e Doorkeeper in imperious and scanty Hardic； 〃I e to learn！〃 And now he stood in the greengold light under the trees； a tall man and fair； with long fair hair and strange green eyes； the Master Patterner of Earthsea。
It may be that he too knew Ged's name； but if so he never spoke it。 They greeted each other in silence。
〃What are you watching there？〃 the Archmage asked； and the other answered； 〃A spider。〃
Between two tall grass blades in the clearing a spider had spun a web； a circle delicately suspended。 The silver threads caught the sunlight。 In the center the spinner waited； a grey…black thing no larger than the pupil of an eye。
〃She too is a patterner；〃 Ged said； studying the artful web。
〃What is evil？〃 asked the younger man。
The round web； with its black center； seemed to watch them both。
〃A web we men weave；〃 Ged answered。
In this wood no birds sang。 It was silent in the noon light and hot。 About them stood the trees and shadows。
〃There is word from Narveduen and Enlad： the same。〃
〃South and southwest。 North and northwest；〃 said the Patterner； never looking from the round web。
〃We shall e here this evening。 This is the best place for counsel。〃
〃I have no counsel。〃 The Patterner looked now at Ged； and his greenish eyes were cold。 〃I am afraid；〃 he said。 〃There is fear。 There is fear at the roots。〃
〃Aye；〃 said Ged。 〃We must look to the deep springs； I think。 We have enjoyed the sunlight too long； basking in that peace which the healing of the Ring brought； acplishing small things； fishing the shallows。 Tonight we must question the depths： And so he left the Patterner alone； gazing still at the spider in the sunny grass。
At the edge of the Grove； where the leaves of the great trees reached out over ordinary ground； he sat with his back against a mighty root； his staff across his knees。 He shut his eyes as if resting； and sent a sending of his spirit over the hills and fields of Roke； northward； to the sea…assaulted cape where the Isolate Tower stands。
〃Kurremkarmerruk；〃 he said in spirit； and the Master Namer looked up from the thick book of names of roots and herbs and leaves and seeds and petals that he was reading to his pupils and said； 〃I am here； my lord。〃
Then he listened； a big； thin old man； white…haired under his dark hood； and the students at their writing…tables in the tower room looked up at him and glanced at one another。
〃I will e；〃 Kurremkarmerruk said； and bent his head to his book again； saying； 〃Now the petal of the flower of moly hath a name； which is iebera； and so also the sepal； which is partonath； and stem and leaf and root hath each his name。。。〃
But under his tree the Archmage Ged； who knew all the names of moly； withdrew his sending and； stretching out his legs more fortably and keeping his eyes shut； presently fell asleep in the leafspotted sunlight。
The Masters of Roke
The School on Roke is where boys who show promise in sorcery are sent from all the Inner Lands of Earthsea to learn the highest arts of magic。 There they bee proficient in the various kinds of sorcery； learning names； and runes； and skills； and spells； and what should and what should not be done； and why。 And there； after long practice； and if hand and mind and spirit all keep pace together； they may be named wizard； and receive the staff of power。 True wizards are made only on Roke。
Since there are sorcerers and witches on all the isles； and the uses of magic are as needful to their people as bread and as delightful as music； so the School of Wizardry is a place held in reverence。 The nine mages who are the Masters of the School are considered the equals of the great princes of the Archipelago。 Their master； the warden of Roke； the Archmage； is held to be accountable to no man at all； except the King of All the Isles； and that only by an act of fealty； by heart's gift； for not even a king could constrain so great a mage to serve the mon law； if his will were otherwise。 Yet even in the kingless centuries； the Archmages of Roke kept fealty and served that mon law。 All was done on Roke as it had been done for many hundreds of years； a place safe from all trouble it seemed； and the laughter of boys rang in the echoing courts and down the broad； cold corridors of the Great House。
Arren's guide about the School was a stocky lad whose cloak was clasped at the neck with silver； a token that he had passed his novicehood and was a proven sorcerer； studying to gain his staff。 He was called Gamble； 〃because；〃 said he； 〃my parents had six girls； and the seventh child； my father said； was a gamble against Fate。〃 He was an agreeable panion； quick of mind and tongue。 At another time Arren would have enjoyed his humor； but today his mind was too full。 He did not pay him very much attention； in fact。 And Gamble； with a natural wish to be given credit for existence； began to take advantage of the guest's absentmindedness。 He told him strange facts about the School； and then told him strange lies about the School； and to all of them Arren said； 〃Oh； yes〃 or 〃I see；〃 until Gamble thought him a royal idiot。
〃Of course they don't cook in here；〃 he said； showing Arren past the huge stone kitchens all alive with the glitter of copper cauldrons and the clatter of chopping…knives and the eye…prickling smell of onions。 〃It's just for show。 We e to the refectory； and everybody charms up whatever he wants to eat。 Saves dishwashing too。〃
〃Yes； I see；〃 said Arren politely。
〃Of course novices who haven't learnt the spells yet often lose a good deal of weight； their first months here； but they learn。 There's one boy from Havnor who always tries for roast chicken； but all he ever gets is millet mush。 He can't seem to get his spells past millet mush。 He did get a dried haddock along with it； yesterday。〃 Gamble was getting hoarse with the effort to push his guest into incredulity。 He gave up and stopped talking。
〃Where。。。 what land does the Archmage e from？〃 said that guest； not even looking at the mighty gallery through which they were walking； all carven on wall and arched ceiling with the Thousand…Leaved Tree。
〃Gont；〃 said Gamble。 〃He was a village goatherd there。〃 ；
Now； at this plain and well…known fact； the boy from Enlad turned and looked with disapproving unbelief at Gamble。 〃A goatherd？〃
〃That's what most Gontishmen are； unless they're pirates or sorcerers。 I didn't say he was a goatherd now； you know！〃
〃But how would a goatherd bee Archmage？〃
〃The same way a prince would！ By ing to Roke and outdoing all the Masters； by stealing the Ring in Atuan； by sailing the Dragons' Run； by being the greatest wizard since Erreth…Akbe … how else？〃
They came out of the gallery by the north door。 Late afternoon lay warm and bright on the furrowed hills and the roofs of Thwil Town and the bay beyond。 There they stood to talk。 Gamble said； 〃Of course that's all long ago； now。 He hasn't done much since he was named Archmage。 They never do。 They just sit on Roke and watch the Equilibrium； I suppose。 And he's quite old now。〃
〃Old？ How old？〃
〃Oh； forty or fifty。〃
〃Have you seen him？〃
〃Of course I've seen him；〃 Gamble said sharply。 The royal idiot seemed also to be a royal snob。
〃Often？〃
〃No。 He keeps to himself。 But when I first came to Roke I saw him； in the Fountain Court。〃
〃I spoke with him there today；〃 Arren said。
His tone made Gamble look at him and then answer him fully： 〃It was three years ago。 And I was so frightened I never really looked at him。 I was pretty young； of course。 But its hard to see things clearly in there。 I remember his voice； mostly； and the fountain running。〃 After a moment he added； 〃He does have a Gontish accent。〃
〃If I could speak to dragons in their own language；〃 Arren said； 〃I wouldn't care about my accent。〃
At that Gamble looked at him with a degree of approval； and asked； 〃Did you e here to join the school； prince？〃
〃No。 I carried a message from my father to the Archmage。〃
〃Enlad is one of the Principalities of the Kingship； isn't it？〃
〃Enlad； Ilien； and Way。 Havnor and Ea； once； but the line of descent from the kings has died out in those lands。 Ilien traces the descent from Gemal Seaborn through Maharion； who was King of all the Isles。 Way； from Akambar and the House of Shelieth。 Enlad； the oldest； from Morred through his son Serriadh and the House of Enlad〃
Arren recited these genealogies with a dreamy air； like a well…trained scholar whose mind is on another subject。
〃Do you think we'll see a king in Havnor again in our lifetime？〃
〃I never thought about it much。〃
〃In Ark； where I e from； people think about it。 We're part of the Principality of Ilien now； you know； since peace was made。 How long has it been； seventeen years or eighteen； since the Ring of the King's Rune was returned to the Tower of the Kings in Havnor？ Things were better for a while then； but now they're worse than ever。 It's time there was a king again on the throne of Earthsea； to wield the Sign of Peace。 People are tired of wars and raids and merchants who overprice and princes who overtax and all the confusion of unruly powers。 Roke guides； but it can't rule。 The Balance lies here； bu