Hirgul came out of his ecstatic trance, woken by the roar of the dragon’s wings as he swooped upon the Greenmarch, not many miles to the north of Dreykahnôl. No alarm arose in him, nor shame at beating out the drumsong of Kermandwáfi in place of Hugturágis’s; instead he felt a fierce pleasure in what he had done. For now a new mood was on him, engendered by the intoxication of the Deep. He climbed to the top of the cliffs and looked north. He saw a flash on the horizon, then a bright light, and then the whole northern aspect was ablaze with flame and the night sky was filled with smoke, lit from below by the forest fire. He stood enchanted through the night, for some inner instinct told him that the purpose he had failed to achieve by Sûwikka’s plan had been brought about in a far better way by his mistake. The wingworm he had accidentally summoned had burnt a path through the Greenmarch that could not be repaired.
As the sun rose to his right, he heard a woman’s voice calling from below the cliff.
‘Master Hirgul, come down to the Ûthéga quickly!’
It was Nyaula, looking for once troubled. Hirgul knew at once that Sûwikka’s death had been feigned; he grasped that Nyaula’s lament had been a pretence; he understood the meaning of the mound of earth; and it troubled him not at all.
He followed Nyaula back to Tarûig. She snapped, over her shoulder:
‘Now at last you listen. Twice before I came to you and no answer did I get.’
Hirgul entered the cottage. Immediately Sûwikka spoke:
‘So you have learnt the difference!’
Hirgul was untroubled by her tone. He said:
‘The secret is in the voice sounds.’
She said:
‘My Lord, I perceive that you have spoken with the Deep. Your mistake has been justified by the greater success it has wrought. The gate is open to the besiegers! But let it not be known what part you had in it. You must return to Tídris to warn your dear kindred of the danger that threatens. For you still have a part to play in their downfall.’
Hirgul said:
‘Instruct me. What must I do? What message shall I give?’
‘My lord, be not slow-witted. A great rent has been torn in the Greenmarch. Prince Nagbith and his host will lose no time to enter Dúmiel and march upon Tídris. Before they do this, you will arrive on foot, in haste and disarray, to warn the Tîdrissamê of their peril. Thus you will place yourself beyond suspicion, and thus you will be ready for the next step, the rendering up of Tídris. You must leave Brandubur in Dréykahnôl. He will be safe there. For you will need to summon Hugturágis after all. And this is my last caution. Take care to leave the downfallen city as soon as you can, and return to Dréykahnôl, before the waters rise.’
Sûwikka would say no more, but sank back upon her bed, seemingly exhausted.
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