"It is neither," Kenner told her, letting his guard down a bit to consider the picture himself. He had passed by here every day for the past thirty years without giving it much thought. "This mosaic was laid over another just like it a very long time ago, before the tower was built. I'm not sure what the building was, but the original mosaic was all that was left after the upheaval that created the Burning Lands. What appears to be the sun, there, low in the valley, is actually the Burning Lands as they used to appear, before they began to cool. For a long time the ground was so hot no one could look at it, let alone go near it.

"The centre of the mosaic marks the dead-centre beneath the Great Tower of Lund; above that high, groined ceiling above you, rising one thousand feet above this exact point, is the highest point, from which you can see the Burning Lands, and can get a glimpse of the sea beyond. Would you care to use up some of that restless energy of yours, and see the most impressive view the Four Kingdoms has to offer?" He smiled, knowingly. "Or would you prefer a tour of the armoury?"

Kender brought Rhia to the top of the tower, knowing full-well what her choice of activity would be. The slight girl seemed not to feel the climb at all. His own thighs ached dully, though this was fully in accordance with a man of his years, he told himself ruefully.




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