"I'm sure of it," Ylia said. "Bontarc didn't send us to the Place of the Dead. Princess Volna did. And long ago, according to the stories the Wayfarers of Ofrid tell, Bontarc and your mother, Queen Evalla, were allies striving to establish universal peace throughout Tarth. Besides, despite his civility and fairness, Bontarc losses no love on Retoc of Abaria." "And if you need us?" Bylanus asked. "We'll get a signal through to you," Bram Forest said. With Ylia he climbed into a skiff and poled it out into the river. Now the riverbanks were deserted, except for the solitary stilt-birds, tall as men, wading out into the frigid water, their low-pitched calls all but swallowed by the sound the cold wind made rustling through the river rushes. After a while the skiff came to a bend in the river. It was the last turn before the Gates of Ice--and Nadia City. Here the wind blew more strongly, and there was a section of rushes which had been cleared, cut probably by an Ice Fields nomad who had used the tall rushes as fuel. "Look!" Ylia cried suddenly, startled. Through the gap in the rushes, at a distance of two or three jeks across the flat plain from the river, Bram Forest saw an armed encampment. There were tents with flying standards, tethered stads, pyramids of stacked spears like hayricks, and pacing sentries. "What can it mean?" Ylia asked. "Those standards are Abarian." "Retoc," Bram Forest said. He lifted the pole and felt the mud of the river-bottom cling to it before it came clear. He allowed the skiff to drift toward the bank. "Retoc's planning treachery. We'll have to go back and alert the Golden Apes. Bylanus and his Apes can destroy Retoc's legions before they even march on Nadia City." "But we can't go back, Bram. If Retoc's army is here, ready, then what's happening in Nadia City? Who can say what Retoc is doing? You'll have to go ahead and stop him--or at least delay him. I'll go back for Bylanus." * * * * * Bram Forest shook his head. "I can't let you go alone, Ylia. Not with the Abarian legions so close." "But I must, don't you see?" Bram Forest frowned. There did not seem any other way, but he was reluctant. "I love you, Ylia. I couldn't let--" "What happens in Nadia City today is more important than our love, Bram Forest! What would our love mean if Retoc the Abarian ruled all Tarth?" "Then you take the skiff," Bram Forest said finally. "I can make my way to the city along the bank." "No. The army is still encamped. They won't do anything for some time yet. See? All their tents are still standing." That was true enough. "Besides," Ylia went on, "we don't know what Retoc is planning in the city. You can reach it faster by skiff. I'll go back for Bylanus on foot." The logic of what Ylia said could not be refuted. With sinking heart Bram Forest helped her from the skiff. He kissed her quickly. "I love you, Ylia," he said. "And I love you, Bram Forest."