CHAPTER ONE

The Song in the Hills

LEOFF PAUSED TO RUB his eyes. The notations on the paper before him had begun to blur together, distinct notes melting into meandering black rivulets.

There isn't time, he thought desperately. There isn't time to get it right.

But he had to. If he was going to step this far off the edge of the world, it had to be perfect. And it was'almost. Yet he knew something was missing, something he not only didn't have right, but didn't have at all.

Frustrated, exhausted, he put his head down on the hammarharp and let his eyes close, just for an instant. His thoughts lost their discipline and began to float about like dust motes in a sunbeam. Then the dust motes became thistledown, and he was lying on the still-green grass of early autumn not far from the charming little town of Gleon Maelhen. He'd seen a purple moon the night before'a true wonder he'd stayed up late into the night to observe. Now he was considering a nap to make up for that, until from off in the hills he heard a melody, played on a shepherd's pipe. It transfixed him, because it was so beautiful and haunting, yet incomplete'

'Fralet Ackenzal'oh, I've disturbed you.'

Leoff jerked like a hooked fish, scattering his papers everywhere, realizing in a panic that he'd fallen asleep. If the praifec found him like that and saw what he was doing'

But it wasn't the praifec. It was the lady Gramme.

He stumbled to his feet. 'Milady',' he began, all in a rush.

'That's not necessary,' she said. 'I just came to thank you.'

'Then''

'Yes,' she confirmed. 'My men found Mery, just as you said. And I promise you, no harm came to your friend.'

Leoff reflected that he couldn't be sure of that until he saw Gil-mer again, but word had it that the regent's men were scouring the countryside for the little girl. Gramme had been quick to understand the implications, and had begged him to tell her where Mery was. He'd relented, knowing he was risking his friend's life, but believing Gilmer and Mery had less to fear from Gramme than from the regent. Once Mery was with her mother, the prince could hardly claim she'd met with foul play at the hand of the queen mother, and if the lady Gramme was discreet, he would never know it was Gilmer who'd watched after her.

'I should like to see her, when it is reasonable,' Leoff said.

'It is reasonable right now,' Gramme replied. 'I just wanted to speak with you first, alone. I wanted to know, honestly, why you put yourself at such risk, for no gain I can see.'

Leoff blinked. 'I'it just seemed the right thing to do, lady.'

She stared at him, then gave a weary little laugh and before he could react, bent and kissed him gently on the lips. Then she straightened. 'Mery's back in the hall. I'll send her in.'

He waited, stunned, wondering what had just happened.

Mery came straight to his arms when he saw her, a far cry from the days when she'd hidden in his cabinets.

'How was staying with Gilmer?' he asked her. 'Did you enjoy that?'

'He was something of a grump,' Mery allowed, 'but he was as nice to me as he could be, I suppose. This one time, we went to the village'' He listened as she told him about some adventure of hers, but despite the fact that he was overjoyed to see her, the melody was stuck in his head again, and as she spoke, he began playing at it,

The Song in the Hills

the missing notes taunting him like an infuriating itch he couldn't scratch.

Mery smiled. 'That's pretty,' she said. 'May I try it?'

'Of course,' he said. 'It's not finished''

He listened helplessly as she played it'perfectly, of course, but still just as incomplete as his version.

'That's not quite right, is it?' Mery said.

He stared at her. 'No, it's not,' he said at last.

'What if'?' She glanced up at him, then put her tongue in her cheek, placed her hands on the keys, and pushed them down.

Leoff gasped, absolutely stunned. 'Of course,' he murmured. 'Saint Oimo, of course.'

'That was better?' Mery queried.

'You know it was,' he said, mussing her hair.

She nodded.

He reached over and gently touched the keys, then did what she'd done'instead of sounding the notes singly as a melody, he played them together, as a chord.

'That's perfect,' he sighed, as the harmony faded. 'Now it's perfect.'