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m； impossible to ignore。
My cheek aches terribly； anyway； he told himself。 I won't be able to fall asleep for a long while。
He snaked his breeches out from under the sleeping…cloak where they stayed warm in the bitter Yiqanuc night； wrestling them on as silently as he could； then pulled his boots onto his cold feet。 He briefly debated putting on his mail shirt； but the thought of its chilly rings； rather than any surety of safety； decided him against it。 He furled the cloak around him； suiting quietly past sleeping Haestan and out under the door…skin into the cold。
The stars over high Mintahoq were mercilessly clear。 As Simon stared up； amazed； he felt their distance； the impossible vastness of the night sky。 The moon； not quite full； hovered low over distant peaks。 Bathed in its diffident light； the snow on the heights gleamed； but all else lay sunken in shadow。
Even as he turned his eyes down and took a few steps to the right； away from the cave…mouth； he was stopped short by a low growl。 A strange silhouette loomed on the pathway before him； moonbrushed at the edges； black at the core。 The deep rumble came again。 Eyes flared green as they caught the moonlight。
Simon's breath snagged in his throat for a moment； until he remembered。
〃Qantaqa？〃 he said quietly。
The growl changed into a curious whine。 The wolf tipped its head。
〃Qantaqa？ Is it you？〃 He tried to think of some of Binabik's troll speech； but could summon nothing。 〃Are you hurt？〃 He silently cursed himself。 He had not once thought of the wolf since he had been brought down from the dragon's mountain； although she had been a panion… and； in a way； a friend。
Selfish！ he chided himself。
With Binabik imprisoned； who knew what Qantaqa had done？ Her friend and master had been taken from her； just as Doctor Morgenes had been taken from Simon。 The night seemed suddenly colder and emptier； full of the world's heedless cruelty。
〃Qantaqa？ Are you hungry？〃 He took a step coward her and the wolf shied back。 She growled again； but it sounded more like excitement than anger。 She took a few prancing steps； the shimmer other gray coat almost invisible； then growled again before bounding away。 Simon followed her。
It occurred to him as he went； stepping carefully on the wet stone pathways； that he was doing a foolish thing。 The twisting roadways of high Mintahoq were no place for a midnight walk； especially without a torch。 Even the native trolls knew better： the cave…mouths were lightless and silent； the paths empty。 It was as if he had wakened from one dream to enter another； this shadowy pilgrimage beneath the distant and uncaring moon。
Qantaqa seemed to know where she was going。 When Simon lagged too far behind she trotted back； stopping just out of reach until he caught up； her hot breath pluming the air。 As soon as he drew within an arm's length she was off again。 Thus； like a spirit of the aftcrworld； she led him away from the fires of his own kind。
It was only when they had walked for some time； traveling well around the curve of the mountain from the sleeping…cave； that Qantaqa bounded all the way back to Simon。 She did not pull up short this time。 Her great frame struck him so suddenly that even though she had merely bumped against him； he fell back onto his seat。 She stood over him for a moment； her face buried in his neck； cold nose rooting ticklingly near his ear。
Simon reached up to scratch her ears and felt her tremble even through her thick fur。 A moment later； as if her need for fort had been satisfied； she leaped away again and stood whining quietly until he rose； rubbing his tailbone； and followed。
It seemed that Qantaqa had led him halfway around Mintahoq。 She stood now at the edge of a great blackness； yipping in excitement。 Simon walked forward cautiously； feeling the raw stone face of the mountain with his right hand as he went。 Qantaqa paced in seeming impatience。
The wolf was standing at the rim of a great pit； which burrowed away from the side of the path into the very mountain。 The moon； sailing low in the sky like an overloaded carrack； could only silver the stone around the hole's mouth。 Qantaqa barked again with barely contained enthusiasm。
To Simon's staggering surprise； a voice echoed thinly from below。
〃Go away； wolf！ Even sleep is taken from me； Aedon curse it！〃
Simon threw himself to the cold gravel and crawled forward on elbows and knees； stopping at last with his head hanging over blind nothingness。
〃Who's there？〃 he cried。 His words reverberated as though they journeyed a great distance。 〃Sludig？〃
There was a pause。
〃Simon？ Is that you who calls？〃
〃Yes！ Yes； it's me' Qantaqa brought me' Is Binabik with you？ Binabik！ It's me。 Simon！〃
A silent moment passed； then Sludig spoke again。 Now Simon could hear the strain in the Rimmersman's voice。 〃The troll will not speak。 He is here； but he will not speak to me； to Jiriki when he came； to anyone。〃
〃Is he sick？ Binabik； it's Simon！ Why don't you answer me？〃
〃He is sick in his heart； I think；〃 Sludig said。 〃He looks as he always did…thinner； perhaps； but so I am； too…but he acts like one already dead。〃 There was a scraping noise as Sludig； or someone； moved in the depths； 〃Jiriki says they will kill us；〃 the Rimmersman said a moment later； his voice flat with resignation。 〃The Sitha spoke for us…not with heat or anger； as far as I could tell； but he spoke for us all the same。 He said the troll people did not agree with his arguments and were determined to have their justice。〃 He laughed bitterly。 〃Some justice； to kill a man who never did them harm； and kill one of their own as well； both of whom have suffered much for the good of all folk…even the trolls。 Einskaldir was right。 But for this silent fellow beside me； they are all hell…wights。〃
Simon sat up； holding his head in his hands。 The wind blew uncaringly about the heights。 Helplessness spread through him。
〃Binabik！〃 he cried； leaning over once more。 〃Qantaqa waits for you！ Sludig suffers at your side！ No one can help if you don't help yourself Why won't you speak to me？！〃
Only Sludig answered。 〃It's no good； I tell you。 His eyes are closed。 He does not hear you； will not speak at all。〃
Simon slapped his hand against the rock and cursed。 He felt tears start in his eyes。
〃I will help you； Sludig；〃 he said at last。 〃I do not know how； but I will。〃 He sat up。 Qantaqa nosed him and whimpered。 〃Can I bring you something？ Food？ Water？〃
Sludig laughed dully。 〃No。 They feed us； although not to bursting。 I would ask for wine。 but I do not know when they e for me。 I will not go with my head foggy from drink。 Only pray for me； please。 And for the troll； too。〃
〃I will do more than that； Sludig； I swear。〃 He stood up。
〃You were very brave on the mountain； Simon；〃 Sludig called quietly。 〃I am glad that I knew you。〃
The stars glittered coldly above the pit as Simon walked away； fighting to stand straight and cry no more。
He walked a while beneath the moon； lost in the swirl of his distracted thoughts； before he realized that he was again following Qantaqa。 The wolf； who had