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the sky and obscuring Si… mon's view。 When it cleared； the fire was burning as brightly as before； but a heavier darkness seemed to have settled over the courtyard。 The red light that splashed the buildings had bee subdued； old as sunset on a dying world。 The wind had failed； but a deeper cold crept through the abbey's grounds。 Though his body was no longer fully his own； still Simon could feel the intense chill crawling right into his bones。
〃e to me； Lady Silver Mask！〃 the largest of the figures cried。 〃Speak with me； Lord Red Eyes！ I want to trade with you！ I have a pretty thing you will like！〃
The wind had not returned； but the bonfire began to waver from side to side； bulging and shuddering like some great animal struggling inside a sack。 The cold intensified。 The stars dimmed。 A shadowy mouth and two empty black eye…smudges formed in the flames。
〃I have a present for you！〃 the large one shouted gleefully。 Simon； drifting； remembered that her name was Skodi。 Several of the children were crying； voices muffled despite the curious stillness。
The face in the fire contorted。 A low； grumbling roar spilled from the yawning black mouth； slow and deep as the creaking of a mountain's roots。 If words were part of that drone； they were indistinguishable。 A moment later； the features began to shimmer and fade。
〃Stay！〃 Skodi cried。 〃Why do you go away？〃 She looked around wildly； flapping her large arms； her exhilarated expression was gone。 〃The sword！〃 she shrieked at the covey of children。 〃Stop crying； you stupid oxes！ Where is the sword？ Vren！〃
〃Inside； Skodi；〃 the little boy said。 He was holding one of the smaller children on his lap。 Despite the curious sense of dislocation…or perhaps because of it…Simon could not help noticing that Vren's arms were bare and thin beneath his ragged coat。
〃Then get it； you fool！〃 she cried； hopping up and down in a leviathan jig of rage。 The face in the flames was now barely distinguishable。 〃Get it！〃
Vren stood up quickly； letting the child in his lap slide to the ground； where it joined its wails to the general cacophony。 Vren sped into the house and Skodi turned to the billowing flames once more。 〃e back； e back；〃 she coaxed the diminishing face； 〃I have a present for my Lord and Lady。〃
Skodi's grip on him seemed to diminish somewhat。 Simon felt himself slipping back into his body once more…a curious feeling； like donning a cloak of softly tickling feathers。
Vren appeared in the doorway； pale face solemn。 〃Too heavy；〃 he called。 〃Honsa； Ende； you others； e here！ e and help！〃 Several of the children came creeping across the snow toward the abbey at his call； looking over their shoulders at the groaning bonfire and their gesticulating caretaker。 They followed Vren into the shadowed interior like a string of nervous goslings。
Skodi turned again； her round cheeks flushed； her rosy lips trembling。 〃Vren！ Bring me the sword； you lazy thing！ Hurry！〃
He stuck his head out of the doorway。 〃Heavy； Skodi； it's heavy like a stone！〃
Skodi abruptly turned her mad eyes on Simon。 〃It's your sword； isn't it？〃 The face had vanished from the flames； but the stars； pale as balls of ice； still barely smoldered in the night sky； the bonfire still rippled and danced； untouched by any wind。 〃You know how to move it； don't you？〃 Her gaze was almost intolerable。
Simon said nothing； fighting inwardly with all his might to prevent himself from babbling like a drunkard； from spilling to those pelling eyes every thought he'd ever had。
〃I must give it to them；〃 she hissed。 〃They are searching for it； I know！ My dreams told me that they are。 The Lord and Lady will make me 。。。 a power。〃 She began to laugh； a girlish trill that frightened him as much as anything that had happened since the sun had set。 〃Oh； pretty Simon；〃 she giggled； 〃what a wild night！ Go and bring me your black sword。〃 She turned and shouted at the empty doorway。 〃Vren！ e untie his hands！〃
Vren popped out into the open； glaring furiously。 〃No！〃 he screamed。 〃He's bad！ He'll get away！ He'll hurt you！〃
Skodi's face froze into an unpleasant mask。 〃Do what I say； Vren。 Untie him。〃
The boy loped forward； stiff with rage； tears standing in his eyes。 He roughly pulled Simon's hands out behind and thrust the knife blade between the cords。 Vren's breath came in constricted gasps as he sawed the ropes away； when Simon's hands fell free； the Hyrka hoy turned and sped back to the abbey。
Simon stood； rubbing his wrists slowly； and thought about simply running away。 Skodi had turned her back on him and was crooning imploringly to the bonfire。 He looked out of the corner of his eye to Binabik and Sludig。 The Rimmersman still lay without movement； but the troll was struggling against his bonds。
〃Take 。 。 。 take the sword and run； friend Simon！〃 Binabik whispered。 〃We will be escaping 。 。 。 somehow 。 。 。〃
Skodi's voice cut through the darkness。 〃The sword！〃 Simon felt himself turning helplessly from his friend； pelled beyond any possibility of resistance。 He marched toward the abbey as though prodded by an invisible hand。
Inside； the children were crouched in the darkened hearth…er； still tugging without success at Thorn。 Vren glared as Simon entered； but stepped out of his way。 Simon kneeled before the sword； a hard； angular bundle shrouded in rags and hides。 He unwrapped it with hands that felt curiously blunted。
As he grasped the corded hilt； the firelight spilling through the doorway painted a stripe of glowing red along Thorn's black length。 The sword shuddered beneath his fingers in a way he had not felt before； a tremble almost of hunger or anticipation。 For the first time Simon felt Thorn to be something unutterably and loathsomely alien； but he could no more drop it from his hands than he could run away。 He lifted it。 The blade did not feel painfully heavy； as it sometimes did； but it still had a strange weightiness； as though he dragged it up from the muck at the bottom of a pond。
He found himself pelled toward the doorway。 Somehow； even though she could not see him； Skodi could still move him like a straw doll。 He let himself be tugged back out to the red…lit courtyard。
〃e here； Simon；〃 she said as he emerged； spreading her arms like a loving mother。 〃e stand in the circle with me。〃
〃He has a sword！〃 Vren shocked from the doorway。 〃He'll hurt you！〃
Skodi laughed dismissively。 〃He will not。 Skodi is too strong。 Besides； he is my new pet。 He likes me； don't you？〃 She reached out her hand toward Simon。 Thorn seemed to be swollen full with some awful； sluggish life。 〃Don't break the circle；〃 she said lightly； as though they played a game。 Skodi clasped his arm and pulled him to her； helping him to lift his clumsy foot over the circle of reddish dust。 〃Now they will be able to see the sword！〃 She glowed with her triumph。 One of her warm pink hands clasped his atop Thorn's hilt； the other coiled around his neck； pulling him against her pulpy breasts and stomach。 The heat of the fire softened him like wax； the push of Skodi's body against his was like a smothering fever…dream。 He stood half…a…head taller； but