Crowded in on every side, and she wondered briefly, futilely,
Whether her decision to come to Morrowindl had been wrong.
Finally she took her hands away and edged forward until she
Was close enough in the darkness to see clearly Garth’s bearded
face. The big man watched unmoving as she lifted her hands
and began to sign.
Do you think I made a mistake by insisting we come here? she asked
him.
He studied her for a moment, then shook his head. It is never
a mistake to do something you feel is necessary.
I did feel it necessary.
I know.
“But I did not come just to discover if the Elves are still
alive,” she said, fingers moving. “I came to find out about my
parents, to learn who they were and what became of them.”
He nodded without replying.
“I didn’t use to care, you know,” she went on, trying to
explain. “It didn’t use to make any difference. I was a Rover, and
that was enough. Even after Cogline found us and we went east
to the Hadeshorn and met with the Shade of Allanon, even
when I began asking about the Elves, hoping to learn something
of what had happened to them, I wasn’t thinking about my par-
ents. I didn’t have any idea where it was all leading. I just went
along, asking my questions, learning finally of the Addershag,
then of the signal fire. I was just following a trail, curious to see
where it would lead.”
She paused. “But the Elfstones, Garth-that was something I
hadn’t counted on. When I discovered that they were real-that
they were the Elfstones of Shea and Wil Ohmsford-everything
changed. So much power-and they belonged to my parents.
Why? How did my parents come by them in the first place?
What was their purpose in giving them to me? You see, don’t
you? I won’t ever have any answers unless I find out who my
parents were.”
Garth signed, I understand. I wouldn’t be here with you if I didn’t.
“I know that,” she whispered, her throat tightening. “I just
wanted to hear you say it.”
They were silent for a moment, eyes turned away. Some-
thing huge splashed far out in the water. The sound reverber-
ated momentarily and disappeared. Wren pushed at the rough
sand with her boot.
Garth, she signed, catching his eye. Is there anything about my
parents that you haven’t told me?
Garth said nothing, his face expressionless.
“Because if there is,” she signed, “you have to tell me now.
You cannot let me continue with this search not knowing.”
Garth shifted, his head lowering into shadow. When he lifted
it again, his fingers began to move. I would not keep anything from
you that was not necessary. I keep nothing from you now about your
parents. What I know, I have told you. Believe me.
“I do,” she affirmed quietly. Yet the answer troubled her.
Was there something else he kept from her, something he con-
sidered necessary? Did she have the right to demand to know
what it was?
She shook her head. He would never hurt her. That was the
important thing. Not Garth.
We will discover the truth about your parents, he signed suddenly.
I promise.
She reached out briefly to take his hands, then released
them. “Garth,” she said, “you are the best friend I shall ever
have.”
She kept watch then while he slept, feeling comforted by
his words, reassured that she was not alone after all, that they
were united in their purpose. Hidden by the darkness, Morrow-
indl continued to brood, sinister and threatening. But she was
not so intimidated now, her resolve strengthened, her purpose
clear. It would be as it had been for so many years-she and
Garth against whatever waited. It would be enough.
When Garth woke at midnight, she went quickly to sleep.
SUNRISE BRIGHTENED THE SKIES with pale silver, but Morrow-
indl was a black wall that shut that light away. The island stood
between the dawn on the one hand and Garth and Wren on the
other as if seeking to lock the Rovers permanently in shadow.
The beach was still and empty, a black line that stretched away