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are no longer afraid to approach us。 We must travel even more swiftly。 e。〃
Wondering how a pany so injured and dispirited could make any greater haste； Deornoth followed the prince back through the dawn light to camp。
7
Spreading Fires
SEAGULLS wheeling in the gray morning sky hatefully echoed the creaking of the oarlocks。 The rhythmic squeak； squeak； squeak of the oars was like an insistent finger digging at her side。 Miriamele felt her anger building。 At last； she turned on Cadrach in a fury。
〃You。。。 you traitor！〃 she spat。
The monk goggled at her； his round face growing pale with alarm。
〃What？〃 Cadrach looked as though he would have liked to move away； and quickly； but they were cramped together m the rowboat's narrow stern。 Lenti； Streawe's sullen servitor； watched them in irritation from the rowing bench where he and the other servant pulled languidly at the handles。 〃My lady。。。〃 Cadrach began； 〃I don't。。。〃
His feeble denials only made her angrier。 〃Do you think I'm a fool？〃 she snarled。 〃I am slow to realize； but if I think long enough； I get there。 The count called you Padreic…and he's not the first to call you by that name。〃
〃A confusion； lady。 The other was a dying man； if you remember…maddened by pain； his life leaking out on the Inniscrich。。。 〃
〃You swine！ And I suppose it's a coincidence that Streawe knew I had left the castle…practically before I knew I was going myself。 You have had a fine time； haven't you？ Pulling both ends of the rope； that's what you've been doing； isn't it？ First you took Vorzheva's gold to escort me； then you've taken mine while we were on the road； borrowing for a jug of wine here； cadging a meal there。。。〃
〃I am only a poor man of God； my lady；〃 tried Cadrach gamely。
〃Be quiet； you。。。 you treacherous drunkard！ And you took gold from Count Streawe； too； didn't you？ You let him know I was ing…I wondered why you kept sneaking away when we were first in Ansis Pellipe。 And while I was prisoner； where were you？ Run of the castle？ Suppers with the count？〃 She was so upset she could hardly speak。 〃And you probably also passed the word on to whoever it is I'm being sent to now； didn't you？ Didn't you！ How can you wear religious robes？ Why doesn't God just 。 。 。 just kill you for your blasphemy？ Why don't you just burst into flames on the spot？〃 She stopped； choking on angry tears； and tried to catch her breath。
〃Here now；〃 Lenti said ominously； his single eyebrow creasing downward toward his nose； 〃stop all this shouting。 And don't you try any tricks！〃
〃Shut your mouth！〃 Miriamele told him。
Cadrach thought he saw his chance。 〃That's right； sirrah； don't you get to insulting the lady。 By Saint Muirfath； 1 can't believe 。。。〃
The monk never got to finish his sentence。 With an inarticulate shout of rage； Miriamele leaned into him and pushed hard。 Cadrach huffed out a surprised breath； waved his arms briefly trying to keep his balance； then toppled into the Bay of Emettin's green waves。
〃Are you mad？〃 Lenti roared； dropping his oar and leaping upright。
Cadrach disappeared under a wash of jade water。
Miriamele stood to shout after him。 The boat rocked； dropping Lenti back down into his seat； one of his blades slipped from his hands； diving into the bay like a silvery fish。 〃You faithless rogue！〃 she screamed at the monk； who was not currently in view。 〃Damn you to hell！〃
Cadrach broke the surface； spewing a great plume of salty water。 〃I'll drown！〃 he gurgled。 〃Drown！ Help me！〃 He slid back under。
〃So drown； you traitor！〃 Miriamele shouted； then shrieked as Lenti grabbed her arm and dragged her down onto her seat； twisting it cruelly in the process。
〃Mad bitch！〃 he shouted。
〃Let him die；〃 she panted； struggling to pull free。 〃What do you care？〃
He reached out and slapped her on the side of the head； bringing fresh tears to her eyes。 〃Master said carry two to Nabban…side； you mad bitch。 Show up with one； that's the end of me。〃
Meanwhile； Cadrach had bobbed up spluttering once more； thrashing and making noises that indeed sounded as though they came from a drowning man。 Streawe's other servant； wide…eyed； had continued to pull at his oar； so that by lucky accident the little boat was now ing about； turning toward where Cadrach splashed and shouted。
The monk saw them ing； panic in his bulging eyes。 He began to strain toward them； but his untutored movements dipped him forward so that his head sank beneath the waves once more。 A moment later he was up again； the look of panic on his face even more raw。
〃Help！〃 he screeched breathlessly； flinging his arms about in a paroxysm of horror。 〃Something's。。。 ！ Something's in here。。。 〃
〃Aedon and the saints！〃 Lenti snarled； leaning over the side； fighting to keep his own balance。 〃What now； sharks？〃
Miriamele huddled sobbing in the bow； uncaring。 Lenti snatched up the tie…rope and flung it toward the monk。 Cadrach did not see it at first as he beat wildly against the water； but in a few moments his arm had bee tangled in one of the coils。
〃Grab it； you fool！〃 Lenti shouted。 〃Grab hold！〃
At last the monk did； grasping the rope with both hands。 He was hauled through the water toward the boat； legs kicking like a frog's。 When Lenti had pulled him close enough； the other servant let go of his oar and leaned forward to help。 After a couple of failed attempts and a great deal of cursing they managed to heave his sodden weight up over the wale。 The rowboat pitched。 Cadrach lay in the bottom； choking and vomiting bay water。
〃Take your cloak and dry him off；〃 Lend told Miriamele as the monk subsided at last into hoarse breathing。 〃If he goes and dies； I'll have you swimming all the way to shore。〃
She grudgingly plied。
The brown and sable hills of Nabban's northeastern coast rose steadily before them。 The sun was climbing toward noon； burnishing the surface of the bay with a fierce； coppery glare。 The two men rowed； the boat rocked back and forth； and the oarlocks creaked and creaked and creaked。
Miriamele was still furious； but it had bee a flat； hopeless anger。 The eruption was over； the fires burning down to ashen coals。
How could I have been so foolish？ she wondered。 I trusted him…worse； I was even beginning to like him！ I enjoyed his pany； half…drunken though it usually was。
Only a few moments before； as she had shifted position on the bench； she had heard something clinking in the pocket of Cadrach's robe。 When removed； this proved to be a purse embossed with the seal of Count Streawe； half full of silver quints…pieces and a pair of gold Imperators。 This indisputable proof of the monk's treachery momentarily brought back her rage。 She considered pushing him back overboard； suffering Lenti's punishment if necessary； but after a little deliberation she decided that she was no longer angry enough to kill him。 In fact； Miriamele was a little surprised that her earlier fury had burned as hotly as it had。
She looked down at the monk； who lay curled in exhausted； fitful sleep； his head propped on the bench beside her。 Cadrach's mouth was open； his breath ing in little gasps