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〃Wha。。。 what？〃
〃The final part； man。 e； then； hurry to it！ I won't have it said I left my lady unmarried against my promise； but if we stand much longer she will be a widow before the mansa is over。〃 He gave the priest a gentle shove。 〃The end； Strangyeard！〃
The archivist's one eye bulged。 〃May the love of the Ransomer； His mother Elysia； and His Father the All…Highest bless this joining。 May。。。 may your lives be long and your love be longer still。 You are married。〃 He waved his hands anxiously。 〃That's。。。 that's it。 You are married； just as it says。〃
Josua leaned and kissed the astonished Vorzheva； then grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the paddock gate while Isorn hurried the rest of their party after them。
〃Are you so anxious for your wedding night； Josua？〃 Fikolmij smirked。 He and his randwarders pushed toward the gate as the crowd shouted questions at their thane。 〃You seem to be in a hurry to leave。〃
〃And you know why；〃 Deornoch shouted at him； his palm itching on the hilt of his sword。 〃You knew they were ing； didn't you？ You treacherous dog！〃
〃Watch your tongue； little man；〃 Fikolmij growled。 〃I only said I would not hinder your going。 I sent word to the king's men long ago…in the hour when you first crossed over into my Thrithings。〃 He laughed heartily。 〃So I broke no promises。 But if you wish to fight my men and me before the Erkynlanders get here； e ahead。 Otherwise； you had better get on your new ponies and ride away。〃
Vorzheva pulled away from Josua as they passed through the gate and into the crush of Thrithings…folk。 She reached her father in a few steps and slapped him stingingly across the face。
〃You killed my mother；〃 she shouted； 〃but someday I will kill you！〃 Before he could grab her； she sprang back to Josua's side。 Naidel whisked out of the prince's sheath and swayed menacingly； a flickering tongue of light beneath the dim sky。 Fikolmij stared at Josua； eyes bulging； face crimson with rage。 With a visible effort； the March…thane subdued his anger and contemptuously turned his back。
〃Go； ride for your lives；〃 he growled。 〃I do not break my word over a woman's feeble blows。〃
Hotvig followed as they hustled toward the paddock where the horses were waiting。 〃The thane was right about one thing； Josua； Vorzheva；〃 he called。 〃You must indeed ride for your lives。 You have an hour's start and your horses are rested； so all is not lost。 Some of the others will help me slow them down。〃
Deornoth stared。 〃You'll。。。 ？ But Fikolmy wants us caught！〃
Hotvig shook his head roughly。 〃Not all favor the March…thane。 Where do you go？〃
Josua thought for a moment。 〃Please do not let our enemies hear of this； Hotvig。〃 He lowered his voice a little。 〃We go north of where the rivers meet； to a place called the Stone of Farewell。〃
The Thrithings…man looked at him strangely。 〃I have heard something of it；〃 he said。 〃Go swiftly； then。 It is possible we will see each other again。〃 Hotvig turned and gave Vorzheva a long look； then bowed his head briefly。 〃Make these people know that not all Thrithings…folk are like your father。〃 Hotvig turned and walked away。
〃No more time to talk！〃 Josua cried。 〃To horse！〃
The outermost grazing lands of the wagon…camp were disappearing behind them。 Despite the injured and inexperienced riders； the long strides of Vinyafod and his fellows ate up the ground。 The grass flew away beneath their hooves。
〃This is being sickeningly familiar；〃 Josua shouted across to Deornoth and Isorn。
〃What？〃
〃Running！ Pursued by superior forces！〃 Josua waved his arm。 〃I am tired of showing my backside； whether to my brother or the Storm King's minions！〃
Deornoth looked up at the clotted sky； then over his shoulder。 Only a few lone cows dotted the rearward horizon： there was no sign of pursuing riders。 〃We must find a place to make our stronghold； Prince Josua！〃 he called。
〃That's right！〃 Isorn shouted。 〃People will e flocking to your banner then； you'll see！〃
〃And how will they find us？〃 Josua called back with a mocking smile。 〃These people； how will they find us？〃
〃They will； somehow。〃 Isorn shouted； 〃…everybody else does！〃 He whooped with laughter。 The prince and Deornoth joined in。 Vorzheva and the others stared at them as if they were mad。
〃Ride on！〃 Josua cried。 〃I am married and an outlaw！〃
The sun made no clear appearance all day。 When the dim light at last began to wane and the pall of approaching evening spread across the stormy sky； the prince's party chose a spot and made camp。 They had ridden due north from the wagon…city until they reached the Ymstrecca in early afternoon； crossing the river at a muddy ford whose banks were pockmarked with hoofprints。 Josua had decided that traveling eastward would be safer on the far side of the Ymstrecca； where they would be within an hour's swift ride to the forest。 If Fengbald continued to pursue them； they would at least have a chance to spur toward the dark trees and perhaps evade the superior force in Aldheorte's tangled depths。 Despite this caution； there had been no sign of the High King's horsemen all afternoon。 The night's watches also passed uneventfully。 After breaking their fast at sunrise on dried meat and bread； they were mounted and on their way。 They kept their pace swift； but fear of pursuit was lessening by the hour： if Hotvig and others had done something to slow Fengbald； they seemed to have made a good job of it。 The only real misfortune was the suffering of those who were unaccustomed to riding on horseback。 The cold； gray morning was full of regretful noises as they rode on into the east。
On the second day's journey across the green but fortless land； the travelers began to see large roofed wagons and blowsy cottages of mud and sticks dotted along the Ymstrecca's banks。 In two or three places a few huts had even grown together in a tiny settlement； like slow…moving beasts seeking each other's pany upon the dark plain。 The chill grasslands were thick with mist and the travelers could not see far or clearly； but the inhabitants of these huddling…spots did not seem to be Thrithings…folk。
〃Hotvig spoke aright；〃 Josua mused as they passed by one such settlement。 A handful of dim figures bobbed in the gray ribbon of the Ymstrecca that wound beside the huts…settlers casting their fish nets。 〃I think they are Erkynlanders。 See； that cottage has a holy Tree painted on its side！ But why are they here？ Our folk have never lived in this land。〃
〃Upheaval； crops ruined；〃 Strangyeard said。 〃Goodness； how people must be suffering in Erchester！ Terrible！〃
〃They are more likely God…fearing folk who know Elias deals with devils；〃 Gutrun said。 She clasped Leieth tighter against her considerable bosom； as though to protect the child from the High King's municants。
〃Should we not tell them who you are； sire？〃 Deornoth asked。 〃There is safety in numbers； and we have been few for very long。 Besides； if they are Erkynlanders； you are their rightful prince。〃
Josua gazed at the distant camp； then shook his head。 〃They may have e out here to escape all princes； rightful or otherwise。 Also； if we are followed；