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〃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 you。 In the castle where I lived once； it seemed to me that evil was only something talked about by the priests； and that even they did not truly believe in it。 Now I know better。 There are dangers all around us and they are growing stronger every day！ Don't you see？ Binabik and I have been chased； chased by this evil all through the great forest and across the snows below these mountains。 It followed us even to the dragon…mountain！〃
Simon stopped for a moment； dizzied； breathing swiftly。 He felt as though he held some squirming thing that was wriggling out of his grip。 What can I say？ I must sound like a madman。 Look； Binabik tells them what I've said and they stare at me as though I'm barking like a dog！ I will get Binabik killed for certain！
Simon groaned quietly and began again； trying to marshal his nearly unmanageable thoughts。 〃We are all in danger。 A terrible power is in the north…I mean； no； we're in the north now 。。。〃 He hung his head and tried to think for a moment。 〃To the north； but also to the west of here。 There's a huge mountain of ice。 The Storm King lives there…but he's not alive。 Ineluki is his name。 Have you heard of him？ Ineluki？ He is terrible！〃
He leaned forward； his balance abruptly uncertain； and goggled at the alarmed faces of Herder and Huntress and their daughter Sisqinanamook。
〃He is terrible 。 。 。〃he said again； staring straight into the troll maiden's dark eyes。
Binabik called her Sisqi； he thought disjointedly。 He must have loved her 。 。 。
Something seemed to grab his mind and shake it； as a hound shakes a rat。 Suddenly he was tumbling forward； down a long； spinning shaft。 The dark eyes of Sisqinanamook deepened and grew； then changed。 A moment later； the troll woman was gone； her parents； Simon's friends； and all of Chidsik ub Lingit vanished with her。 But the eyes remained； transmuted now into another grave stare that slowly filled his field of vision。 These brown eyes belonged to one of his own kind…the child who had haunted his dreams 。。。 a child he finally recognized。
Leieth； he thought。 The little girl we left in the house in the forest； because her wounds were so awful。 The girl we left with 。 。 。
〃Simon；〃 she said； her voice reverberating oddly in his head； 〃this is my last opportunity。 My house will soon fall and I will flee into the forest…but first there is something I must tell you。〃
Simon had never heard the girl Leieth speak。 The reedy tones seemed fitting for a child her age…but something about the voice was wrong： it was too solemn； too articulate and heavy with self…knowledge。 The pace and the phrasing sounded like a grown woman's； like 。 。 。
〃Geloe？〃 he said。 Although he did not think he actually spoke； he heard his voice echo out through some empty place。
〃Yes。 I have no time left。 I could not have reached you； but the child Leieth has abilities 。 。 。 she is like a burning…glass through which I can narrow my will。 She is a strange child； Simon。〃 Indeed； the nearly expressionless child's face that spoke the words did seem somehow different than that of any other mortal child。 There was something in the eyes that saw through him； beyond him； as though he himself were insubstantial as mist。
〃Where are you？〃
〃In my house； but not long。 My fences have been thrown down and my lake is jull of dark things。 The powers at my door are too strong。 Rather than stand against such gale winds； I will flee to fight another day。
〃What I have to tell you is this： Naglimund is fallen。 Elias has won the day…but the real victor is He of whom we both know； the dark one in the north。 Josua； however； is alive。〃
Simon felt a chilly twist of fear in his stomach。 〃And Miriamele？〃
〃She who was Marya…and also Malachias？ I know only that she is gone from Naglimund： more than that； friendly eyes and ears cannot tell me。 Now I must say something else： you must remember it and think of it； since Binabik of Yiqanuc has closed himself to me。 You must go to the Stone of Farewell。 That is the only place of safety from the growing storm…safety for a little while； anyway。 Go to the Stone of Farewell。〃
〃What？ Where is this stone？〃 Naglimund fallen？ Simon felt despair settle into his heart。 Then all was truly lost。 〃Where is the stone； Geloe？〃
Without warning a black wave crashed through him； sudden as a blow from a giant hand。 The little girl's face disappeared； leaving only a gray void。 Geloe's parting words floated in his head。
〃It is the only place of safety 。 。 。 Flee！ 。 。 。 the storm is ing 。。。〃
The gray slid away； like waves receding down a beach。
He found himself staring into the shimmering； transparent yellow light of a pool of blazing oil。 He was on his knees in the cavern of Chidsik ub Lingit。 Haestan's fearful face was bent close to his。
〃What devils ye； lad？〃 the guardsman asked； supporting Simon's heavy head with a shoulder as he helped him up onto a stool。 Simon felt as though his body were made of rags and green twigs。
〃Geloe said 。。。 she said a storm 。 。 。 and the Stone of Farewell。 We must go to the Stone of Fare 。。。〃 Simon trailed off； looking up to see Binabik kneeling before the dais。 〃What's Binabik doing？〃 he asked。
〃Waitin' th' word；〃 Haestan said gruffly。 〃When y'fell swoonin'； he said would fight no longer。 Spoke t'king an' queen some while； now he be waitin'。〃
〃But that's not right！〃 Simon tried to rise； but his legs buckled beneath him。 His head hummed like an iron pot struck by a hammer。 〃Not。。。 right。〃
〃 'Tis th' will o' God；〃 Haestan murmured unhappily。
Uammannaq turned from a whispered colloquy with his wife to stare at the kneeling Binabik。 He said something in the guttural Qanuc…tongue that sent a windy moan through the spectators。 The Herder lifted his hands to his face； slowly covering his eyes in a stylized gesture。 The Huntress solemnly repeated the gesture。 Simon felt a chill descend； heavier and bleaker even than winter's cold。 He knew beyond doubt that his friend had been given a judgment of death。
4
A Bowl
of Calamint Tea
SUNLIGHT filtered through the swollen clouds； falling mutedly on a great party of horses and armored men riding up Main Row toward the Hayholt。 The light of their bright banners was dulled by uneven shadow； and the click of the horse's hooves died in the muddy road； as though the brave army rode silently along the bottom of the ocean。 Many of the soldiers held their eyes downcast。 Others peered out from the shadow of their helms like men who feared to be recognized。
Not all appeared so dismayed。 Earl Fengbald； soon to be a duke； rode at the head of the king's party beneath Ellas' green and sable dragon…banner and his own silver falcon。 Fengbald's long black hair spilled down his back； held only by a scarlet band knotted around his temples。 He smiled and waved a gauntleted fist in the air； eliciting cheers from the several hundred spectators lining the roadway。
Riding close behind； Guthwulf of Utanyeat restrained a scowl。 He；