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I will not be a father tike that； Simon decided clutching the child a little closer。 Vren moved uneasily beneath Simon's cloak。 〃I'll stay with my son。 We'll have a home； and I won't go away。 〃
But who would be the mother？ A series of confusing images； random as snowflakes； flurried before his mind's eye。 Miriamele distant on her tower balcony at the Hayholt； the maid Hepzibah； cross old Rachel； and angry…eyed Lady Vorzheva。 And where would his home be？ He looked around at the vast whiteness of the Waste and the approaching shadow of Aldheorte。 How could anyone hope to stay in one place in this mad world？ To promise that to a child would be a lie。 Home？ He would be lucky to find a place to get out of the wind for a night。
His unhappy laugh set Vren to squirming； Simon pulled the cloak tighter around them both。
As they approached the eastern outskirts of Grinsaby they still had not seen a living soul。 Neither had there been any evidence of recent habitation They had questioned Vren closely； but had been unable to elicit any information other than the name 〃Skodi〃。
〃Is Skodi your father？〃 Simon asked。
〃It is a woman's name；〃 Sludig offered。 〃A Rimmerswoman's name。〃
Simon tried again。 〃Is Skodi your mother？〃
The boy shook his head。 〃I live with Skodi；〃 he said； his words so clear despite the accent that Simon wondered again if the boy was not older than they had guessed。
There were still a few desolate settlements perched among the low hills along the White Way； but they were appearing more and more infrequently。 Night had e on； filling the spaces between trees with inky shadows。 The pany had ridden too long…and too far past eating…time by Simon's reckoning。 Darkness now made their search impractical。 Binabik was just setting a pitchy pine limb alight to use as a torch when Simon saw a gleam of light through the forest； some distance from the road。
〃Look there！〃 he cried。 〃I think it's a fire！〃 The distant white…blanketed trees seemed to glow redly。
〃Skodi's house！ Skodi's house'〃 the boy said； bouncing so that Simon had to restrain him。 〃She'll be happy！〃
The pany sat for a moment； eyeing the flickering light。
〃We go carefully；〃 Sludig said； flexing the fingers that clutched his Qanuc spear。 〃It is a damned odd place to live。 We have no assurance these folks will be friendly。〃
Simon felt a sudden inner chill at Sludig's words。 If only Thorn were reliable enough for him to carry at his side！ He felt his bone knife in its scabbard and was reassured。
〃I will ride ahead；〃 Binabik said。 〃I am smaller and Qantaqa is more quiet。 We will go to have a look。〃 He murmured a word； the wolf slid off the road through the long shadows； her tail waving like a puff of smoke。
A few minutes passed。 Simon and Sludig rode slowly along the snowy downs； not talking。 Staring at the warm light that shimmered in the treetops； Simon had fallen into a sort of shallow dream when he was startled by the troll's abrupt reappearance。 Qantaqa grinned hugely； her red tongue hanging from her mouth。
〃It is an old abbey； I am thinking；〃 Binabik said； his face almost hidden in the darkness of his hood。 〃There is a bonfire in the dooryard and several people who are around it； but they look to be children。 I was seeing no horses； no sign of anyone waiting to ambush。〃
They rode quietly forward to the crest of a low hill。 The fire burned before them at the bottom of a tree…lined clearing； surrounded by small； dancing silhouettes。 Behind them loomed the red…tinted stone walls and cracked mortar of the abbey。 It was an old building that had suffered beneath the weather's rough handling； the long roof had collapsed in several places； the holes gaping at the stars like mouths。 Many of the surrounding trees also seemed to have pushed their limbs right through the small windows； as though trying to escape the cold。
As they sat looking； Vren slithered free beneath Simon's arm and hopped down from the saddle； tumbling into the snow。 He stood； shaking like a dog； then pelted down the hill toward the bonfire。 Some of the small shapes turned at his approach with glad cries。 Vren stood among them for a moment； waving his arms excitedly； then pushed through the abbey's front door and disappeared into the warm glow。
When long moments had passed and no one came back out again； Simon looked inquiringly at Binabik and Sludig。
〃It is certainly seeming to be his home；〃 Binabik said。
〃Should we go on our way？〃 Simon asked； hoping they would say no。 Sludig looked him over； then grunted in exasperation。
〃It would be foolish to pass the chance of a warm night。〃 the Rimmersman said grudgingly。 〃And we are ready to make camp。 But no word of who we are or what we do。 We are soldiers run away from the garrison at Skoggey； should any ask。〃
Binabik smiled。 〃I approve of your logic； although I am doubting I can be mistaken for a Rimmersman warrior。 Let us go and see Vren's home。〃
They cantered down into the dell。 The small figures； perhaps half a dozen m all； had resumed their dancing game； but as Simon and the others approached they paused and fell silent。 They were only raggedly…dressed children； as Binabik had suggested。
All eyes now turned to the new arrivals。 Simon felt himself subjected to a thorough scrutiny。 The children seemed to range in age from three or four up to Vren's age or a little older； and seemed to be of no one type。 There was a little girl who shared Vren's black hair and dark eyes； but also two or three others so fair they could be nothing but Rimmersgarders。 All wore expressions of wide…eyed caution As Simon and his friends dismounted； heads turned almost in unison to watch。 No one spoke。
〃Hello；〃 Simon said。 The boy nearest him stared sullenly； his face lapped m firelight。 〃Is your mother here？〃 The boy continued to stare。
〃The child we brought went inside；〃 Sludig said 〃That is undoubtedly where the grown folk are。〃 He hefted his spear thoughtfully and a half…dozen pairs of eyes warily followed his movement。 The Rimmersman took the spear with him toward the abbey door which Vren had swung shut behind him； then propped it against the pitted mortar of the wall。
He gave his silent audience a meaningful look。 〃No one may touch this；〃 he said。 〃Understood' Gjal es； kunden'〃' He patted his scabbarded sword； then lifted a fist and thumped on the door。 Simon looked back at Thorn； a hide…wrapped bundle on one of the packhorses。 He wondered whether he should bring it with him； but decided that would draw more attention than was best。 Still； it rankled。 So many sacrifices to get the black sword； just to leave it strapped to the saddle like an old broomstick。
〃Binabik。〃 he said quietly； pointing at the concealed sword。 〃Do you think。。。？〃
The troll shook his head。 〃Little need for concern； I am certain；〃 the troll whispered。 〃In any case； even if these children were to steal it； I am guessing they would have a difficult time carrying it away。〃
The heavy door swung slowly open。 Little Vren stood in the doorway 〃e in； you men。 Skodi says e in。〃
Binabik dismounted。 Qantaqa sniffed the air for a moment； then bounded away in t