"Can we do nothing?" She reached out her hand as if to touch the stonemaiden, but Oru grasped her wrist. "Urcea..." The soldier's voice came from behind her. "I would not do that." The lady started, and looked long at Oru before drawing back her hand. Oru stared for a few moments, lost in thought. If the stonemaiden would live... Oru made several oaths over the creature, but nothing happened. The magician, meanwhile, had been busy collecting bits of ash and rock, and puttering around. Presently he arrived near the stonemaid, at her head, looking down the length of her with a keen eye. Finally he removed a small pouch of rough paper from his breastcoat, and tearing the top from it, he spread the powdery contents over the stonemaiden, head to foot. She seemed to burn a little brighter. "It's temporary at best," said the magician. The creature was gathering itself to speak again. "(Echo) tells lies, but (what one) is lies, and (what one) is true, Gemmacestros does not know." Gemmacestros? Diamond-hard. Oru intoned her name several times. Each time he breathed it over her, the flame of her inner fire was kindled.