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er than the night。 In a split instant he felt his heart falter； but it was only a tree。 A tree！
His headlong flight was too madly swift to avoid the obstacle。 He was struck as though by a giant hand and thrown from Homefinder's saddle； tumbling through nothingness。 He was falling。 The stars were fading。 Black night came down and covered all。
17
A Wager of Little Value
THE DAYLIGHT had worn away。 The wind…scoured sky stretched above the grasslands like a purple awning。 The first stars were ing out。 Deornoth； wrapped in a coarse blanket against the chill； stared up at the faint points of light and wondered if God had finally turned away His face。
Josua's people were huddled together in a bull run； a long； narrow pen of wooden palings driven deep into the earth and lashed together with rope。 For all their seeming flimsiness…in many places there were gaps so wide that Deornoth could slip through his entire arm and most of his shoulder…the walls were strong as mortared stone。 As he looked around at his fellow prisoners； Deornoth's gaze stopped on Geloe。 The witch woman held Leieth in her lap； singing quietly into the child's ear as they both stared up at the darkening sky。
〃It seems madness that we should escape from Norns and diggers to end here。〃 Deornoth could not keep an aggrieved tone from his voice。 〃Geloe； you know charms and spells。 Could you not have magicked our captors somehow…put them to sleep； or turned yourself into a ravening beast and attacked them？〃
〃Deornoth；〃 Josua said warningly； but the forest woman needed no defending。
〃You understand little； Sir Deornoth； of how The Art works；〃 Geloe replied sharply。 〃First of all； what you call 'magic' has its cost。 If it could be easily used to defeat a dozen armed men； the armies of princes would be full of hired wizards。 Secondly； we have not been harmed yet。 I am no Pryrates： I do not waste my strength in puppet plays for the bored and curious。 I have a greater enemy to occupy my thoughts； more dangerous by far than anyone in this encampment。〃
As if giving such a long answer exasperated her…and indeed； Geloe seldom said so much at once…she fell silent； turning away to stare at the firmament once more。
Frustrated with himself； Deornoth shrugged off his blanket and stood。 Had it e to this？ What sort of knight was he； that berated an old woman for not saving him from danger？ A shiver of anger and disgust traveled through him； he clenched and unclenched his fists helplessly。 What could he do？ What strength did any of this ragged band have left to do anything？
Isorn was forting his mother。 Duchess Gutrun's remarkable courage had held through any number of horrors； but she seemed to have reached her limit。 Sangfugol was crippled。 Towser had virtually given in to madness。 The old man lay curled on the ground； his eyes fixed witlessly on nothing； seamed lips trembling as Father Strangyeard cried to help him drink from a bowl of water。 Deornoth felt another wave of despair rise and break within him as he walked slowly to the muddy log on which Prince Josua sat； chin on hand。
The manacle that had once prisoned him in Elias' dungeon still dangled on the prince's slender wrist。 Josua's thin face was painted with deep shadows； but the whites of his eyes gleamed as he watched Deornoth slump down beside him。 For a long while the two did not speak。 The sounds of lowing cattle and the shout and clatter of horsemen could be heard all around as the Thrithings…men brought in their herds for the night。
〃Welladay； friend；〃 the prince said at last。 〃I said it was a poor game at best； did I not？〃
〃We have done what we could； Highness。 No one could have done more than you。〃
〃Someone has。〃 For a moment； Josua seemed to regain his dry humor。 〃He is sitting his skeletal throne in the Hayholt； drinking and eating before a roaring fire； while we sit waiting in the slaughter pen。〃
〃He has made a foul bargain； Prince。 The king will regret his choice。〃
〃But we； I fear； will not be around when the reckoning es。〃 Josua sighed。 〃I am almost sorriest for you； Deornoth。 You have been the most faithful of knights。 If you had only found a better lord to be faithful to。。。〃
〃Please； Highness。〃 In his present mood； such words brought Deornoth real pain。 〃There is no one I would rather serve outside the Kingdom of Heaven。〃
Josua looked at him from the sides of his eyes； but did not reply。 A party of horsemen rode past the stockade； the palings rippling as the horses thundered by。
〃We are far from that kingdom； Deornoth；〃 the prince said at last； 〃but at the same time only a few breaths away。〃 His face was now hidden in darkness。 〃But death frightens me little。 It is the hopes I have crushed that weigh down my soul。〃
〃Josua；〃 Deornoth began； but the prince's hand on his arm stilled him。
〃Say nothing。 It is no more than the truth。 I have been a lodestar for disaster since the moment I drew breath。 My mother died birthing me； and my father's greatest friend Camaris died soon after。 My brother's wife died in my care。 Her only child has escaped my guardianship to suffer Aedon only knows what fate。 Naglimund； a keep built to hold siege for years； fell beneath me in weeks； countless innocents died horribly。〃
〃I cannot listen to this； my prince。 Would you take all the world's betrayals on your own back？ You did everything that you could！〃
〃Did I？〃 Josua asked seriously； as though he debated a point of theology with the Usirean brothers。 〃I wonder。 If things are fated； then perhaps I am merely a sorry strand in God the Highest's tapestry。 But some say that one chooses everything； even the bad。〃
〃Foolishness。〃
〃Perhaps。 But there is no doubting that an evil star has hung over all I have undertaken。 Hah！ How the angels and devils both must have laughed when I swore I would take back the Dragonbone Chair！ Me； with my ragtag army of priests and jugglers and women！〃 The prince laughed bitterly。
Deornoth felt anger boiling inside him once more； but this time it was his liege lord who was the cause。 It was almost breathtaking。 He had never thought he could feel like this。
〃My prince；〃 he said between clenched teeth； 〃you have bee a fool； a damnable fool。 Priests； jugglers； and women！ An army of mounted knights could scarcely have done more than your women and jugglers… and certainly could not have been braver！〃 Shaking with fury； he rose and stalked away across the muddy pound。 The stars seemed almost to tile in the sky。
A hand closed on his shoulder； pulling him around with surprising strength。 Josua stood stiffly as he held Deornoth at arm's length。 The prince jutted his head forward on his long neck； a bird of prey preparing to stoop。
〃And what have I done to you； Deornoth； that you speak so to me？〃 His voice was tight。
At any other moment Deornoth would have fallen to his knees； ashamed at his own disrespectfulness。 Now； he stilled his trembling muscles and took a breath before he spoke。 〃I can love you； Joshua； yet hate what you say。〃
The prince stared at him； his expression indecipherable in the evening dark。 〃I spoke badly of our panions。 That was wrong。