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flash of skeletal white face； black holes that might have been eyes。 The part of his shrieking thoughts that was still coherent thanked the gods of his and all other peoples for the shadows of the forest's fringe。 The hooded eyes turned away at last。 The sled and its escort vanished into the snowy woods of Thisterborg。
Eolair stood a long time； allowing himself to tremble； but did not move from the spot until he was sure it was safe。 His teeth had been so tightly clenched that his jaws ached。 He felt as though he had been stripped raw and tumbled down a long black hole。 When he dared to move at last； he threw himself onto his horse's neck and galloped away into the east as swiftly as he could。 His mount； eager as he； needed no spurs； no crop。 They whirled away in a cloud of snow。
As Eolair fled Thisterborg and its mysteries； running eastward beneath the mocking moon； he knew that everything he had feared was true； and that there were things in the world that were worse even than his fears。
Ingen Jegger stood beneath the spreading arms of a black hemlock； unmindful of the bitter wind or the frost growing in his close…cropped beard。 But for the impatient life in his pale blue eyes； he might have been a luckless traveler； frozen to death waiting for a morning's warmth that came too late。
The huge white hound crouching in the snow at his feet stirred； then made an inquiring sound like the scrape of rusty hinges。
〃Hungry； Niku'a？〃 A look almost of fondness ran across Ingen's taut features。 〃Quiet。 Soon； you will have your fill。〃
Motionless； Ingen watched and listened； sifting the night like a whiskered beast of prey。 The moon crept from one gap in the overhanging trees to another。 The forest； but for the wind； was silent。
〃Ah。〃 Satisfied； he took a few steps and shook the snow from his cloak。 〃Now； Niku'a。 Call your brothers and sisters。 Howl up the Stormspike pack！ It is time for the last chase。〃
Niku'a leaped up； quivering with excitement。 As if it had understood Ingen's every word； the great hound trotted out into the middle of the clearing before settling back on its haunches and lifting its snout to the sky。 Powerful throat muscles convulsed； and a coughing howl shattered the night。 Even as the first echoes died； Niku'a's strident voice burst out again； hacking and baying。 The very branches of the trees trembled。
They waited； Ingen's gloved hand resting on the dog's wide head。 Time passed。 Niku'a's cloudy white eyes gleamed as the moon slid along between the trees。 At last； as night's coldest hour crept in； the faint cries of hounds came sweeping down the wind。
The belling rose until it filled the forest。 A host of white shapes appeared from the darkness； filtering into the clearing like four…legged ghosts。 The Stormspike hounds wove in and out among the tree roots； narrow； sharkhke heads questing and sniffing。 Starlight gleamed on muzzles smeared with blood and spittle。 Niku'a went among them； nipping； snarling； until at last the whole pack crouched or lay in the snow around Ingen Jegger； red tongues lolling。
The Queen's Huntsman calmly looked over his strange congregation； then picked his snarling； dog…faced helm from the ground。
〃Too long have you been roaming free；〃 he hissed； 〃harrying the forest fringes； stealing babies like kennel cubs； running down foolish travelers for the joy of the chase。 Now your master has e back。 Now you must do what you were bred to do。〃 The milky eyes followed him as he moved to his horse； which waited with supernatural patience beneath the hemlock。 〃But this time I will lead； not you。 It is a strange chase； and Ingen alone has been taught the scent。〃 He pulled himself up into the saddle。 〃Run silently。〃 He lowered the helmet onto his head； so that hound looked at hounds。 〃We take death to the Queen's enemies。〃
A low growling rose from the dogs as they rose and came together； sliding against one another； snapping at each other's faces and tails in fierce anticipation。 Ingen spurred his horse forward； then turned。 〃Follow！〃 he cried。 〃Follow to death and blood！〃
He passed swiftly from the clearing。 The pack ran after； voiceless now； silent and white as snowfall。
Huddled deep in his cloak； Isgrimnur sat in the bow of the small boat and watched stubby Sinetris rowing and sniffling。 The duke wore a fixed expression of grim preoccupation； in part because he found the boatman's pany extremely unrewarding； but mostly because he himself hated boats； especially small boats like the one on which he was now trapped。 Sinetris had spoken truthfully about one thing； anyway： this was no time to be on the water。 A great storm was flailing the entire length of the coast。 The choppy water of Firannos Bay constantly threatened to swamp them； and Sinetris had not stopped moaning since their hull had first touched the water a week before； some thirty leagues northward。
The duke had to admit that Sinetris was a talented boatman； if only in the defense of his own life。 The Nabban…man had handled his craft well under terrible conditions。 If only he would stop sniveling！ Isgrimnur was no happier about the conditions for their journey than Sinetris was； but he would be damned to the blackest circle of Hell before he made a fool out of himself by showing it。
〃How far to Kwanitupul？〃 he shouted over the noise of wind and waves。
〃Haifa day； master monk；〃 Sinetris called back； eyes red and streaming。 〃We will stop soon to sleep； then we can be there by midday tomorrow。〃
〃Sleep！〃 Isgnmnur roared。 〃Are you mad？ It is not even dark yet！ Besides； you will only try to sneak away again； and this time I will not be so merciful。 If you cease your self…pitying nonsense and work； you can sleep in a bed tonight！〃
〃Please； holy brother！〃 Sinetns almost shrieked。 〃Do not force me to row in darkness！ We will run onto the rocks。 Our only beds will be down among the kilpa！〃
〃Don't hand that superstitious nonsense to me。 I'm paying you well and I am in a hurry。 If you are too weak or sore； let me take those paddles for a while。〃
The oarsman； wet and cold； still managed a convincing look of wounded pride。 〃You！ You would have us under the water in a moment！ No； you cruel monk； if Sinetris must die； let it be with his oars in his hand； as befits a Firannos boatman。 If Sinetris must be torn from his home and the bosom of his family and sacrificed to the whims of a monster in the robes of a priest； if he must die 。 。 let it be as a guild…man！〃
Isgrimnur groaned。 〃Let it be with his mouth closed； for a change。 And keep paddling！ 〃
〃Rowing；〃 Sinetris replied frostily； then burst into tears once more。
It was past midnight when the first stilt…houses of Kwanitupul came into view。 Sinetris； whose plaining had faded at last to a low； self…pitying murmur； nosed the boat into the great network of canals。 Isgrimnur； who had briefly fallen asleep； rubbed his eyes and craned his head； looking around。 Kwanitupul's ramshackle warehouses and inns were all dusted with a thin coating of snow。
If I doubted that the world had gone topsy…turvy； Isgrimnur thought bemusediy； here is all the proof I need： a Rimmersman taki