Page 108 (1/2)

Hawk’s eyes clouded and he rubbed his jaw ily "But you could have warned--"

"I did, Hawk, remember? In as much as I could the day of Zeldie’s burial"

The Hawk nodded soberly True And his hts of his wife that he had put his own desires before the warnings

"Besides, even if I had thought you would have believed, I still probably wouldn’t have told you Co With the fool’s true name you may compel him only once--and precisely to the letter of your law The fool obeys only exactly what you say Were you to say, "I co her But she ht be dead because you didn’t specify in what condition"

The Hawk threw his head back and let out a wail of frustration

Rushka continued "Or, if you were to say, ‘Take ht be dead Or turned into a lizard if the thought appealed to hi to try to compel the fairy fool"

The Hawk rubbed his clean-shaven face and brooded into the flah the flood of infor carefully It could be done Aye, it could When Rushka finally fell still, they passed a time in silence unbroken but for the crackle of the hearth fire

"If you choose to try it, we still have one small problem, my friend," Rushka warned

"What’s that?" the Hawk asked absently

"He’s gone Hoill you find hiendary Fairy their entire lives, yet never saw so much as a stray kelpie, Hawk"

Hawk considered that a otistical, you say he is?"

"Aye"

"Vain, obviously"

"Aye," Rushka confirer and mischief was how I believe you put it"