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bringing him back in triumph to her grandmother.
    The flames were sinking low when suddenly all Iseult's senses came alert. There was an alien presence within the circle of stones. Jerking her tired eyes open, Iseult saw three tall, pale shapes slowly approaching the fire. Silently she fitted an arrow to her little bow, wound it with the hook on her belt and raised it to her shoulder.
    Without warning, a gnarled old hand gripped hers, forcing her to lower the crossbow. If Iseult had not recognized Meghan's touch, she would have killed her immediately, but she subdued her instinctive urge to defend herself, and let the bow and arrow slip to the ground.
    I said we were safe here, Iseult, when will ye learn to trust me? The witch spoke in her mind. If ye had fired and killed one o' our hosts, ye would have done great evil, for the Celestines are the gentlest o' creatures, and we shelter here at their kindness. Learn to think afore ye seek to kill, my bairn, for else ye are as evil as those we seek to overthrow.
    Iseult nodded, though she watched the noiseless approach of the mysterious figures with distrust. The Fire-maker Meghan may be prepared to extend the hand of friendship to all creatures, but Iseult certainly was not.
    The Celestines were tall and slender, with white hair that flowed down their backs. They were dressed in loose robes of pale silk that seemed to shimmer slightly so that a vague nimbus surrounded their forms. In the darkness their faces were indistinct, though occasionally she saw the gleam of their eyes. With the fingers of one hand to their foreheads, they bowed to Meghan. The air was filled with a sonorous humming.
    Meghan rose to her feet, bowed, and answered them with the same deep, low croon. It sounded like bees swarming, elven cats purring, leaves rustling, rain blowing.
    "It is nigh on midnight," Meghan said softly to her wards. "We shall begin the chanting and dancing soon, and wait for dawn, when the Celestines shall sing the sun to life. Ye may all join in if ye catch the melody; but if ye canna maintain the sound, do no' start. It is a bad omen indeed if the song should falter, and the song o' the Celestine needs stamina and control o' one's breath."
    Through the dark came another of the faery creatures, smaller than the others and stooped. When he came closer to the fire to greet Meghan, Iseult saw his face was seamed with wrinkles, his forehead so heavily corrugated that his eyes were hidden in shadow. He and Meghan hummed at each other for some time, the sound surprising Iseult with its flexibility and expressiveness. Although she did not know what they were saying, she heard gladness and welcome, and questions. He placed one multijointed finger between Meghan's eyes, and she bowed her head and let him touch her for a very long time. Then he took her hand in his and let her touch him in the same manner.
    So quietly that Iseult did not hear her, another Celestine had come through the outer ring of stones and now stood beside them, humming softly. She and Meghan embraced, and Iseult heard the rising inflection of an anxious question in Meghan's response.
    Iseult had almost fallen asleep when Meghan at last returned to the fire. Lachlan was fidgeting under the gaze of the Celestines, grouped by themselves near the water. He looked up with relief as Meghan ordered them to light their torches, and he nudged Iseult with his claw.
    The five white figures stood around the dark pool in the apex of the hill and waited in courteous silence as Meghan led Iseult and Lachlan through the rites of the witches. Iseult was growing used to Meghan's ways, but still she felt awkward and rather silly chanting rhymes and dancing round the fire with those solemn figures watching. Again and again her eye was drawn to them, in both wonder and suspicion. With their long white manes and strong facial structure, the Celestines reminded her of the People of the Spine of the World, and you never turned your back on an