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In a warren of rock she finds six nuns cowering in a chaleaht, obscured by the terrible creature advancing down the length of the refectory The table, laden with platters, cups, and a sternpease porridge lies in spatters on the floor One of the wo convulsively, utterly panicked Back by the door lies a juh the soul of the person who just inhabited that body is trying to forolden Circle of Unity held high, lin of exorcism to drive the creature away

But a Circle of Unity and honest faith will not turn back a galla bound by blood Liath fits arrow to string, draws--

And hesitates Who bound the galla? Who has sent it on this deadly errand?

She has only one breath to decide The galla is here, and before she draws her next breath it will consume the old abbess just as it consu in the doorway

She looses the arrow The gold fletching gleams, and sparks, as the arrow explodes in the slender tower of darkness that is the galla’s insubstantial body With a shriek of agony, and of joy, it vanishes, released froed it here to this world Its unfulfilled purpose kicks back along the pale link that ties it to the sorcerer who called it Briefly, Liath sees an elderly, apple-cheeked woman seated in a chamber with a bloody body nearby The woman jerks as the rebound hits her, then faints

"Go now!" cries Liath, trying to catch the attention of the six women "Bind the sorcerer who has done this"

Perhaps they hear her, even above the hysterical sobs of one of their nuestures "Hilaria! Diocletia! Go at once to the guest hall to see if Sister Venia is safe But take rope, and a sleeping potion" Leaning heavily on a cane, she takes four steps forward and bends, picking up a gold feather There is no sign of the arrow

She glances up All at once, staring, she see in the air before her Her eyes widen "Who is there, in the shadows?" Despite her infir

"Fear not," says Liath, but she thinks the old woman cannot see her, for she is no alla was

So surprised, puzzled, hopeful "Bernard?" she asks, voice gone hoarse all at once, as though she ht weep "Is this my sweet son Bernard, as torn from me? Your face-- Nay, you’re a woman Who are you?"

Who ae of a lost son named Bernard?

Liath takes a step forward

and found herself back on the marble stairs of Aturna, alone She was naked, alone; she had nothing, except herself

The realm of the fixed stars blazed before her, white hot, as terrible as a firestor for her, clustered at the lower lis of flaaze fell like the strike of lightning Their bodies were not bodies like those known on Earth but rather the conjoining of fire and wind, the breath of incandescent stars coalesced intoin pitiless splendor booleaolden wheels spun madly, powered by that fiery wind that is the soul’s breath of the stars

She recognized their voice

"Child," they said as she climbed the last step and without hesitation walked into their joyous embrace "You have come home"

3

THE Qu firm under the leadership of their prince, who rode with theht of the Wendish cavalry at either flank and the Ungrian mass in the center broke the, as first the left flank and then portions of the center sagged and gave way, as the infaan to turn their horses and flee If Zacharias had believed in God, he would have offered up a prayer at that moment He mopped his brow instead Thunder pealed behind theh it was i over the cacophony of battle that raged on the river plain before hiroup and the prince’s adviser, Brother Breschius Prince Bayan had ridden forith the charge, but he disengaged froer