transformation Isabeau thrust herself between them, keeping her mother back and shielding her from Maya with her own body "Stop it!" she cried "Mam, it's all right She's changed dai-dein back He's a man again He thinks he's still a horse but we can teach him again, I know we can." "Khan'gharad? A man?" Ishbel faltered Isabeau nodded and her mother turned and flew down the stairs without a word, swift as a snow goose Isabeau turned back to Maya, Bronwen still clinging to her, face buried in her neck "Ye canna take your daughter," she said firmly "Ye may stay here with me and learn to ken her again, but ye canna take her away This is the only home she kens and I'm the closest thing to a mother she's ever had Besides, ye will both die in the snows Winter is coming and ye no' ken the ways o' the mountains or where the hot mineral pools are So no' think ye can steal her and run away by transforming me into some horrible wee animal, for if ye do, both o' ye will die Do ye understand?" Maya smiled at her warmly "O' course I understand and indeed I canna think o' anything I want more than to stay with ye and my daughter, and get to ken and love ye both again For we are friends, are we no'?" "Nay," Isabeau said steadily "Ye are the enemy o' my people and ye have done more evil than anyone I know We are no' friends at all." Maya's smile faded and she looked away wistfully "Still, I canna think o' anything that would make me happier," she said gently "I thank ye Now, please, may I hold my daughter? I have longed to have her in my arms again." Reluctantly Isabeau unclasped Bronwen's chubby arms from around her neck and gently, with soft reassurances, passed her to Maya The Fairge cuddled her close, crooning to her, and jealousy struck through Isabeau like a knife She said abruptly, "I must see what I can for Feld, who is sore hurt, and for my father Ye may sleep in the room across from mine Remember what I said Ye no' ken the way through the mountain and there are many dangers Frost giants and woolly bears, avalanches and evil ogres Ye would both die if ye tried to escape." "But I no' want to escape," Maya said with a smile in her husky voice She rested her cheek on Bronwen's dark, silky head "I have what I came for." THE WEAVER'S SHUTTLE FLIES In the Mirror Khan'gharad tossed back his wild, red hair and scrambled across the room on all fours Porridge was smeared all over his face and ran in clumps and dribbles down his tangled, red beard He was barefoot, dressed only in an old robe of Feld's that had not been buttoned up properly so it gaped in odd places