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〃He would let me go。〃
〃How can you know？〃 asked the Summoner。
Arren did not know where he was being required to go； nor when； nor why。 He was bewildered and abashed by these grave； honest； terrible men。 If he had had time to think he could not have said anything at all。 But he had no time to think； and the Archmage had asked him； 〃Will you e with me？〃
〃When my father sent me here he said to me； ‘I fear a dark time is ing on the world； a time of danger。 So I send you rather than any other messenger； for you can judge whether we should ask the help of the Isle of the Wise in this matter； or offer the help of Enlad to them。' So if I am needed； therefore I am here。〃
At that he saw the Archmage smile。 There was great sweetness in the smile； though it was brief。 〃Do you see？〃 he said to the seven mages。 〃Could age or wizardry add anything to this？〃
Arren felt that they looked on him approvingly then； but with a kind of pondering or wondering look； still。 The Summoner spoke； his arched brows straightened to a frown： 〃I do not understand it； my lord。 That you are bent on going； yes。 You have been caged here five years。 But always before you were alone； you have always gone alone。 Why； now； panioned？〃
〃I never needed help before；〃 said Sparrowhawk； with an edge of threat or irony in his voice。 〃And I have found a fit panion。〃 There was a dangerousness about him； and the tall Summoner asked him no more questions； though he still frowned。
But the Master Herbal； calm…eyed and dark like a wise and patient ox； rose from his seat and stood monumental。 〃Go； my lord；〃 he said； 〃and take the lad。 And all our trust goes with you。〃
One by one the others gave assent quietly； and by ones and twos withdrew； until only the Summoner was left of the seven。 〃Sparrowhawk；〃 he said； 〃I do not seek to question your judgment。 Only I say： If you are right； if there is imbalance and the peril of great evil； then a voyage to Wathort； or into the West Reach； or to world's end； will not be far enough。 Where you may have to go； can you take this panion； and is it fair to him？〃
They stood apart from Arren； and the Summoner's voice was lowered； but the Archmage spoke openly： 〃It is fair。〃
〃You are not telling me all you know；〃 the Summoner said。
〃If I knew； I would speak。 I know nothing。 I guess much。〃
〃Let me e with you：
〃One must guard the gates。〃
〃The Doorkeeper does that…〃
〃Not only the gates of Roke。 Stay here。 Stay here； and watch the sunrise to see if it be bright； and watch at the wall of stones to see who crosses it and where their faces are turned。 There is a breach； Thorion； there is a break； a wound； and it is this I go to seek。 If I am lost； then maybe you will find it。 But wait。 I bid you wait for me。〃 He was speaking now in the Old Speech； the language of the Making； in which all true spells are cast and on which all the great acts of magic depend； but very seldom is it spoken in conversation； except among the dragons。 The Summoner made no further argument or protest； but bowed his tall head quietly both to the Archmage and to Arren and departed。
The fire crackled in the hearth。 There was no other sound。 Outside the windows the fog pressed formless and dim。
The Archmage stared into the flames； seeming to have forgotten Arren's presence。 The boy stood at some distance from the hearth； not knowing if he should take his leave or wait to be dismissed； irresolute and somewhat desolate； feeling again like a small figure in a dark； illimitable； confusing space。
〃We'll go first to Hort Town；〃 said Sparrowhawk； turning his back to the fire。 〃News gathers there from all the South Reach； and we may find a lead。 Your ship still waits in the bay。 Speak to the master； let him carry word to your father。 I think we should leave as soon as may be。 At daybreak tomorrow。 e to the steps by the boathouse。〃
〃My lord； what…〃 His voice stuck a moment。 〃What is it you seek？〃
〃I don't know； Arren。〃
〃Then…〃
〃Then how shall I seek it？ Neither do I know that。 Maybe it will seek me。〃 He grinned a little at Arren； but his face was like iron in the grey light of the windows。
〃My lord；〃 Arren said； and his voice was steady now； 〃it is true I e of the lineage of Morred； if any tracing of lineage so old be true。 And if I can serve you I will account it the greatest chance and honor of my life； and there is nothing I would rather do。 But I fear that you mistake me for something more than I am。 〃
〃Maybe；〃 said the Archmage。
〃I have no great gifts or skills。 I can fence with the short sword and the noble sword。 I can sail a boat。 I know the court dances and the country dances。 I can mend a quarrel between courtiers。 I can wrestle。 I am a poor archer； and I am skillful at the game of net…ball。 I can sing； and play the harp and lute。 And that is all。 There is no more。 What use will I be to you？ The Master Summoner is right…〃
〃Ah； you saw that； did you？ He's jealous。 He claims the privilege of older loyalty。〃
〃And greater skill； my lord。〃
〃Then you'd rather he went with me； and you stayed behind？〃
〃No！ But I fear…〃
〃Fear what？〃
Tears sprang to the boy's eyes。 〃To fail you；〃 he said。
The Archmage turned around again to the fire。 〃Sit down； Arren；〃 he said； and the boy came to the stone corner…seat of the hearth。 〃I did not mistake you for a wizard or a warrior or any finished thing。 What you are I do not know； though I'm glad to know that you can sail a boat。。。 What you will be； no one knows。 But this much I do know： you are the son of Morred and of Serriadh。〃
Arren was silent。 〃That is true； my lord；〃 he said at last。 〃But。。。〃 The Archmage said nothing； and he had to finish his sentence： 〃But I am not Morred。 I am only myself。〃
〃You take no pride in your lineage？〃
〃Yes； I take pride in it …because it makes me a prince； it is a responsibility； a thing that must be lived up to…〃
The Archmage nodded once； sharply。 〃That is what I meant。 To deny the past is to deny the future。 A man does not make his destiny： he accepts it or denies it。 If the rowan's roots are shallow； it bears no crown。〃 At this Arren looked up startled； for his true name； Lebannen； meant the rowan tree。 But the Archmage had not said his name。 〃Your roots are deep；〃 he went on。 〃You have strength and you must have room； room to grow。 Thus I offer you； instead of a safe trip home to Enlad； an unsafe voyage to an unknown end。 You need not e。 The choice is yours。 But I offer you the choice。 For I am tired of safe places； and roofs； and walls around me。〃 He ended abruptly； looking about him with piercing； unseeing eyes。 Arren saw the deep restlessness of the man； and it frightened him。 Yet fear sharpens exhilaration； and it was with a leap of the heart that he answered； 〃My lord； I choose to go with you。〃
Arren left the Great House with his heart and mind full of wonder。 He told himself that he was happy； but the word did not seem to suit。 He told himself that the Archmage had called him strong； a man of destiny； and that he was proud of such praise； but he was not proud。 Why not？ The most powerful wizard in the world told him； 〃Tomorrow we sail to the edge of doom；〃 and he nodded his