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ent that it was nevertheless his duty to remember and later report in detail。
Just when Simon thought Binabik had been silenced again； this time perhaps forever； the troll spoke…flatly； chronicling the receipt of an old and now insignificant wound。
〃Sisqinanamook； youngest daughter of Nunuuika the Huntress and Uammannaq the Herder； also accuses Binabik of Mintahoq。 Though he placed his spear before her door； when nine times nine days had passed and the appointed day of marriage came； he was gone。 Neither did he send any word or explanation。 When he returned to our mountains； he came not to the home of his people； but traveled with Croohok and Utku to the shunned peak Yijarjuk。 He has brought shame on the House of the Ancestor and on his once…betrothed。 Sisqinanamook calls him oath…breaker。〃
Thunderstruck； Simon stared at Binabik's dejected face as the troll droned his translation。 Marriage！ All the while Simon and the little man had been fighting their way to Naglimund and making their way across the White Waste； Binabik's people had been waiting for him to fulfill his marriage oath。 And he had been betrothed to a child of the Herder and Huntress！ He had never given the slightest hint！
Simon looked more closely at Binabik's accuser。 Sisqinanamook； although as small to Simon's eye as all of her folk； seemed actually a little taller than Binabik。 Her glossy black hair was plaited on either side of her face； the two braids joining beneath her chin into one wide plait interlaced with a sky…blue ribbon。 She wore little jewelry； especially when pared with her formidable mother； the Huntress。 A single deep blue gem sparkled on her forehead； held in place by a slender black leather thong。
She had a flush of color in her brown cheeks。 Although her gaze was clouded as though by anger or fright； Simon thought he sensed a strong…willed； defiant tilt to her jaw； a sharpness to her eye…not her mother Nunuuika's blade…edged glance； but the look of someone who made up her own mind。 For a moment； Simon felt he could see her as one of her own would…not a gentle； pliant beauty； but a ely and clever young woman whose admiration would not be easy to win。
He abruptly realized that this was the one who had stood before Qantaqa's cave last night…the one who had menaced him with her spear！ Something indefinable in the angle of her face told him so。 Remembering； he knew she was a huntress after all； just like her mother。
Poor Binabik！ Her admiration might not be easy to gain； but Simon's friend had won her over； or so it seemed。 However； the wit and determination that Binabik must have so admired was now bent against him。
〃I have no disagreement with Sisqinanamook； daughter of the Line of the Moon；〃 Binabik finally replied。 〃That she ever accepted the spear of so unworthy a one as the Singing Man's apprentice was to me astonishing。〃
Sisqinanamook curled a lip at this speech； as if in disgust； but Simon did not think her contempt seemed altogether convincing。
〃Great is my shame；〃 Binabik continued。 〃Nine times nine nights； in truth； my spear stood before her door。 I did not e to be married when those nights were through。 There is no word I can speak that will be mending the hurt； or be making less of my fault。 A choice there was to be made； as is the way of things once the Walk of Manhood or Womanhood has been walked。 I was in a strange land and my master was dead。 I made my choosing； had I the same to decide once more； I say with regret； I would make this same choosing again。〃
The crowd was still buzzing with shock and perturbation as Binabik finished interpreting what he had said for his panions。 As he finished； he turned back to the young woman standing before him and said something to her； quietly and rapidly； calling her 〃Sisqi〃 instead of her full name。 She swung her face away quickly； as if she could not stand to look at him。 He did not translate his last speech； but sadly turned back to her mother and father。
〃And what；〃 Nunuuika asked scornfully； 〃might you have had to decide about？ What choice could have turned you into an oath…breaker…you； who had already climbed far beyond the snows to which you were accustomed； whose betrothal…spear had been chosen by one high above you？〃
〃My master Ookequk made a promise to Doctor Morgenes of the Hayholt； a very wise man of Erkynland。 With my master dead； I felt it was my place to keep his promise。〃
Uammannaq leaned forward； his beard wagging with surprise and anger。 〃You thought a promise to a lowlander more important than wedding a child of the House of the Ancestor…or the bringing of summer？ Truly； Binabik； those who said you had learned madness at fat Ookequk's knee were right！ You turned your back on your people for 。。。 for Utku？〃
Binabik shook his head helplessly。 〃It was more than that； Uammannaq； Herder of the Qanuc。 My master had fears of grave danger； not just to Yiqanuc but to all the world below the mountains as well。 Ookequk feared a winter ing far worse than any we have experienced； one that would leave the Ice House hard…frozen for a thousand black years。 And it was far more than only evil weather that Ookequk foresaw。 Morgenes； the old man in Erkynland； shared his fears。 It was because of these dangers that the promise seemed important。 Because of this； too…because I believe my master's worries are justified…I would again break my oath if I had no other choice。〃
Sisqinanamook had returned her gaze to Binabik once more。 Simon hoped to see a softening of her expression； but her mouth was still clenched in a firm； bitter line。 Her mother Nunuuika slapped a palm on the butt of her spear。
〃This is no argument at all！〃 the Huntress exclaimed。 〃Not at all。 If I feared loose snow in the upper passes； should I then never leave my cave； letting my children starve？ This is as much as saying that your people and the mountain home that gave you nurture mean nothing to you。 You are worse than a drunkard； who at least says 'I should not drink；〃 but falls again into bad ways by weakness。 You stand before us； bold as a robber of others' saddlebags； and say： 'I will do it again。 My oath means nothing。' 〃 She shook her spear in rage。 The gathered assembly hissed its agreement。 〃You should be put to death immediately。 If your madness infects others； the wind will howl in our empty caves before a generation passes。〃
Even as Binabik finished his dull rendering of this last； Simon stood up； shaking with anger。 His face ached where the scar had been burned across his cheek； and every throb brought back the memory of Binabik clinging to the frost…worm's back； shouting for Simon to run； to save himself while the troll fought on alone。
〃No！〃 Simon cried furiously； surprising even Haestan and Sludig； who had been listening dumbfoundedly to every strange detail of the exchange。
〃No！〃 Simon steadied himself with his stool。 His head was whirling。 Binabik； dutifully； turned to his masters and his betrothed and began explaining the red…haired lowlander's words。
〃You don't understand what is happening；〃 Simon began； 〃or what Binabik has done。 Here in these mountains； the world is far away…but there is danger that can reach