again. “Did you find what you were looking for?”
“Yes-and more,” Walegrin didn’t trust the smith who stood close behind him, but
Illyra would tell him everything he said anyway. “I’ve brought back the ore. We
were betrayed by treachery-I lost all but five of my men. I have made powerful
enemies with my discovery. I need your help, Illyra, if I’m to protect myself
and my men.”
“You found the steel ofEnlibar?” Dubro whispered while Illyra sought a more
dignified position in the chair.
“I found the ore,” Walegrin corrected, suddenly realizing that the great ox of a
monger probably expected to make the swords himself.
“What do you need from me?” Illyra asked. “I’d think you’d need Dubro’s help,
not mine.”
“No,” Walegrin spat out quickly. “I’ve found one to make my steel for me
Balustrus, metal-master. He knows forging, grinding and tempering-“
“And Ilsig alchemy,” Dubro added. “Since he cast the Prince’s god-bell it would
seem good fortune falls to him.”
Walegrin did not like to think that Dubro knew of Balustrus and the making of
steel. He attempted to ignore the knowledge and the smith. ” ‘Lyra, it’s your
help I need: your sight. With the cards you can tell me who I can trust and what
I can do in safety.”
She frowned and smoothed her skirts over her great belly. “Not now, Walegrin.
Not even if I could use the cards for such things. The baby-to-be takes so much
from me; I don’t have the sight. Moonflower warns me that I must not use the
gifts so close to my time. It could be dangerous.”
“Moonflower? What is moonflower?” Walegrin complained, and heard a giggle from