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and th' world。 Ye've not been in war； lad； like me…not seen what I have。 Didn't I see two of my fellows die just since we left Naglimund？ The Good God saves his justice and such for th' Day ofWeighin' Out。 'Til then； we have t'look t'ourselves。〃 He leaned forward as he began to warm to the topic。 〃Each 'un must do his best； but things can't always be made right； Simon 。。。〃
He stopped abruptly； staring at the doorway。 Seeing the look of surprise on the soldier's round face； Simon turned swiftly。 A figure had stepped past the flap of hide。
〃Th' troll girl；〃 Haestan breathed softly； as though she might startle and bolt like a fawn。 Sisqinanamook's eyes were wide with apprehension； but Simon also saw determination in the set of her jaw。 He thought she looked readier to fight than to flee。
〃Do you e to gloat？〃 he asked angrily。
Sisqinanamook steadfastly returned his stare。 〃Help me；〃 she said at last。
〃Elysia； Mother of God；〃 Haestan gasped； 〃she can talk！〃
The troll maiden shied back at the guardsman's outburst； but held her ground。 Simon clambered up onto his knees before her。 Kneeling； he was still taller than Binabik's once…betrothed。
〃Can you speak our tongue？〃
She looked at him for a moment as if puzzled； then made a sign with crossed fingers。 〃Little；〃 she said。 〃Little talk。 Binabik teach。〃
〃I should have guessed；〃 Simon said。 〃Binabik has been trying to
pound things into my head as long as I've known him。〃
Haestan snorted。 Simon gestured for Sisqinanamook to enter。 She slithered away from the door…flap； crouching near the cave's entrance with her back against the wall。 A snow serpent carved in relief upon the stone coiled about her head like a saint's halo。
〃Why should we help you？〃 Simon said。 〃And help you do what？〃
She stared at him unprehendingly。 He repeated himself more slowly。 〃Help Binbinaqegabenik；〃 she replied at last。 〃Help me； help Binabik。〃
〃Help Binabik？〃 Haestan hissed in surprise。 〃Why； y'r what's got him in trouble！〃
〃How？〃 Simon asked。 〃Help Binabik how？〃
〃Go away；〃 Sisqinanamook replied。 〃Binabik go away Mintahoq。〃 She reached under her thick hide jacket。 For a moment Simon feared some kind of trick…had she understood enough of what they had been saying to know they were discussing a rescue？…but when her small hand appeared again it bore a coil of slender gray rope。 〃Help Binabik；〃 she repeated。 〃You help； I help。〃
〃Merciful Aedon；〃 said Simon。
They quickly gathered up all their belongings； throwing them into two packs with little concern for order。 When they were finished and had donned their fur…lined cloaks； Simon went to the corner of the room where the black sword Thorn lay…the object； as Haestan had said； of many hopes； fruitless or otherwise。 In the dim firelight it was only a sword…shaped hole in the furs that cradled it。 Simon pressed its cold surface with his fingers； remembering how it had felt when he raised it before the onrushing Igjarjuk。 For a moment it seemed to grow warm beneath his hand。
Someone touched him on the shoulder。
〃No； no kill；〃 Sisqinanamook said。 She pointed frowningly at the sword； then tugged gently at his arm。 Simon wrapped his hand around Thorn's cord…wrapped hilt and hefted： it was too heavy to lift without using both arms。 As he struggled upright； he turned to the troll maiden。
〃I'm not bringing it to kill anybody。 This is the reason we went to the dragon…mountain。 No kill。〃
She stared at him； then nodded。
〃Let me carry it； lad；〃 Haestan said。 〃I'm rested。〃
Simon bit back a sullen retort and let him take the sword。 It seemed no lighter in the burly guardsman's hands； but no heavier either。 Haestan reached over his head and carefully eased Thorn's black length down through a pair of thick loops on the back of his pack。
It's not my sword； Simon reminded himself。 I knew that already。 And Haestan's right to take it…I'm too weak。 He felt his thoughts wandering。 It doesn't belong lo anyone。 It belonged to Sir Camaris once； but he's dead。 Seems almost to have a spirit of its own 。 。 〃
Well； if Thorn wanted to leave this God…cursed mountain； it would have to go down with them。
They extinguished the fire and went silently out past the door…flap。 The chill night air made Simon's head throb。 He stopped in the doorway。
〃Haestan；〃 he whispered； 〃you must promise me something。〃
〃What's that； lad？〃
〃I don't feel very。。。 strong。 It's going to be a long walk to wherever we're going。 In the snow； too。 So if anything happens to me。。。〃 he hesitated for a moment； 〃if anything happens to me； please bury me someplace warm。〃 He shivered。 〃I'm tired of being cold。〃
For a moment Simon had the embarrassing idea that Haestan might cry。 The guardsman's bearded face screwed up in a strange grimace as he leaned in to look closely at Simon。 A moment later he grinned； although the smile seemed a bit forced； and wrapped one of his bearlike arms around Simon's quaking shoulders。 〃Here now； lad； no way t'talk；〃 he whispered。 〃It'll be long march； an' cold； too； that's sure…but not as bad as y'think。 We'll all make it through。〃 Haestan snuck a look at Sisqinanamook； who was staring impatiently at them from the porch outside the cavern。 〃Jiriki left us horses；〃 he hissed into Simon's ear； 〃at mountain…bottom； stabled in cave。 Told me where。 So dunna fear； lad； dunna fear。 If we but knew where 'tis we go…why； we'd be halfway there！〃
They pushed out onto the stone track； squinting their eyes against a fierce wind that scraped the face of Mintahoq like a razor。 The mists had blown away。 A cat's…eye sliver of yellow moon glared down on the mountain and shadow…blanketed valley。 Staggering under their heavy loads； they turned to follow the one small shadow that was Sisqinanamook。
It was a long； silent trek around the edge of Mintahoq； stumbling through the buffeting wind。 After a few hundred paces Simon already felt his steps slowing。 How would he ever climb all the way down the mountain？ And why couldn't he shake off this cursed weakness？
At last the troll maiden gestured them to a halt； then directed them into a crevice； off the pathway and back into the shadows。 It was a tight squeeze because of their bulky packs； but with the help of Sisqinanamook's small hands they managed to slide in。 A moment later she was gone。 They stood； pinioned； and watched their breath fill the mouth of the crevice； glittering in the moonlight。
〃What d'ye think she's about？〃 Haestan whispered at last。
〃I don't know。〃 Simon was happy just to lean against the stone。 Out of the wind； he suddenly felt flushed and dizzy。 The White Arrow given to him by Jiriki was digging at his spine through the heavy cloth of his pack。
〃We be coney…catched； an' no mistake 。。。〃 Haestan began； but the sound of voices on the path silenced him。 As the voices grew louder； Simon caught his breath and held it。
A triumvirate of trolls stumped down the trail past the crevice； dragging the butts of their sharp spears carelessly along the stone； talking in their low； grumbling tongue。 All three carried shields of stretched hide。 One had a ram's horn dangling from his belt； S