There was the sound of unshod hooves coming down the stairway as they approached the Second Level. The two unicorns met them at the Second Portal, as also did a large grey-furred Shethi whose Awareness greeted Sherath with delight which resonated through and drew out the harmonics in his own mindmusic. He bent and swept the creature up into his arms, standing up with the Shethi's forelimbs around his neck and her face resting against his. He opened his eyes again, meeting Farinka's.

– My friend and mentor, he whispered. The Archivist.

The Archivist placed one forepaw each side of Sherath's face, looking into his eyes. –I know that you know where to find the record of the whereabouts of the First Door, she said. I know that you can interpret that record correctly. Therefore I have decided to go with you, not to the records, but to the First Door itself. We go down the stairway again. To the Wall.

***

Ierreth had been right about that section of the Wall, thought Farinka, looking at it. It was no colour, and all colours; including several that were unnameable; the nearest approximation would have been to say that it was close to the colour of Gay's eyes. But even that was only an approximation. The Colour of the Wall was a radiation of Power, not just a reflection of light.

– 'The way to true augmentation is through the Wall of self-knowledge,' ... the words came unbidden into Farinka's mind, and struck chords of recognition in the Wall.

– 'and all before and outside of that experience is Childhood, or adolescence at best,'continued the Archivist. Ierreth's Principles, Section One. The full transcript is in the Archives.

– Mentor, what is the final Principle? asked Farinka.

– The One Principle is that which encompasses all Principles, replied the Archivist. And it is that 'true choice, true decision, true understanding, true compassion, true self-knowledge and true justice are Centred only and always in True Principle.' Here I must leave you. Take the 'two silver unicorns'; enjoy the Valley.

Sherath put the Archivist down, caressing her ears and being rewarded with a licked hand. The Archivist loped away into the darkness.

The Wall Compelled Farinka; she placed a hand on it, her inner Awareness learning the Power of Compulsion, and took a deep breath.

– Iomketh,she whispered. The Word sank into the Wall.

– Do you fear the Wall? came the soft reply.

– We have no fear of self-knowledge. Iomketh.

The Wall searched their Awareness, and, satisfied, began to glow with a picture of a dragon. Also of all colours and none. They felt the substance of the Wall change around them, encompass them, and close behind them, leaving them in total darkness, and close up to another Wall.

Farinka placed a hand on the Second Door. –Iomketh.

– Do you fear the Darkness?

– We carry our own Light. Iomketh.

Once again the Wall transmuted around them, and the Third Door glowed eerily under Farinka's hand.

– Iomketh.

– Do you fear the unknown?

– Not knowing it, how can the assumption be made that fear is an appropriate response? Iomketh.

Again the Wall dissolved and reformed.

– Iomketh.

They were surrounded instantly by the Compulsion to fear, and as instantly rejected it, replacing it with curiosity. The Wall transmuted again without Speaking.

– Iomketh.

– Do you accept the inevitability of your place in the pattern?

– No. The pattern can always be changed either to include or exclude myself, by my own true choice. Iomketh.

The fifth dissolution and reformation of the Wall placed the Sixth Door under Farinka's hand.

– On what is your ability to influence that which surrounds you based?

– It is based on my Control of that which is within me. Iomketh.

The Seventh Door glowed before them.

– What is the surest way of being able to meet someone half way?

Farinka smiled. –Knowing where they're coming from! Seek first to understand, only second to be understood.

The answer was echoed instantaneously and in harmony by the others; and with laughter. The Seventh Door opened in front of them; opened into a spacious cave into which flowed late evening sunshine and air of a purity never previously encountered.

Sherath closed his eyes and took a deep lungful of the air, exhaling it slowly, and feeling its essence tingle through him.

"Oh, yes," he whispered, and opened his eyes again. "I feel as though I just got two inches taller," he said to Tarke with a smile.

"You're not the only one," she replied. "There's a lake out there. And I want to swim."

"It will be cold," said Farinka.

"I doubt it, actually," said Sherath.

He was right. The water was comfortably cool, without the capacity to chill; was sparklingly clear, to the extent that even close to its centre the sunlight on the rocks of the bottom of the lake, some thirty feet below, could be seen; was headier than ale and purer than white light to drink. The two unicorns whinnied a farewell that was echoed in their Awareness, galloped through the water's edge, sending up clouds of spray, and swam across to the far side, sensing the Presence of others of their own kind in the distance.

– We will be back, said Moondust, almost as an afterthought.

***

Sherath woke from his dream breathless, shaking, and laughing at its intensity. He re-evaluated himself with his Awareness, recognising the clarity of many parts of the picture that had been unfocussed before; able to reach many parts of his identity that had been beyond his grasp before; able to identify harmonics in his own mindmusic that had been beyond his recognition, beyond the range of his hearing, before.

He lay still, with his eyes closed, listening to the clear larksong in the air, allowing his Awareness to reassess and explore aspects of himself that had woken from dormant to fully, Powerfully accessible; giving that Awareness free rein to focus on, reach into and listen to anything that it wanted to that was within him and to re‑pattern, re-shape and re-orchestrate all aspects of him until they became fully congruent in any way that it chose, knowing that the direction that it chose would be the best of all possible ways.

The Awakening, when it came, was total; and his Awareness recombined with his conscious mind in a new and exhilarating kind of harmony which something within him recognised in triumph as an eighth door that he had opened within himself.

He walked out along a rocky platform that extended into the lake, looking around for any sign of the others without success, but unwilling to intrude his Awareness on theirs. The early sunlight glimmered across the water twenty feet below him, its clarity revealing an enticing depth alongside the rock. He swiftly stripped off his leggings and jerkin, and stood for a moment, feeling the glow of the sunlight on his back, before diving in; the water closed over him like a second skin, slipping across his own.

He surfaced, shaking the hair out of his eyes, and stretched out, floating on his back with the sunlight striking warm on his closed eyelids.

Tarke's Awareness touched him just before her hand did; it was hard to tell which had the greater effect, but it zipped through him like lightning. He rolled over, meeting her eyes with his own, Aware of immense depths and heights in her; and pulled in his breath sharply, releasing it in a soft laugh.

– Don't creep up on me like that, Tarke, he said.

– Why not?

– You caught me off balance.

– I intended to, she answered, her eyes laughing at the shudder that ran through him as she swam over the top of him, momentarily submerging him.

Even with foreknowledge, his sudden strength surprised her as he twisted in the water and pulled her underneath with him, sliding all that power and muscle along her flank before pinning her to his chest with one arm, the other hand sliding into her hair to pull her just close enough that he could brush her lips intoxicatingly with his own before they surfaced again, their eyes inches away from each other.

Hers were still laughing at him, great wells of deep brown.

– Not off balance yet? he asked.

– Less so than you, she said.

He laughed quietly back at her. –Not for long, he whispered, and kicked for the shore, allowing her to break away before catching hold of her again and pulling her onto the moss-covered bank, part gentle, part teasing, and all intense Controlled strength.

***

Sherath lay, propped on one elbow, Tarke still wrapped in his other arm, and watched her slowly come awake again, her eyes unfocussed and incredibly soft.

– Definitely not balanced, he whispered affectionately, and stroked a long strand of hair away from her face. The focus came back suddenly into her eyes.

– Who's talking? she said. There was also a glimmer of something else in those eyes, indefinable, somehow very knowing, somewhat self-congratulatory. It took him a few moments to recognise it.

"Ye Gods, Tarke; you could have told me!"

Her laughter was silent and all consuming.

"It might have put you off," she said.

"Sharks might have, possibly. But not that. I might add that flattered is a totally inadequate word," he said more softly. "But tell me why? Why now?"

His Awareness enfolded her, diffusing with complete acceptance and warmth through her; recognising foreknowledge as well as decision. She drew him closer again, resting her head against his shoulder.

– Sherath, Nemeth's Children I can have at any time. But there may have been a very tight time limit on this one.

– I really can't think of anything appropriate to say, he answered. A thought suddenly occurred to him. Does Nemeth know about that?

Tarke grinned suddenly at him, her eyes laughing again.

– Not yet, she answered.

Sherath lay back and shook with laughter. –He doesn't have any option, I take it.

– Not a lot. And that's something you can keep to yourself for a while, she added, running her fingertips along his side.

– Careful,he whispered with a smile.

– Why?

– Because that's distinctly arousing.

– It was intended to be, said Tarke.

– I give in, said Sherath, laughing softly again.

– But only because you choose to, replied Tarke.

Sherath turned to face her again. –I can't for the life of me think of any reason why I should choose not to, he said.

***

The unicorn herd wheeled and turned as one, their combined Awareness filled with delight in the newness of the day and the joy of running.

The sun shone warm on their backs, the wind brushed the tops of the grasses with silver and the herd's manes with a gentle caress, carrying Elf-scent to them.

They wheeled again, running towards the scent, their nostrils flared, their ears pricked and alert. They halted at the top of the rise, looking down.

– Greetings!called Moondust, echoing it with a deep neigh.

Jevann looked lazily up at him.

– Yes, he said. Am I allowed to go back to sleep, now?

– Tired?asked Moondust, trotting down the slope and nudging Jevann with his muzzle.

– No, just pleasantly drowsy.

– This is a good morning for being wide awake and running, said Moondust, prancing in the dust.

– So go and run, suggested Jevann. Enjoy yourself. Have fun.

Moondust ran his Awareness lightly through Jevann, picking up the integrated harmonies of Louka's mindmusic as he did so.

– You are joined in spirit, the unicorn said gently, nuzzling Jevann's hand. Jevann stroked the unicorn's muzzle affectionately.

– You could say that, he said.

– I know how that feels, said Moondust, inviting Jevann's Awareness in to recognise the augmentation of his own chords. But it made me want to run, and leap, and dance.

"Mmph," said Jevann, with a flick of his eyebrows, and turned onto his back with a smile. A lazy chuckle quivered through him. –Maybe later, he said. The chuckle turned to laughter as Moondust's whiskers tickled his stomach. Go away, you crazy animal! In the nicest possible way. Come down to the lake this evening; you might get some sense out of me then.

– Perhaps,replied Moondust. He went back up the slope in three huge bounds.

***

Farinka walked up the long slope of the hill, hearing the whistling whinnies of the unicorns ahead of her, her deerskin jerkin flapping open in the slight breeze, the grasses warm and crisp under her bare feet.

She sensed the quick rise to alertness of a basking adder just in time to avoid treading on it, and sent a murmur of apology down through her Awareness towards it, investigating the essence of its being. That's ... different,she thought. Seeing heat? Smelling shapes? A brief idea of Shaping roused itself in her mind, but she rejected it, not knowing enough about the territorial habits of adders, but at the same time recognising a completeness to her Power that had not quite been there before, an inner confidence that came from absolute strength. She walked on, still trying to fathom a mind which classified things into less than six types. The adder slithered back out into the sunlight, and rather bewilderedly stopped to appreciate the colour of a flower, on the way.

The unicorns had stopped running, and settled to grazing. Farinka's Awareness picked out Moonwind, acknowledging her with affection.

Moonwind lifted her head, and then walked over towards her. She was noticeably in foal; it showed in the way she walked as much as in the changed tenor of her Awareness.

– It is a good day, Domina, said Moonwind, breathing sweet grass-scented breath on Farinka's cheek.

– It seems strange, after this long, not to be going anywhere, doing anything, replied Farinka.

– It is good not to be going anywhere or doing anything sometimes, replied Moonwind.

Farinka was Aware of the sweet taste of the Valley grass.

– Is it better than other grass? she asked, curiously.

– It is very good grass, said Moonwind. Farinka crouched down and rubbed Moonwind's forehead. There was a slight warmth in the centre; the merest suspicion of a raised hump, harder in the middle.

– Your horn has started to grow, she said.

– Yes, I know. It itches. I would like to foal here, Domina.

– It would be a good place to, agreed Farinka. She ran her Awareness through Moonwind again, feeling the Presence of the foal. It's a filly, she said.

– I know that, too, said Moonwind. Share Awareness with me again; it is nice to be in harmony.

Farinka stood up again, relaxing, flooding her Awareness easily into the unicorn, feeling the subtle play of leg tendons under skin, the twitch of the tail and brisk shake of the forelock to ward off a fly. The sudden tightening of her jerkin and trousers warned her, and she reShaped quickly. Moonwind was looking at her.

– It would be wiser to take those off, she suggested.

Farinka laughed.

– I wasn't sure I could do that; and I still don't know quite how, she said, shucking off the clothes and enjoying the feeling of sunshine on her skin.

– Try again, Domina, said Moonwind softly. You will enjoy the grass.

Farinka accessed the memory quickly, passed the point at which she had reversed the Shape, and expanded; feeling a sudden tickle on her shoulder and twitching the small skin muscles.

– It's only your mane, said Moonwind.

There was immense strength and energy in the Shape; Farinka was suddenly fully Aware of how a unicorn could run untiringly for mile after mile. She dropped her nose down, scenting yarrow and chicory, and was lost in the lush richness of the grazing, her Awareness linked in harmony with Moonwind's, and, as such, constantly Aware of Moondust's Presence somewhere nearby; the harmonics were intertwined.

– I didn't know that unicorns joined-in-spirit, as well, she said.

– It is almost the same, said Moonwind, but not quite. With a unicorn it is more gradual, it takes longer. But the whole herd is partially joined; as is a wolf pack. Do you feel their spirit?

– Yes, I feel it.

– Part of you will be always unicorn, Domina, once you have felt the spirit. As part of Jekavi will be always wolf.

– Did he Shape fully?

– Yes. Part of him will always be wolf, and wolves recognise that difference in his Awareness. You knew that his Awareness had altered, but you did not recognise that it was as a result of the Shaping of his body.

– Did he know? asked Farinka.

– He was Aware of discomfort from his clothes, but the Shape that he chose – or that chose him – still fitted within them.

Farinka gave a snort of amusement. –It would have looked strange by daylight, she said. I assume Nemeth just flew out of his.

– No. What Nemeth did was different. His Shape was formed already in the air, which was why he did not know he had Shaped. He Reformed in a different place to that which he had started in, but a place which his Awareness could reach.

Farinka stopped grazing, and lifted her head, blades of grass hanging unnoticed from the corner of her mouth.

– Nemeth went from one place to another without crossing the space between them? she asked, surprised.

– Yes. Moondust and I and the other buzzard knew that he had done so. Reforming causes a different kind of vibration from Shaping.

– Could I do that?

– It would be hard for you to be a buzzard, having once been a unicorn and joined the herd spirit, replied Moonwind. Nemeth is not so restricted – birds of prey are not herd creatures, and have no herd spirit. But Nemeth's preference will always be for that kind of Shape – they will be easier for him. And he has experienced the freedom of flight. It is a Power best not confirmed in writing, she added. The fewer who know, the better. Unicorns have always known that, for some Elves, it is possible. It is a Power that has to come from within you, like Calling. And it is born within you – if you have it, you have it from birth; it is not the same as most Assumed Power. Those who have Shaped will always recognise it in others; the Awareness itself always carries echoes of the Shape, after Shaping. Those who cannot Shape cannot define the difference in others' Awareness. The ability runs in families, but it is wise to keep knowledge of it from your Children until they have sufficient sense to use it with care.

– Why?

– Firstly, if you stay too long in the Shape, it might be difficult to change back. Secondly, it is very hard to find a mouse or a bird that does not want to be found. Elf Children are a challenge at the best of times; it is considered best not to give them too many advantages. Unicorns will not discuss Shaping with any Elf who has not, themselves, Shaped. Neither will the dragons or the Great Worms. Or the Little People, she added as an afterthought.

Farinka snorted again, and shivered another fly off her shoulder. – Do the Little People Shape?

– Partially. To hide; for camouflage. They can change colours and patterns on their skins. They could Shape wholly if they chose to.

– Is it possible to Shape something not yourself?

– I have no herd-knowledge that says it has ever been done. Why?

– I just wondered.

They grazed their way slowly towards the rest of the herd.

– Domina,said Moondust, trotting over and grazing alongside them.

– Hello, Moondust. Being a unicorn feels good. The sunshine feels good. The grass is sweet. The company is enjoyable.

– It would be wise to return to your own Shape at least once a day, Domina,said Moondust gently.