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〃Therefore a mage。〃
〃Yes； since only a wizard or mage can go among the dead in the dark land and return。 Though they do not cross it。 At least； they always speak of it as if it had only one boundary； and beyond that； no end。 What are the far shores of the day； then？ But so runs the prophecy of the Last King； and therefore someday one will be born to fulfill it。 And Roke will recognize him； and the fleets and armies and nations will e together to him。 Then there will be majesty again in the center of the world； in the Tower of the Kings in Havnor。 I would e to such a one； I would serve a true king with all my heart and all my art；〃 said Gamble； and then laughed and shrugged； lest Arren think he spoke with over…much emotion。 But Arren looked at him with friendliness； thinking； 〃He would feel toward the king as I do toward the Archmage。〃 Aloud he said； 〃A king would need such men as you about him。〃
They stood； each thinking his own thoughts； yet panionable； until a gong rang sonorous in the Great House behind them。
〃There！〃 said Gamble。 〃Lentil and onion soup tonight。 e on。〃
〃I thought you said they didn't cook；〃 said Arren； still dreamy； following。
〃Oh； sometimes …by mistake…〃
No magic was involved in the dinner； though plenty of substance was。 After it they walked out over the fields in the soft blue of the dusk。 〃This is Roke Knoll；〃 Gamble said； as they began to climb a rounded hill。 The dewy grass brushed their legs； and down by the marshy Thwilburn there was a chorus of little toads to wele the first warmth and the shortening； starry nights。
There was a mystery in that ground。 Gamble said softly； 〃This hill was the first that stood above the sea； when the First Word was spoken。〃
〃And it will be the last to sink； when all things are unmade；〃 said Arren。
〃Therefore a safe place to stand on；〃 Gamble said； shaking off awe； but then he cried； awestruck； 〃Look！ The Grove！〃
South of the Knoll a great light was revealed on the earth； like moonrise； but the thin moon was already setting westward over the hill's top； and there was a flickering in this radiance； like the movement of leaves in the wind。
〃What is it？〃
〃It es from the Grove… the Masters must be there。 They say it burnt so； with a light like moonlight； all night； when they met to choose the Archmage five years ago。 But why are they meeting now？ Is it the news you brought？〃
〃It may be；〃 said Arren。
Gamble； excited and uneasy； wanted to return to the Great House to hear any rumor of what the Council of the Masters portended。 Arren went with him； but looked back often at that strange radiance till the slope hid it； and there was only the new moon setting and the stars of spring。
Alone in the dark in the stone cell that was his sleeping…room； Arren lay with eyes open。 He had slept on a bed all his life； under soft furs； even in the twenty…oared galley in which he had e from Enlad they had provided their young prince with more fort than this…a straw pallet on the stone floor and a ragged blanket of felt。 But he noticed none of it。 〃I am at the center of the world；〃 he thought。 〃The Masters are talking in the holy place。 What will they do？ Will they weave a great magic to save magic？ Can it be true that wizardry is dying out of the world？ Is there a danger that threatens even Roke？ I will stay here。 I will not go home。 I would rather sweep his room than be a prince in Enlad。 Would he let me stay as a novice？ But perhaps there will be no more teaching of the art…magic； no more learning of the true names of things。 My father has the gift of wizardry； but I do not； perhaps it is indeed dying out of the world。 Yet I would stay near him； even if he lost his power and his art。 Even if I never saw him。 Even if he never said another word to me。〃 But his ardent imagination swept him on past that； so that in a moment he saw himself face to face with the Archmage once more in the court beneath the rowan tree； and the sky was dark and the tree leafless and the fountain silent； and he said； 〃My lord； the storm is on us； yet I will stay by thee and serve thee；〃 and the Archmage smiled at him。。。 But there imagination failed； for he had not seen that dark face smile。
In the morning he rose； feeling that yesterday he had been a boy； today he was a man。 He was ready for anything。 But when it came； he stood gaping。 〃The Archmage wishes to speak to you； Prince Arren；〃 said a little novice…lad at his doorway； who waited a moment and ran off before Arren could collect his wits to answer。
He made his way down the tower staircase and through stone corridors toward the Fountain Court； not knowing where he should go。 An old man met him in the corridor； smiling so that deep furrows ran down his cheeks from nose to chin： the same who had met him yesterday at the door of the Great House when he first came up from the harbor； and had required him to say his true name before he entered。 〃e this way；〃 said the Master Doorkeeper。
The halls and passages in this part of the building were silent； empty of the rush and racket of the boys that enlivened the rest。 Here one felt the great age of the walls。 The enchantment with which the ancient stones were laid and protected was here palpable。 Runes were graven on the walls at intervals； cut deep； some inlaid with silver。 Arren had learned the Runes of Hardie from his father； but none of these did he know； though certain of them seemed to hold a meaning that he almost knew； or had known and could not quite remember。
〃Here you are； lad；〃 said the Doorkeeper； who made no account of titles such as Lord or Prince。 Arren followed him into a long； low…beamed room； where on one side a fire burnt in a stone hearth； its flames reflecting in the oaken floor； and on the other side pointed windows let in the cold； soft light of fog。 Before the hearth stood a group of men。 All looked at him as he entered； but among them he saw only one； the Archmage。 He stopped； and bowed； and stood dumb。
〃These are the Masters of Roke； Arren；〃 said the Archmage； 〃seven of the nine。 The Patterner will not leave his Grove； and the Namer is in his tower； thirty miles to the north。 All of them know your errand here。 My lords； this is the son of Morred。〃
No pride roused in Arren at that phrase； but only a kind of dread。 He was proud of his lineage； but thought of himself only as an heir of princes； one of the House of Enlad。 Morred； from whom that house descended； had been dead two thousand years。 His deeds were matter of legends； not of this present world。 It was as if the Archmage had named him son of myth； inheritor of dreams。
He did not dare look up at the faces of the eight mages。 He stared at the iron…shod foot of the Archmage's staff； and felt the blood ringing in his ears。
〃e； let us breakfast together；〃 said the Archmage； and led them to a table set beneath the windows。 There was milk and sour beer； bread； new butter； and cheese。 Arren sat with them and ate。
He had been among noblemen； landholders； rich merchants； all his life。 His father's hall in Berila was full of them： men who owned much； who bought and sold much； who were rich in the things of the world。 They ate meat and drank wine and talked