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nks for a windbreak while Binabik； with the help of his yellow fire…powder； set flame to damp wood and began to boil water for broth。 The weather was so unremittingly foul and cold that after sharing the thin soup； they all curled up in their cloaks and lay shivering。 The wind was too loud for any but shouted conversation。 Despite the proximity of his friends； Simon was alone with his cheerless thoughts until sleep came。
Simon woke with Qantaqa's steaming breath on his face。 The wolf whined and nudged him with her great head； rolling him halfway over。 He sat up； blinking in the weak rays of morning sun filtering into the copse。 Snow drifts had piled against the woven branches； making a wall that kept the wind at bay； so the smoke from Binabik's campfire rose almost undisturbed。
〃Good morning； Simon…friend；〃 Binabik said。 〃We have survived through the storm。〃
Simon gently pushed Qantaqa's head out of his side。 She made a noise of frustration； then backed away。 Her muzzle was red…daubed。
〃She has been unsettled all the morning；〃 Binabik laughed。 〃I am thinking that the many frozen squirrels and birds and such who have tumbled from the trees have fed her well； however。〃
〃Where's Sludig？〃
〃He is seeing to the horses。〃 Binabik poked at the fire。 〃I convinced him to take them downslope in the open； so the horses would not be stepping on my morning meal or your face。〃 He lifted a bowl。 〃This is the last of the broth。 Since our dried meat is now almost finished； I suggest you enjoy it。 Meals may be scarce if our own hunting must be relied on。〃
Simon shivered as he wiped a handful of snow on his face。 〃But won't we reach the forest soon？〃
Binabik patiently offered the bowl again。 〃Just so； but we will be traveling along it rather than through。 It is a route more circuitous but less time…consuming； since we will not be cutting through underbrush。 Also； in this frozen summer there may be few animals who are not sleeping in their dens and nests。 Thus； if you are not soon taking this soup from my hands； I will drink it myself。 I am no more interested in starving than you； as well as a great deal more sensible。〃
〃Sorry。 Thank you。〃 Simon hunched over the bowl； enjoying a deep breath of the rising scent before he drank。
〃You may be washing the bowl when you have finished；〃 the troll sniffed。 〃A nice bowl is a luxurious thing to have on a journey of such dangerousness。〃
Simon smiled。 〃You sound like Rachel the Dragon。〃
〃I have not met this Dragon…Rachel；〃 Binabik said as he stood up； brushing snow from his breeches； 〃but if she was given charge of you； she must have been a person of great patientness and kindness。〃
Simon chortled。
They reached the crossroads in late morning。 The meeting of the two roads was marked only by a gaunt finger of stone set upright in the frozen ground。 Gray…green lichen； seemingly impervious to frost； clung to it grimly。
〃The Old Tumet'ai Road runs through the forest。〃 Binabik gestured to the barely distinguishable path of the south road； which coiled away through a stand of firs。 〃Since I am thinking it is nevermore used and likely quite overgrown； we should instead follow the White Way。 Perhaps we will find some deserted habitations where we may be finding supplies。〃
The White Way proved a slightly newer road than the one leading from the ancient site of Tumet'ai。 There were a few marks of recent human visitation…a rusted and broken iron wheel…rim dangling from a roadside branch； where it had doubtless been thrown by an irate wagon owner； a sharpened spoke perhaps used as a tent…spike； discarded by the shoulder； a circle of charred stones half…covered in snow。
〃Who lives out here？' Simon asked。 〃Why is there a road at all？〃
〃There were once several small settlements east of St。 Skendi's monastery；〃 Sludig said。 〃You remember Skendi's…the snow…buried place we passed on our way to the dragon…mountain。 There were even a few towns here…Sovebek； Grinsaby； some others； as I remember。 I think also that a century or so ago； people traveled this way around the great forest when they came north from the Thrithings； so there may have been a few inns； too。〃
〃In days more than a century gone；〃 Binabik intoned； 〃this part of the world was being much traveled。 We Qanuc…some of us； that is to say…traveled farther south in summer； sometimes to the edges of the lowlander countries。 Also； the Sithi themselves were everywhere in their wandering。 It is only in these late and sad days that all this land has bee empty of voices。〃
〃It does seem empty now；〃 Simon said 〃It seems like no one could live here anymore。〃
They followed the winding course of the road through the short afternoon。 The trees were gradually being thicker here at the forest's edge； in spots growing so closely about the road that it seemed as if the panions had already entered Aldheorte； whether they wished to or not。 At last they came to another standing stone； this one leaning for…lornly by the roadside； with no crossing or other possible landmark m sight。 Sludig dismounted to take a closer look。
〃There are runes on it； but faint and weathered。〃 He peeled back some of the fiozen moss。 〃I think they say that Grinsaby is nearby。〃 He looked up； smiling in his frosty beard。 〃Someplace with a roof or two； perhaps； even if nothing else。 That would be a nice change。〃 His step a little springier； the Rimmersman vaulted back into his saddle。 Simon； too； was heartened。 Even a deserted town would be a vast improvement over the fortless waste。
The words of Binabik's song came back to him。 You have slipped into cold shadows 。。。 He felt a moment's pang of loneliness。 Perhaps the town would not be deserted； after all。 Maybe there would be an inn with a fire； and food 。 。 。
As Simon yearned for the forts of civilization； the sun vanished for good behind the forest。 The wind rose and the early northern twilight came down upon them。
There was still light in the sky； but the snowy landscape had turned blue and gray； soaking up shadow like a rag dipped m ink。 Simon and his panions were nearly ready to stop and make camp； and were discussing the subject in loud voices over the monotonous wind when they came upon the first outbuildings of Grinsaby。
As if to disappoint even Sludig's modest hopes； the roofs of these abandoned cottages had collapsed under the weight of snow。 The pad… docks and gardens were also long untended； knee…deep in swirling white。 Simon had seen so many emptied towns m his northern sojourn that it was hard to believe that the Frostmarch and the Waste had once been inhabited； that people had led their lives here just as they did in the green fields of Erkynland。 He ached for his own home； for familiar places and familiar weather。 Or had winter already crawled over the entire land？
They rode on。 Soon Grinsaby's deserted houses began to appear m greater profusion on either side of the road Binabik had named the White Way。 Some still bore traces of their once…residents…a rusted axe with a rotted handle standing in a chopping block before a snow…buried front door； an upright broom sticking out of the roadside drifts like a fla