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t。 〃The giant Hunen seem to be having no such trouble…perhaps because they are less clever； or less easily frightened。 Or because they are not digging； I do not know。〃 He tilted his head； listening。 It was hard to hear anything over the relentless hissing patter of rain on leaves； but for the moment the surroundings seemed innocent of danger。 〃We will follow the flowing water。〃 He pointed to the new…grown river hurrying past them； laden with broken branches knocked loose by the storm。 〃Sesuad'ra； the Stone of Farewell； is in the valley beside the forest's ending； very close to the city Enki…e…Shao'saye…on whose outskirts we are sitting。〃 He gestured around him with his stubby； mittened hand。 〃The river must be flowing down to the valley； so it is sense for us to acpany it。〃
〃Less talking； then…more acpanying；〃 Sludig said。
〃I have been speaking； in my day；〃 Binabik said with a certain stiffness； 〃to more appreciative ears。〃 With a shrug； he urged Qantaqa forward。
They rode past countless remnants of the vast and long untenanted city。 Fragments of old walls shimmered in the undergrowth； masses of pale； crumbled brick forlorn as lost sheep； in other spots the foundations of eroded towers lay exposed； curved and empty as ancient jawbones； choked with parasitic moss。 Unlike Da'ai Chikiza； the forest had done more than grow into Enki…e…Shao'saye： there was virtually nothing left of this city but faint traces。 The forest； it seemed； had always been a part of the place； but over the millennia it had bee a destroyer； smothering the elaborate stonework in a mass of snaking foliage； enfolding it with roots and branches that patiently unmade even the matchless products of the Sithi builders； returning all to mud and damp sand。
There was little inspiration in the crumbling ruins of Enki…e…Shao'saye。 They seemed only to demonsrate that even the Sithi were bound within the sweep of time； that any work of hands； however exalted； must e at last to ignoble result。
Binabik and Sludig found a clearer path running beside the river bank and began to make better time； winding their way through the rain…soaked forest。 They heard nothing but the sounds of their own passage and were glad of it。 Just as the troll had predicted； the land began to slope more acutely； falling away toward the southwest。 Despite its swerving course； the river was moving in that direction as well； the water gaining speed and being possessed of what almost seemed like enthusiasm。 It positively threw itself at its banks； as if desiring to be everywhere at once； the gouts of water that flew up at obstructions in the river bed seemed to leap higher than they normally should； as though this watercourse； granted a temporary life； labored to prove to some stern riverine deities its fitness for continued survival。
〃Almost out of the forest；〃 Binabik panted from Qantaqa's bobbing back。 〃See how the trees are now thinning？ See； there is light between them ahead！〃
Indeed； the stand of trees just before them seemed poised at the outermost rim of the earth。 Instead of more mottled green foliage； beyond them lay only a wall of fathomless； featureless gray； as though the world's builders had run short of inspiration。
〃You are right； little man；〃 Sludig said excitedly。 〃Forest's end！ Now； if we are within a short ride of this sanctuary of yours； we may shake those whoreson giants after all！〃
〃Unless my scrolls are none of them correct；〃 Binabik replied as they cantered down the last length of slope。 〃It is not much distance from forest's edge to the Stone of Farewell。〃
He broke off as they reached the final line of trees。 Qantaqa stopped abruptly； head held low； sniffing the air。 Sludig reined up alongside。 〃Blessed Usires；〃 the Rimmersman breathed。
The slope abruptly fell away before them； dropping at a much steeper angle to the wide valley below。 Sesuad'ra loomed there； dark and secretive in its shroud of trees； a bony thrust of stone standing far above the valley bottom。 Its height was particularly apparent because it was entirely surrounded by a flat plain of water。
The valley was flooded。 The Stone of Farewell； a great fist that seemed to defy the rain…lashed skies； had bee an island in a gray and restless sea。 Binabik and Sludig were perched at the forest's edge only a half…league away from their goal； but every cubit of valley floor that lay between was covered by fathoms of floodwater。
Even as they stared； a roar echoed through the forest behind them； distant but still frighteningly close。 Whatever magic remained to Enki…e… Shao'saye was too weak to discourage the hungry giants。
〃Aedon； troll； we are caught like flies in a honey jar；〃 Sludig said； a tremor of fear creeping into his voice for the first time。 〃We are backed against the edge of the world。 Even if we fight and stave off their first attack； there is no escape！〃
Binabik stroked Qantaqa's head。 The wolf's hackles were up； she whimpered beneath his touch as though she ached to return the challenge floating down the wind。 〃Peace； Sludig； we must be thinking。〃 He turned to squint down the precipitous slope。 〃I fear you are right about one thing。 We are never to be leading horses down this grade。〃
〃And what would we do at the bottom； in any case？〃 Sludig growled。 Rain dribbled from his beard…braids。 〃That is no mud puddle！ This is an ocean！ Did your scrolls mention that？！〃
Binabik waggled his head angrily。 His hair hung in his eyes； pasted to his forehead by the rain。 〃Look up； Sludig； look up！ The sky is full of water； and it is all being dropped down on us； courtesy of our enemy。〃 He spat in disgust。 〃This is perhaps bee an ocean now； but a week ago it was a valley only； just as the scrolls say。〃 A worried look crossed his face。 〃I am wondering if Josua and the rest were caught in low ground！ Daughter of the Snows； what a thought！ If so； we might as well make our stand in this place…at the world's end； as you call it。 Thorn's journey will stop here。〃
Sludig flung himself down out of the saddle； skidding briefly in the mud。 He strode to the lead packhorse and detached the bundled length of the black sword。 He hefted it easily； carrying it back to Binabik m one hand。 〃Your 'living sword' seems eager for battle；〃 he said sourly。 'I am half…tempted to see what it can do； though it may turn anvil…heavy on me in midstroke。〃
〃No；〃 Binabik said shortly； 〃My people are not fond of running from a fight； but neither is it time for us to be singing Croohok death…songs and be going happily to glorious defeat。 Our quest is not yet given over。〃
Sludig glowered。 〃Then what do you say； troll？ Shall we fly to that far rock？〃
The little man hissed in frustration。 〃No； but first we can look for some other way for getting down。〃 He gestured at me river thundering past them； which disappeared down the steep wooded slope。 〃This is not the only waterway。 It could be that others will lead us down in a more gradual path to the valley。〃
〃And then what？〃 Sludig demanded。 〃Swim？〃
〃If necessary。〃 As Binabik spoke； the hunting cry of their pursuers rose again； setting the horses to milling and bumping in panic。 〃Take the horse； Sludig；〃 Bin