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nd he was the son of God。 Oh； merciful Aedon； would he have to stay trapped in his body like a prisoner in a forgotten cell； even as they laid him in the wormy ground？ He felt a scream building within him。 Would it be like the dream when he touched the sword？ God save him。 Merciful Aedon。。。
〃I am going； Elias。 I will find her； even if I must crush the stones of the servant's quarters into dust and flay the skin off of every chambermaid。〃 Pryrates spoke with a sort of sweetness； as though the savor of this thought was as splendid as wine。 〃I will see that people are punished。〃
〃But surely you should rest；〃 Elias said mildly； as though speaking to a froward child。 〃Your injury。。。〃
〃The pain I inflict on the chamber…mistress will take my own pain away；〃 the alchemist said shortly。 〃I am well。 I have grown strong； Elias。 It will take more than a single knife thrust to dispatch me。〃
〃Ah。〃 The king's voice was emotionless。 〃Good。 That is good。〃
Guthwulf heard Pryrates' bootheels clocking against the tiled stone floor； striding away。 There was no sound of a door opening and closing； but another shower of moisture spattered the Earl of Utanyeat's face。 This time he felt the chill of the water。
〃L 。。。 L 。。。 'Lias；〃 he managed to say at last。
〃Guthwulf！〃 the king said； gently surprised。 〃You live？〃
〃Wh。。。 where。。。 ？〃
〃Where is what？〃
〃。。。Me。〃
〃You are on the balcony； where you had your。。。 accident。〃
How could that be？ Had it not been morning time when they had watched the Erkynguard muster？ Had he lain here lifelessly until evening？ Why hadn't they moved him to a more fortable place？
〃。。。He's right； you know；〃 Elias was saying。 〃You really shouldn't have interfered。 What did you think you were doing？〃 The odd ringing sound was beginning to fade from his voice。 〃It was very foolish。 I told you to stay away from the priest； didn't I？〃
〃。。。Can't see。。。〃 Guthwulf managed at last。
〃I'm not surprised；〃 Elias said calmly。 〃Your face is badly burned； especially around your eyes。 They look very bad。 I was certain you were dead…but you're not。〃 The king's voice was distant。 〃It's a pity； old rade； but I told you to watch out for Pryrates。〃
〃Blind？〃 Guthwulf said； his voice hoarse； throat seizing in a painful spasm。 〃Blind？！〃
His rasping howl broke across the mons； bouncing from wall to stone wall until it seemed a hundred Guthwulfs were screaming。 As he vented his agony； the king patted him on the head as though soothing an old dog。
The river valley waited for the oning storm。 The chilly air warmed and grew heavy。 The Stefflod murmured uneasily and the sky was gravid with angry…looking clouds。 The travelers found themselves speaking softly； as if they rode past the sleeping form of some huge beast who might be awakened by disrespectful loudness or levity。
Hotvig and his men had decided to ride back to the rest of their party； who were nearly four score all told； men； women； and children。 Hotvig's clanfolk and their wagons were following as swiftly as they could； but they were no match for the speed of unencumbered riders。
〃I am still amazed that your people would uproot themselves to follow us into an unknown and ill…omened wilderness；〃 Josua said at their parting。
Hotvig grinned； showing a gap in his teeth earned in some past brawl。 〃Uproot？ There is no such word to the folk of the Stallion Clan。 Our roots are in our wagons and our saddles。〃
〃But surely vour clansmen are worried about riding into such strange territory？〃
A brief look of concern flickered across the Thrithings…man's face； quickly supplanted by an expression of disdainful pride。 〃You forget； Prince Josua that they are my kinfolk。 I told them； if stone…dwellers can ride there without fear； can the people of the Free Thrithings shy away？' They follow me。〃 He pulled at his beard and grinned once more。 〃Be… sides； it is worth many risks to get out from under Fikolmij's hand。 〃
〃And you are sure he will not pursue you？〃 the prince asked。
Hotvig shook his head。 〃As I told you last night； the March…thane has lost face because of you。 Anyway； our clans often split into smaller clan…families。 It is our right as people of the Free Thrithings。 The last thing Fikolmij can do now is to try to keep us few from leaving the greater clan。 That would prove beyond doubt that he is losing his hold on the reins。〃
When they had all gathered around the fire after their encounter in the dark； Hotvig had explained how Fikolmij's treatment of his daughter and Prince Josua had caused much disgruntled talk around the wagons of the Stallion Clan。 Fikolmy had never been a popular leader； but he had been respected as a powerful fighter and clever strategist。 To see him so bedeviled by the mere presence of stone…dwellers； to the point where he would lend aid to Fengbald and others of the High King's men without consulting his clan chiefs； had made many wonder out loud whether Fikolmij was still capable of lording it as March…thane of all of the High Thrithings。
When Earl Fengbald had arrived with his fifty or so armored men； swaggering into the wagon camp like conquerors； Hotvig and some of the other randwarders had brought the men of their own clan…families to Fikolmij's wagon。 The March…thanc had wished to set the Erkynlanders quickly on the trail of Josua's party； but Hotvig and the others had stood against their leader。
〃No stone…dwellers go armed across the Stallion Clan's fields without a gathering of chiefs to say they can；〃 Hotvig had cried； and his fellows had echoed him。 Fikolmij had fumed and threatened； but the laws of the Free Thrithings were the only immutable things in the clan…folk's nomadic existence。 The argument had ended with Hotvig and the other randwarders telling Earl Fengbald…〃a foolish； dangerous man who likes himself well；〃 as Hotvag described him…that the only way the High King's men could pursue Josua was to go around the Stallion Clan's territory。 Fengbald； outnumbered by ten to one or more； had no choice but to ride away； taking the shortest route back off the High Thrithings。 The Earl of Falshire had made many angry threats before departing； promising that the grasslanders' long days of freedom were over； that High King Ehas would e soon and knock the wheels off their wagons once and for all。
Unsurprisingly； this public thwarting of Fikolmij's authority brought on a terrible argument that several times almost erupted into deadly bloodshed。 The disputing ceased only when Hotvig and several other randwarders took their families and followed Josua； leaving Fikolmy behind to curse and lick his wounds； his strength as March…thane weakened but by no means ended。
〃No； he will not follow us；〃 Hotvig repeated。 〃That would say to all the clans that mighty Fikolmij cannot survive the loss of our few wagons； and that the stone…dwellers and their feuds are more important to the March…thane of all the High Thrithings than his own people。 Now； we clan exiles will live near you for a while at your Farewell Stone and talk among ourselves about what we will do。 〃
〃I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your help；〃 Josua said sol… emnly。