The Moon of Gomrath by Alan Garner Page B

dry scrape of metal answered him. He glanced over his shoulder, and saw the moon pale on the gold-hiltedsword as it came from its sheath, and pale in the eyes behind the sword.
    â€œWe shall walk,” said the dwarf.
    As she entered the tunnel, Susan thought she heard Colin shout, but the noise of the rock and clang of the gates drowned his voice, if it was his voice, and when the echoes had died there was only silence thudding in her ears. Susan hesitated: her hand reached out to the gates; then she told herself that if anything had begun to happen there was even more need to find Cadellin quickly, so she turned and ran down the tunnel.
    This was the long approach to the wizard’s cave: the whole labyrinth of Fundindelve lay between, and soon she realised that she did not know the way. In the tunnels her footsteps and breathing enclosed her in waves, but unnerving as this was, the blue-hazed infinity of the caverns was worse.
    At last she was forced to rest, and while she leant, trembling, against a cave wall, her reason overcame her urgency, and from that moment she started to use her eyes. Even so, an hour had passed since she had left Colin before Susan found a tunnel that she knew, and it was another ten minutes before she reached the cave.
    Uthecar and Albanac were with the wizard.
    â€œWhat is it, Susan?” said Albanac, jumping to his feet.
    â€œEinheriar! – Einheriar! – the Hunter!”
    â€œThe Einheriar?” said Cadellin. “How do you know—?” He whirled round, and began to run up the short tunnel that led to the Holywell.
    â€œWait!” called Susan. “They’re just outside!”
    The wizard took no notice of her, and after him raced Albanac, a stride ahead of Uthecar. By the time Susan reached the well they were all standing on the path, the dwarf studying the ground, and Cadellin looking out over the plain. The light had gone from the water, and the woods were silent. But then Uthecar said:
    â€œThey were here, and it was so.”
    â€œAnd they have drunk of the well,” said Albanac.
    â€œWe must find them,” said Cadellin, “though I doubt if they will be compelled to the mounds. It is bad.”
    â€œIt is worse,” said Uthecar. “I am thinking that this is the Eve of Gomrath – and I smell wendfire.”
    â€œIt cannot be!” cried the wizard.
    â€œI – I’m afraid we did it,” said Susan. “We lit a fire on top of the Beacon. That’s what started it all. They came out of the fire.”
    â€œWhy should you light a fire there?” said Cadellin in a voice that made Susan want to run.
    â€œWe were waiting for the moon to rise – and – we were – cold.”
    The wizard shook his head. “It is my fault,” he said to Albanac. “I should have been stronger in my purpose. Come: we lose time. We must find their track.”
    â€œColin will know which way they went,” said Susan. “They were keeping watch on here from across the valley.”
    â€œThey?” said the wizard.
    â€œYes,” said Susan. “He and the dwarf: they’re just this side of the iron gates.”
    â€œWhat dwarf?” said Uthecar. “There are no others here.”
    â€œYes there is,” said Susan. “He’s dressed in black, and—“
    â€œTake us,” broke in Uthecar. “And waste no breath.”
    Susan felt a coldness in her heart. She set off along the path, and did not speak until she reached the spot where she had left Colin.
    â€œWhere are they?” She knew it was a useless question. “What’s happened?”
    â€œDressed in black, was he?” said Uthecar. “And was there a golden hilt to his sword?”
    â€œYes: and his belt, and the straps below his knee were gold, too.”
    â€œDo you know him?” said Cadellin.
    â€œKnow him? Ha! Know yon viper? I know him! Butwhat has brought him south from