toward her, grimacing as the movement caused the bones of his otherhand top.178grate against the blade.A thin line of new blood trickledbetween his second and third fingers.With a faint creak the great doors at the far end of the hall cracked open.Afluttering of wings disturbed the fog; a swirling of red-black mist occludedthe spears of sunlight and the Morrigu stood before him, her face cold andpale against the red and black of her elaborately dagged gown.A formation ofcrows swooped in behind her to array themselves in fan-shaped patterns at herfeet. So, Lady, it is early you are about, Lugh said pleasantly. Are youpreparing to renew your search?Or are you only now returning? The Morrigu s face clouded. The latter, Lord Ard Rhi.I have searched, andall the men and women of your kingdom search even now.They search on foot,who may, and on beast back; and they search withPower, who are well versed in its use.Some comb the past or the future; somethe seas or the air.One inspects the tiny Worlds that lie inside our own.Hadyou not sealed the borders, we might search outside as well. And what of the Tracks? Lugh demanded. Are they being watched? Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Most certainly they are, Lord, the Morrigu replied, indignantly. Many haveI set on lookout there, though I think it an effort in vain.One could notpass from them into Tir-Nan-Og or from Tir-Nan-Og to them. Only a flame could pass that barrier, Lugh noted cryptically. A flamehotter than my wrath. The Morrigu eyed him narrowly. Aye, Lord, she whispered, but no such flamesexist. It is to be hoped, Lugh replied with a smile. But what have you learnedfrom this watching, Lady? Is there any sign of those we seek? The Morrigu shook her head. No, Lord.Neither Ailill nor Fionna are like tobe found in Tir-Nan-Og.Other Powers we have felt probing about your borders, yet we have not beenable to find the source of those Powers, for, as I have said, your bindingPage 114 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmllikewise binds us. She took a breath and stared hard at the High King, who returned that staremildly. And I must say it now, Lord, that surely another way might have beenfound to achieve your ends.For this waiting game you are playing is dangerousin the extreme.Surely, at least, you could have sent a force seeking Aililland Fionna upon the Tracks, for that is certainly where they have gone.Itwould have been better than putting every one of your subjects on watch! p.179 No, Lugh replied. That would have been folly.First of all, there wasa dire need for haste, for Idid not dare give Ailill a chance to flee my realm entirely.Had I waited itis possible he could have returned to Erenn and thus have escaped my justice.With the borders sealed, he cannot now reach that land, for the few Tracksthat lead there from Outside will not support him in this season. And second, Morrigu, there is an excellent chance that Ailill may have fledinto the Lands of Men, since that realm lies closest to our own.A large forceof our folk suddenly appearing there would truly have upset the balancebetween the Worlds.Almost certainly it would have provoked too much curiosityon the part of humankind and we have already seen the trouble one human sknowledge has cost us.To send more could quite possibly prompt the very warAilill has long desired: between Faerie and theLands of Men.That, I dare not risk. That choice may be taken from you, the Morrigu observed.Lugh nodded grimly. Aye, but I do not think that time is come, though I amnot so optimistic as once Iwas.Yet that is another debate for another time. Have you other commands for me, then? Call off the search and trust me. The Morrigu stared at him. That is becoming a hard thing to do, Lord, unlessyou trust me in turn.You know more than you tell; this much is clear to me. Lugh smiled cryptically. I am not called Samildinach without reason.Besides, he added, a king should test his Warlord now and then, it seems tome.And his Mistress of Battles as well. And, he continued to himself, Isuspect I may soon get to test David Sullivan.I will know, as soon as I have checked on the well
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