"I saw you, but there was no time. You came running so fast—here, let me help you up—"

"I'll be fine, boy. Just need to—catch my breath—"

Disdaining the young man's help, he pulled himself up, dusted off his doublet—there was a great rip up one knee, and bloody skin was showing through—and straightened his cloak. His heart was still thumping frighteningly, and he felt wholly absurd. Divvis and Mirigant were coming up the stairs, now. Turning to the young man, Elidath began to frame an apology, but the strange expression on the other's face halted him.

"Is something wrong?" Elidath asked.

"Do you happen to be Elidath of Morvole, sir?"

"I do, yes."

The boy laughed. "So I thought, when I took a close look. Why, you're the one I was looking for, then!

They said I might find you in the Pinitor Court. I bring a message for you."

Mirigant and Divvis had entered the vestibule now. They came alongside Elidath, and from their look he knew he must be a frightful sight, flushed, sweating, half crazed from his lunatic run. He tried to make light of it, gesturing at the young man and saying, "It seems I ran down this messenger in my haste, and he's bearing something for me. Who's it from, boy?"

"Lord Valentine, sir."

Elidath stared. "Is this a joke? The Coronal is on the grand processional, somewhere west of the Labyrinth."

"So he is. I was with him in the Labyrinth, and when he sent me to the Mount he asked me to find you as the first thing I did, and tell you—"

"Well?"

He looked uneasily at Divvis and Mirigant. "I believe the message is for you alone, my lord."

"These are the lords Mirigant and Divvis, of the Coronal's own blood. You can speak in front of them."

"Very well, sir. Lord Valentine instructs me to tell Elidath of Morvole—I should say, sir, that I am the Knight-Initiate Hissune, son of Elsinome—instructs me to tell Elidath of Morvole that he has changed his plan, that he is extending the grand processional to the continent of Zimroel as well, and also will visit his mother the Lady of the Isle before he returns, and that therefore you are requested to serve as regent throughout the full time of his absence. Which he estimates to be—"

"The Divine spare me!" Elidath whispered hoarsely.

"—a year or perhaps a year and a half beyond the time already planned," said Hissune.

11

The second sign of trouble that Etowan Elacca noticed was the drooping leaves on the niyk trees, five days after the falling of the purple rain.