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a man than Josua here。 The Thrithings…men do not fear him。〃
Before Geloe could respond there was a rap at the door； which swung open to reveal Hotvig； bearing his spear and a puzzled expression。 He was only a young man； despite his heavy beard； and he regarded the witch woman with undisguised dismay as he spoke to his chieftain。
〃The prisoners are still in the bull run。 None of the men outside saw this one leave。 The gate is locked； and there are no holes in the fence。〃
Fikolmij grunted and waved his hand。 〃I know。〃 The March…thane's gaze shifted to Geloe for a brooding moment； then he smiled slowly。 〃e here；〃 he ordered Hotvig； then whispered into the rider's ear。
〃It will be done；〃 Hotvig said； darting a nervous glance at Geloe before going out again。
〃So；〃 Fikolmij said； and smiled broadly； showing most of his crooked teeth。 〃You think I should set this dog free to run away。〃 He shoved Josua with his foot； earning a swift glare of hatred from his daughter。 〃What if I do not？〃 he asked cheerfully。
Geloe narrowed her eyes。 〃As I told you； March…thane； I make a bad enemy。〃
Fikomij chortled。 〃And what shall you do to me； when I have told my men to kill the remaining prisoners unless I e to them myself before the next watch of the night to say otherwise？〃 He patted his hands on his belly in contentment。 〃I do not doubt you have charms and spells that can harm me； but now our blades are at each other's throats； are they not？〃 In the corner of the wagon Utvart growled； as if excited by the image invoked。
〃Oh； horse…lord； may the world be preserved from such as you；〃 Geloe said disgustedly。 〃I hoped to convince you to help us； which would be for your good as much as ours。〃 She shook her head。 〃Now； as you say； our knives are out。 Who knows if they may be put away without causing many deaths？〃
〃I do not fear your threats；〃 Fikolmy growled。
Geloe stared at him for a moment； then looked at Josua； who was still seated on the floor watching all that transpired with odd placidity。 Lastly； she turned her gaze on Utvart。 The tall man scowled fiercely； not at all fortable under her scrutiny。 〃I think there is still one favor I can do for you； March…thane Fikolmij。〃
〃I need no。。。〃。
〃Quiet！〃 Geloe shouted。 The March…thane fell silent； balling his fists； his reddened eyes bulging。 〃You are about to break your own laws；〃 she said。 〃The laws of the High Thrithings。 I will help you avoid that。〃
〃What madness are you speaking； devil…woman？！〃 he raged。 〃I am the lord of the clans！〃
〃The clan councils honor no man as March…thane who breaks their old laws；〃 she replied。 〃I know this。 I know many things。〃
With a sweep of his arm； Fikolmij sent a bowl flying from atop his stool to clatter against the wagon's far wall。 〃What law？ Tell me what law or I will throttle you even though you burn me to ashes！〃
〃The laws of bride…price and betrothal。〃 Geloe pointed at Josua。 〃You would kill this man； but he is her betrothed。 If another…〃 she indicated brooding Utvart； 〃…wishes to have her； he must fight for her。 Is that not true； Thane？〃
Fikolmij smiled； a great rancid grin that spread across his face like a stain。 〃You have outsmarted yourself； meddler。 They are not betrothed。 Josua admitted that from his own lips。 I would break no law to kill him。 Utvart stands ready to pay the bride…price。〃
Geloe looked at him intently。 〃They are not married and Josua has not asked her。 This is true。 But have you forgotten your own customs； Fikolmij of the Stallion…Clan？ There are other forms of betrothal。〃
He spat。 〃None but fathering。。。〃he broke off； forehead wrinkling m a sudden thought。 〃A child？〃
Geloe said nothing。
Vorzheva did not look up。 Her face was hidden by her dark hair； but her hand； which had stroked the prince's bloodied cheek； froze like a snake…startled rabbit。
〃It is true；〃 she said finally。
Josua's face was a plicated puzzle of emotions； made even harder to read by the elaborate tracing of bruises and weals。 〃You。。。 ？ How long have you known。。。 ？ You said nothing 。。。〃
〃I have known since just before Naglimund fell；〃 Vorzheva said。 〃I feared to tell you。〃
Josua watched the tears cutting new tracks along her dusty cheeks。 He lifted his hand to touch her arm briefly before allowing it to drop back into his lap； then looked from Vorzheva up to Geloe。 The witch woman held his eye for a long moment； some municated thought seemed to pass between them。
〃By the Four…Footed；〃 Fikolmij growled at last； bemused。 〃A child…betrothal； is it？ If it's even his； that is。〃
〃It is his； you pig！〃 Vorzheva said fiercely。 〃It could be no one else's。〃
Utvart stepped forward； boot buckles chinking。 His swordpoint thumped down into the floor boards； sinking half an inch into the wood。 〃A challenge； then；〃 he said。 〃To the death we fight。〃 He looked to Geloe and his expression became cautious。 〃Vorzheva； the March…thane's daughter； she is spoils。〃 Turning back to the prince； he tugged his sword free。 The great curved glade came loose as lightly as a feather。 〃A challenge。〃 Josua's eyes were hard as he spoke through torn lips。 〃God hears。〃
Deornoth stared down at his prince's battered features。 〃In the morning！？〃 he cried； loud enough to draw a scowl from one of the guards。 The Thrithings…men； bundled in heavy woolen cloaks against the chill； did not look pleased with their assignment in the windy bull run。 〃Why do they not just kill you cleanly？〃
〃It is a chance；〃 Joshua said； then surrendered to a fit of coughing。 〃What chance？〃 Deornoth said bitterly。 〃That a one…handed man who has been beaten bloody can get up in the morning and outfight a giant？ Merciful Aedon； if I could only get my hands on that snake Fikolmij。。。〃
Josua's only reply was to spit bloodily into the mud。
〃The prince is correct；〃 Geloe said。 〃It is a chance。 Anything is better than nothing。〃
The witch woman had returned to the bull run to tend the prince。 The guards had stepped back quickly to let her pass： something of her nature had traveled through the camp in swift whispers。 Fikolmij's daughter had not e with her。 Vorzheva had been locked in her father's wagon； tears of sorrow and anger still damp on her face。
〃But you had him at a disadvantage；〃 Deornoth said to the witchwoman。 〃Why did you not strike then？ Why did you let him send guards？〃
Geloe's yellow eyes glittered in the torchlight。 〃I had no advantage at all。 I told you once。 Sir Deornoth； I cannot make warlike magic。 I escaped this stockade； yes； but other than that it was all bluff。 Now； if you will be silent about what you do not know； I will put my true skills to their proper use。〃 She returned her attention to the prince。
How did she escape the stockade？ Deornoth could not help wondering。 One moment Geloe had been wandering in the shadows at the far end of the bull run； the next she had been gone。
He shook his head。 It was useless to argue； and he had been little else but useless of late。 He touched Josua's thin arm。 〃If I may be of any help； my prince； only ask。〃 He dropped to his knees； then looked briefly to the witch woman。 〃I apologize for my unthinking w