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Jiriki looked over his shoulder； then nodded his head。 The old Qanuc woman stepped forward and set a steaming pot down at Jiriki's feet； then quickly pulled three bowls out of her tentlike sheepskin coat； arranging them in a semicircle。 Though her diminutive fingers worked nimbly； and her seamed； round…cheeked face was expressionless； Simon saw a glimmer of fear in her eyes as they rose briefly to meet his。 When she had finished； she backed quickly out of the cave； disappearing under the door flap as silently as she had appeared。
What is she afraid of？ Simon wondered。 Jiriki？ But Binabik said the Qanuc and Sithi have always gotten along…more or less。
He suddenly thought of himself： twice as tall as a troll； red…haired； hairy…faced with his first man's beard…skinny as a switch； too； but since he was wrapped in blankets the old Qanuc woman couldn't know that。 What difference could the people of Yiqanuc see between himself and a hated Rimmersman？ Hadn't Sludig's people warred on the troll folk for centuries？
〃Will you have some； Seoman？〃 Jiriki asked； pouring out steaming liquid from the pot。 〃They have provided you with a bowl。〃
Simon reached out a hand。 〃Is it more soup？〃
〃It is aka； as the Qanuc call it…or as you would say； tea。〃
〃Tea！〃 He took the bowl eagerly。 Judith； Kitchen Mistress of the Hayholt； had been very fond of tea。 She would sit down at the end of a long day's work to nurse a great hot mug full of the stuff； the kitchen filling with the vapors of steeped southern island herbs。 When she was in a good mood； she would let Simon have some； too。 Usires； how he missed his home！
〃I never thought。 。 。〃he began； and took a great long swallow； only to spit it out a moment later in a fit of coughing。 〃What is it？〃 he choked。
〃That's not tea！〃
Jiriki might have been smiling； but since he had his bowl up to his mouth； sipping slowly； it was impossible to tell。 〃Certainly it is；〃 the Sitha replied。 〃The Qanuc people use different herbs than you Sudhoda'ya； of course。 How could it be otherwise； when they have so little trade with your kind？〃
Simon wiped his mouth； grimacing。 〃But it's salty！〃 He took a sniff of the bowl and made another face。
The Sitha nodded and sipped again。 〃They put salt in it； yes…and butter as well。〃
〃Butter！〃
〃Marvelous are the ways of all Mezumiiru's grandchildren；〃 Jiriki intoned solemnly； 〃。 。 。 endless is their variety。〃
Simon set the bowl down in disgust。 〃Butter。 Usires help me； what a miserable adventure。〃
Jiriki calmly finished his tea。 The mention of Mezumiiru reminded Simon again of his troll friend； who one night in the forest had sung a song about the Moon…woman。 His mood turned sour once more。
〃But what are we going to do for Binabik？〃 Simon asked。 〃Anything？〃
Jiriki lifted calm； catlike eyes。 〃We will have a chance to speak on his behalf tomorrow。 I have not yet discovered his crime。 Few Qanuc speak any language but their own…your panion is a rare troll indeed…and I am not very acplished in theirs。 Neither do they like to share their thoughts with outsiders。〃
〃What's happening tomorrow？〃 Simon asked； sinking back into his bed again。 His head was pounding。 Why should he still feel so weak？
〃There is a 。。。 court； I suppose。 Where the Qanuc rulers hear and
decide。〃
〃And we are going to speak for Binabik？〃
〃No； Seoman； not as such；〃 Jiriki said gently。 For a moment a strange look flitted across his spare features。 〃We are going because you met the Dragon of the Mountain 。 。 。 and lived。 The lords of the Qanuc wish to see you。 I do not doubt that your friend's crimes will also be addressed； there before the whole of his people。 Now take rest； for you will have need of it。〃
Jiriki stood and stretched his slender limbs； moving his head in his disconcertingly alien way； amber eyes fixed on nothing。 Simon felt a shudder travel the length of his own body； followed by a powerful weariness。
The dragon！ he thought groggily； halfway between wonderment and horror。 He had seen a dragon！ He； Simon the scullion； despised muckabout and mooncalf； had swung a sword at a dragon and lived…even after its scalding blood had splashed him！ Like in a story！
He looked at blackly gleaming Thorn； which lay partly covered against the wall； wailing like a beautiful； deadly serpent。 Even Jiriki seemed unwilling to handle it； or even discuss it； the Sitha had calmly deflected all of Simon's questions as to what magic might run like blood through Camaris' strange sword。 Simon's chilled fingers crept up his jaw to the still painful scar running down his face。 How had a mere scullion like himself ever dared to lift such a potent thing？
Closing his eyes； he felt the huge and uncaring world spin ever so slowly beneath him。 He heard Jiriki pad across the cave toward the doorway； and a faint swish as the Sitha slid past the flap and out； then sleep tugged him down。
Simon dreamed。 The face of the small； dark…haired girl swam before him once more。 It was a child's face； but the solemn eyes were old and deep as a well in a deserted churchyard。 She seemed to want to tell him something。 Her mouth worked soundlessly； but as she slipped away through the murky waters of sleep； he thought for a moment he heard her voice。
He awoke the next morning to find Haestan standing over him。 The guardsman's teeth were bared in a grim smile and his beard sparkled with melting snow。
〃Time y'were up； Simon…lad。 Many doin's this day； many doin's。〃
It took some time； but even though he felt quite feeble； he managed to dress himself。 Haestan helped him with his boots； which he had not worn since waking up in Yiqanuc。 They seemed stiff as wood on his feet； and the fabric of his garments scraped against his strangely sensitive skin； but he felt better for being up and dressed。 He walked gingerly across the length of the cave a few times； beginning to feel like a two…legged animal once more。
〃Where's Jiriki？〃 Simon asked as he pulled his cloak around his shoulders。
〃That one's gone ahead。 But ha' no worry 'bout goin' t' meetin'。 I
could carry ye； stickly thing that y'are。〃
〃I was carried here；〃 Simon said； and heard an unexpected coldness creeping into his voice； 〃but that doesn't mean I'll have to be carried always。〃
The husky Erkynlander chortled； taking no offense。 〃I'm as happy if y'walk； lad。 These trolls make paths narrow enough； I've no great wish t'carry anyone。〃
Simon had to wait a moment just inside the cave…mouth to adjust to the glare leaking through the raised door…flap。 When he stepped outside； the reflective brilliance of the snow； even on an overcast morning； was almost too much for him。 They stood on a wide stone porch that extended almost twenty cubits out from the cave。 It stretched away to the right and left on either side； running along the face of the mountain。 Simon could see the smoking mouths of other caves all along its length； until it bent back out of sight around the curve of Mintahoq's belly。 There were similar wide trackways on the slope above； row upon row up the mountain's face。 Ladders dangled down from higher caves； and where the irre