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hen they had put a thousand paces between themselves and the abbey； they stopped and stood silently for a while； sharing long swallows from a bottle of kangkang as they listened to the mournful wind。 Qantaqa； obviously happy to be heading away from that dire place once more； sniffed briefly at the air before curling up at Binabik's feet。
〃Holy Aedon； troll；〃 Sludig said at last； 〃what manner of witch was that girl Skodi； anyway？ I have never seen anything to match it。 Was she one of the Storm King's followers？〃
〃Only in the way that those like her do what the Storm King wishes； whether they are knowing it or not。 She had power； but she was hoping to bee a Power…which； I am thinking； is very different。 A little Norn Queen with her own little band of followers was what she was wishing to be。 Times of war and strife are the arising times of new forces。 The old order begins its changing； and those like Skodi appear； seeking to make a mark。〃
〃I only thank blessed God for wiping out the whole nest of them to the smallest pup。〃 Sludig shivered and scowled。 〃No good could have e from any of those witchlets surviving。〃
Binabik looked at him curiously。 〃The innocent can be molded； as those children were； but sometimes luck is granting that they can be molded back。 I have little belief in evil beyond redeeming； Sludig。〃
〃Oh？〃 The Rimmersman laughed harshly。 〃What about your Storm King？ What good thing could you possibly say about such a black…hearted hellspawn as that？〃
〃Once he loved his people more than his own life；〃 Binabik said quietly。
The sun made a surprisingly swift crossing through the murky sky。 By the time they halted again； early twilight was approaching。 They had twice more covered the distance between the abbey and the spot in the deep woods that they had decided on as the outermost point。 All their shouting and beating of bushes had been to no avail。 Simon remained unfound； and now darkness and fresh storms were fast approaching。
〃Aedon's Blood；〃 Sludig said in disgust； then patted Simon's gray mare； which was roped to the train of pack horses。 〃At least we did not lose the damnable sword as well。〃 He waved a hand at Thorn； but did not touch it。 Where the black sword was visible through the loose swaddling； snowflakes lit upon its surface and slid away； leaving it free of the white that spattered everything else。 〃It makes our decision more difficult； though。 If the lad and the sword were lost together； we would have no choice but to search。〃
Binabik looked up with angry eyes。 〃What 'decision' do you speak about？〃
〃We can't very well abandon everything for the stripling； troll。 I'm fond of him； the good Lord knows； but we have our duty to Prince Josua。 You and the other book…readers keep saying that Josua needs this blade or we are all doomed。 Should we ignore that to hunt for a lost boy？ Then we would be more foolish than the boy was for getting lost in the first place。〃
〃Simon is not foolish。。。〃 Binabik buried his face in the ruff of Qantaqa's neck for a long moment。 〃And I am tired of being an oath…breaker。 I swore for his protection。〃 The troll's voice was muffled by the wolfs pelt； but the straining edge was unmistakable。
〃We are forced to difficult choices； troll。〃
Binabik looked up。 His usually mild brown gaze had turned flinty。 〃Do not be speaking to me of choices。 Do not go teaching me about difficulty。 Take the sword。 On my master's grave I swore to protect Simon。 To me； nothing else has more importance。〃
〃Then you are the most foolish of all；〃 Sludig growled。 〃We are down to two left while the world freezes around us。 Would you send me alone with the sword that could save your people and mine？ All so you need not be an oath…breaker to a dead master？〃
Binabik straightened。 His eyes brimmed with angry tears。 〃Do not dare speak to me of my oath；〃 he hissed。 〃I am taking no advice from a witless Croohok！〃
Sludig raised a gloved fist as though to strike at the little man。 The Rimmersman stared at his own trembling hand； then turned and stalked out of the clearing。 Binabik did not look up to see him ago； but instead returned to stroking Qantaqa's shaggy back。 A tear ran down his cheek and vanished into the fur of his hood。
Minutes passed without even a bird's cry。
〃Troll？〃 Sludig stood at the edge of the glade； just beyond the horses。 Binabik still would not look up。 〃Listen； man；〃 Sludig continued； 〃you must listen to me。〃 The Rimmersman still hung back； like an unexpected guest waiting to be invited indoors。 〃Once； soon after we first met； I told you that you knew nothing of honor。 I wished to go and kill Storfot； Thane of Vestvennby； for his insults to Duke Isgrimnur。 You said I should not go。 You said that my lord Isgrimnur had given me a task to perform； and that putting that task's fulfillment in jeopardy was neither brave or honorable； but foolish。〃
The troll continued to rub distractedly along Qantaqa's back。
〃Binabik； I know you are honorable。 You know 1 am the same。 We have a bad choice to make； but it is not right that allies should fight and throw insults like stones at each other。〃
The troll still did not reply； but his hands fell from the wolf and into his lap。 He crouched unspeakmg for long moments； chin on chest。
〃1 have been disgracing myself； Sludig；〃 he said at last。 〃You are right to be hurling my own words back into my face。 I beg for your pardon； although I have done nothing for its deserving。〃 He turned an unhappy face up to the Rimmersman； who took a few steps back into the clearing。
〃We cannot afford to search for Simon forever；〃 Sludig said quietly。 〃That is a truth separate from love and friendship。〃
〃You are not wrong；〃 Binabik said。 He shook his head slowly。 〃Not wrong。〃 He stood and moved toward the bearded soldier； extending a small hand。 〃If you can show forgiving of my stupidity 。。。〃
〃There is nothing to forgive。〃 His broad palm clasped Binabik's； engulfing it。
A weary smile flitted across the troll's face。 〃Then one favor there is I will ask。 Let us be making a fire here during tonight and tomorrow night； and we will call for Simon。 If we are finding no trace of him； then the morning after tomorrow we will walk on toward the Stone of Farewell。 Otherwise； I will feel as though 1 have deserted him without proper searching。〃
Sludig nodded gravely。 〃Fairly spoken。 Now； we should gather wood。 Night is ing on quickly。〃
〃The cold wind is not lessening； either；〃 Binabik said； frowning。 〃An unhappy thought for all who are out of doors without shelter。〃
Brother Hengfisk； the king's unpleasant cupbearer； gestured to the doorway。 The monk's grin was as derangedly fixed as ever； as though he struggled with some monstrous humor only barely held in check。 The Earl of Utanyeat stepped through the door and silent Hengfisk scuttled away down the stairs； leaving the earl standing just inside the bell chamber。
Guthwulf took a moment to catch his breath。 It was a very long climb up the tower steps and the earl had not been sleeping well lately。
〃You called for me； Highness？〃 he said at last。
The king stood hunched over the sill of one of