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。〃 He dropped to his knees； then looked briefly to the witch woman。 〃I apologize for my unthinking words； Valada Geloe。〃
She grunted an acknowledgment。 Deornoth rose and walked away。
The rest of the starveling band was seated by the other fire。 The Thrithings…men； being not entirely without mercy； had given them brush and twigs with which to build it。 They were not merciless； Deornoth thought； but not stupid； either： such poor fuel would provide heat…barely… but could not be used as a weapon； as could a flaming brand。 The thought of weapons set him to musing as he seated himself between Sangfugol and Father Strangyeard。
〃This is a foul way to end things；〃 he said。 〃You have heard what has happened to Josua？〃
Strangyeard swung his slender hands。 〃They are untutored barbarians； these grasslanders。 Mother Elysia； I know all men are equal in God's eyes； but this is atrocious！ I mean to say； even ignorance is not an excuse for such。。。〃He trailed off fretfully。
Sangfugol sat up； wincing at the pain in his leg。 Anyone who knew him would have been astonished： the harper； previously meticulous in grooming and dress almost to the point of edy； was as ragged； soiled； and burr…covered as a haystack vagabond。 〃And if Josua dies？〃 he said quietly。 〃He is my master and I love him； I suppose； but if he dies…what happens to us？〃
〃If we are lucky； we will be little better than slaves；〃 Deornoth said； hearing his own words as if from another's lips。 He felt quite hollow。 How had things e to such a point？ A year earlier the world had been as regular as supper bread。 〃If we are unlucky。。。〃 he continued； but did not finish his thought…nor did he need to。
〃It will be worse on the women；〃 Sangfugol whispered； looking over to Duchess Gutrun； who held sleeping Leieth on her lap。 〃These men are ungodly brutes。 Have you seen the scars they give themselves？〃
〃Isorn；〃 Deornoth called suddenly。 〃e here； if you please。〃
Duke Isgrimnur's son crawled around the meager fire to sit near them。 〃I think；〃 Deornoth said； 〃that we must prepare ourselves to do something tomorrow when Josua is made to fight。〃
Strangyeard looked up； worried。 〃But we are so few。。。 half a dozen in the midst of thousands。〃
Isorn nodded； a grim little smile showing on his wide face。 〃At least we can choose the way we die。 I will not let them have my mother。〃 The smile vanished。 〃By Usires； I swear I would kill her first。〃
Sangfugol looked around as if hoping they would reveal their joke。 〃But we have no weapons！〃 he whispered urgently。〃Are you mad？ Perhaps we might live if we do nothing； but if we make trouble we will certainly die。〃
Deornoth shook his head。 〃No； harper。 If we do not fight； we will certainly be less than men； whether they kill us or not。 We will be less than dogs； who at least rip the bear's guts as he kills them。〃 His gaze traveled from face to face。 〃Sangfugol。〃 he said at last； 〃we must plan。 Why don't you sing a song against the chance of any of these cow…herders wondering why we are gathered or what we speak of。〃
〃A song？ What do you mean？〃
〃A song。 A long； boring song about the virtues of quiet surrender。 If it es to an end and we are still talking； begin again。〃
The harper was plainly agitated。 〃I know no tune like that！〃
〃Then make one up； Song…bird；〃 Isorn laughed。 〃We have been too long without music； anyway。 If we die tomorrow； we should live tonight。〃
〃Make it a part of your plans； if you will；〃 Sangfugol said； 〃that I would prefer not to die at all。〃 He sat up straighter and began to hum tunelessly； searching for words。 〃I am frightened；〃 he said at last。
〃So are we；〃 Deornoth replied。 〃Sing。〃
Fikolmij swaggered into the bull run soon after dawn touched the gray sky。 The March…thane of the High Thrithings wore a heavy embroidered wool cloak and a rugged gold stallion on a chain around his neck。 He seemed to be m an expansive mood。
〃So the reckoning es；〃 he laughed； then spat upon the ground。 His wrists were weighty with metal bracelets。 〃Do you feel fit； Josua Lackhand？〃
〃I have felt fitter；〃 Josua said； tugging on his boot。 〃Do you have my sword？〃
Fikolmij waved； Hotvig stepped forward bearing Naidel in its sheath。 The young Thrithings…man watched the prince curiously as Josua drew the sword belt around his hips； managing adroitly despite his missing hand。 When it was buckled； Josua drew Naidel out； holding the slender blade up to catch the morning light。 Hotvig stepped back respectfully。 〃May I have a whetstone？〃 Josua asked。 〃The edge is dull。〃
The March…thane chuckled and produced his own kit from a pouch on his wide belt。 〃Sharpen it； stone…dweller； sharpen it。 We want only the best sport； as you have at your city tournaments。 But this will not be quite the same as your castle…games； will it？〃
Josua shrugged； smearing a thin film of oil along Naidel's cutting surface。 〃I have never cared much for those； either。〃
Fikolmij's eyes narrowed。 〃You seem very fit indeed； after the lesson I gave you last night。 Has this witch cast some spell on you？ That would be dishonorable。〃
Joshua shrugged again to show how little he cared about Fikolmij's ideas of honor； but Geloe stepped forward。 〃There have been no charms； no spells。〃
Fikolmij eyed her distrustfully for a moment； then turned back to Josua。 〃Very well。 My men will bring you when you are ready。 I am glad to see you up。 It will make for a better fight。〃 The March…thane strutted out of the paddock； followed closely by three of his guard。
Deornoth； who had watched the whole exchange； cursed quietly。 He knew what effort it had taken his prince to act so unconcerned。 He and Isorn had helped Josua climb to his feet in the hour just before first light。 Even after the healing draught Geloe had given him…an unmagical concoction to bolster Josua's strength； Geloe had bitterly regretted the lack of a sprig of mockfoil to make it truly efficacious…the prince had still found it difficult to dress himself。 The beating Fikolmij had given him had taken a terrible toll on his undernourished frame。 Deornoth secretly doubted that Josua would even be able to stand after swinging a blade for a short while。
Father Strangyeard approached the prince。 〃Your Highness； is there truly no other way？ 1 know the Thrithings…men are barbaric； but God despises none of His creations。 He has put the spark of mercy in every breast。 Perhaps 。。。〃
〃It is not the Thrithings…men who wish this；〃 Josua told the one…eyed priest kindly； 〃it is Fikolmij。 He bears an old hatred for me and my house； one that even he will not fully admit。〃
〃But I thought the Stallion Clan fought for your father in the Thrithings War；〃 Isorn said。 〃Why should he hate you？〃
〃Because it was with my father's help that he became war…thane of the High Thrithings。 He cannot forgive the fact that it was the stone…dwellers； as he calls us； who gave him the power his own people would not。 Then his daughter ran from him and I took her with me； losing him a brideprice of horses。 To our friend the March…thane； that is a terrible dishonor。 No； there are no words； priestly or otherwise； that will make Fikolmij forget。