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und a molding but edible cheese somewhere in the abbey's ruined larder； along with several more jars of musky Rimmersgard beer。 With this they managed to make a meal that served the whole pany； albeit meagerly： the children all assembled numbered a dozen or more。
Binabik found little time to ask questions during the meal。 Those of Skodi's charges who were old enough to go outside stood up to relate fanciful stories of various adventures they had encountered that day； stories so exaggerated as to be obviously untrue。 One little girl told of flying to the top of a mighty pine tree to steal a feather from a magical jaybird。 Another； one of the older boys； swore that he had found a chest of ogre's gold in a cave in the forest。 Vren； when his turn came； calmly informed his listeners that while gathering as he had been pursued by an icy demon with glinting blue eyes； and that Simon and his two panions had saved him from the frosty menace's clutches； smiting it with their swords until it shattered into icicles。
Skodi held the smaller children on her lap as she ate； each in its turn； and listened to each story with an expression of envious fascination。 She rewarded those she enjoyed most by giving the teller an extra morsel of food； which was eagerly accepted…indeed； Simon decided； the reward was probably the main reason for the fabulous nature of the stories。
There was something about Skodi's face that Simon found captivating。 Despite her great size； there was a delicacy to her girlish features and a brightness to her eyes and smile that transfixed him。 At certain moments； as she laughed breathlessly at one of the children's inventions； or turned so that the firelight played glinting in her flaxen hair； she seemed quite beautiful； at others； when she greedily snatched a handful of berries from one of the smaller children and stuffed her wide mouth； or when her spellbound appreciation of the story…telling for a moment resembled mere idiocy； he found her repellent。
A few times she caught Simon staring。 The glances she returned to him frightened him a little； even as they made him blush。 Skodi； for all her bulk； wore a hungering look that would not have been out of place on a starveling beggar。
〃So；〃 she said when Vren had finished his wild tale； 〃you are even braver men than I guessed。〃 She smiled hugely at Simon。 〃We will sleep well tonight； knowing you are under our roof。 You do not think Vren's ice…demon has brothers； do you？〃
'I am thinking it is not likely；〃 Binabik said with a gentle smile。 〃You need not be fearing any such demon while we are staying here in your home。 In return； we have much gratitude for a roof and a hearth for warming。〃
〃Oh； no；〃 Skodi said； her eyes wide； 〃it is me who is grateful。 We do not get many visitors。 Vren； help clear a place for the men to sleep。 Vren； do you hear me？〃
Vren was staring intently at Simon； an unfathomable expression in his dark eyes。
〃Your mentioning of guests； my lady；〃 Binabik began； 〃…it brings to my mind a question I had meant to be asking you。 How is it that you and these children have e to be in such a place of isolation？〃
〃The storms came。 Others ran away。 We had nowhere else to go。〃 Her brisk words poorly concealed her wounded tone。 〃None of us were wanted…none of the children； nor Skodi either。〃 The subject discussed； her voice warmed again。 〃Now it is time for the little ones to sleep。 e； alt of you； help me up。〃 Several of her wards scurried to assist Skodi in levering her large body up out of the chair。 As she moved slowly toward the door at the back of the room； a pair of sleeping children clinging to her like baby bats； she called： 〃Vren will help you find your way。 Bring the candle when you e； Vren。〃 She disappeared into the shadows。
Simon awakened from an uneasy sleep in the depths of night； filled with confused panic by the red…touched and starless darkness； and also by a faint thread of sound that wove itself in and out of the muted tapestry of windsong。 It took some moments to remember that they slept near the hearth of the old abbey； warmed by dreaming coals and sheltered from the elements by the roof and decaying walls。 The noise was Qantaqa's lonely howl； floating distantly。 Simon's fear faded a little； but did not disappear。
Was that a dream I had last night？ Shem and Ruben and the voices？ Was it truly just a mad fancy； or was it as real as it seemed 。 。 。 as it sounded？
Ever since the night of his escape from the Hayholt； he had not felt a master of his own destiny。 That same Stoning Night； when he had somehow felt Pryrates' repellent thoughts and had unwillingly shared in the ritual as Elias received the terrible gift of the sword Sorrow； Simon had wondered if he was even a master of his own mind。 His dreams had bee vivid far beyond the realms of mere night…wandering。 The dream at Geloe's house； in which a cadaverous Morgenes had warned him of a false messenger； and the repeated visitations of the great； all…crushing wheel and of the tree…that…was…a…tower； white among the stars… these seemed too insistent； too powerful to be just unsettled sleep。 And now； in his dreams the night before； he heard Pryrates talking to some unearthly thing as clearly as if Simon listened at a keyhole。 These were not anything like the dreams of his life before this last terrible year。
When Binabik and Geloe had taken him on the Road of Dreams； the vision he experienced there had felt much like these others…like dreaming； but with a wild and indescribable potency of vision。 Perhaps somehow； because of Pryrates on the hilltop or something else； a door had opened in him that sometimes led to the dream…road。 That seemed like madness； but what did not in this topsy…turvy age？ The dreams must be important…when he awoke； it was with the sense of something infinitely crucial slipping away…but terrifyingly； he had no idea what they might mean。
Qantaqa's mournful cry sounded again through the storm that blew beyond the abbey's walls。 Simon wondered that the troll did not get up to soothe his mount； but the sound of Binabik's and Sludig's snoring continued unabated。 Simon tried to rise； determined to at least offer her the chance to e in…she sounded so lone and lorn； and it was so very cold outside…but found that a heavy languor clutched his limbs； so that he could not force himself up。 He struggled； but to no avail。 His limbs were no more responsive than if they had been carved of ash…wood。
Simon suddenly felt terribly sleepy。 He fought his drowsiness； but it pulled him relentlessly downward； Qantaqa's distant howl faded and he went sliding as though down a long slope； back toward unknowingness。。。
When he woke again； the last coals had burned black and the abbey was in utter darkness。 A cold hand was touching his face。 He gasped with horror； but air barely filled his lungs。 His body still felt heavy as stone； without the power of movement。
〃Pretty；〃 Skodi whispered； a deeper shadow； sensed rather than seen； looming tall and wide above him。 She stroked his cheek。 〃Just got your beard； too。 You are a pretty one。 I will keep you。〃
Simon strove helplessly to wriggle from beneath her touch。