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； my lady； except to upset an already strained situation。 There are other grave problems in Nabban； Princess。〃
〃Please。〃 She waved her hand impatiently。 〃Here I sit in a monk's robe； wearing my hair like a boy； and everyone is my enemy but you…or so it seems。 Call me Miriamele。 And tell me what is happening in Nabban。〃
〃I will tell you a little； but most should wait。 I have not entirely ignored my secretarial duties： my master the lector would like you to e to see him in the Sancellan Aedonitis and we will have plenty of time to talk as we ride。〃 He shook his head。 〃It is enough to say that people are unhappy； that the doom…criers who once were scorned in the streets of Nabban are suddenly the subject of great attention。 Mother Church is under siege。〃 He bent forward； staring at his large hands as he searched for words。 〃The people feel a shadow over them。 Although they cannot name it； still it darkens their world。 Leobardis' death…and your uncle was much…beloved； Miriamele…has shaken his subjects； but it is rumor that truly frightens them： rumor of things worse than war in the north； worse than any contending of princes。〃
Dinivan stood and pulled the door all the way open to let in the breeze。 The sea below was flat and glossy。 〃The doom…shouters say that a force is arising to cast down Holy Usires Aedon and the kings of men。 In the public squares they cry that all must prepare to bow to a new sovereign； the rightful master of Osten Ard。〃
He came back and stood over Miriamele。 Now she could see the signs of deep worry on his face。 〃In some dark places a name is even being whispered…the name of this ing scourge。 They whisper of the Storm King。〃
Miriamele let out her breath in a great sigh。 Even the staring sun of noon could not disperse the shadows that seemed to e crowding into the tower room。
〃They spoke of these things at Naglimund；〃 Miriamele said later； as they stood outside on the walkway looking out over the water。 〃The old man at Naglimund； Jarnauga； seemed to think the end of the world was ing； too。 But I did not hear everything。〃 She turned to look at Dinivan； fierce grief upon her slender face。 〃They kept things from me because I'm a girl。 That's not right…I'm smarter than most of the men I know！〃
Dinivan did not smile。 〃I've no doubt of that； Miriamele。 In fact； I think you should seek a greater challenge than merely being wiser than men。〃
〃But I left Naglimund to do something；〃 she continued unhappily。 〃Hah！ That was smart； wasn't it？ I thought I'd bring Leobardis in on my uncle's side； but he already was。 And then he was killed； so what good did it do Josua anyway？〃 She trooped a little way around the tower until she looked out on the spine of the cliff and the backslope that fell away into a green valley。 Rolling hills stretched beyond； brushed with rippling light as the wind moved among the grasses。 She tried to imagine the end of the world and could not do so。 〃How do you know Cadrach？〃 she asked at last。
〃Cadrach is a name I never heard until you mentioned it；〃 he replied。 〃1 knew him as Padreic； long years ago。〃
〃How many years ago could that be？〃 Miriamele smiled。 〃You're not that old。〃
The priest shook his head。 〃I have a young face； I suppose； but actually I am nearing forty years…not much younger than your Uncle Josua。〃
She scowled。 〃All right； many years ago。 Where did you know him？〃
〃Here and elsewhere。 We were members of the same 。 。 。 order； I suppose you would say。 But something happened to Padreic。 He fell away from us； and when I later heard tell of him the stories were not good。 It seemed that he had descended into very bad ways。〃
〃I'll say。〃 Miriamele made a face。
Dinivan looked at her curiously。 〃And how did you happen to give him this unexpected…and no doubt undesired…bath？〃
She told him about their trip together； about Cadrach's suspected small treacheries and her confirmation of his larger one。 When she had finished； Dinivan led her inside again； where Miriamele found her hunger had returned。
〃He has not done right by you； Miriamele； but has not； I think； done entirely wrong either。 There may be hope for him…and not merely the ultimate hope of salvation； which we all share。 I mean that he may move away from his criminal and drunkard ways。〃 Dinivan walked a few steps down from the top of the staircase； leaning over to look at Cadrach。 Now wrapped in a coarse blanket； the monk still slept； arms flung out as though he had only this moment been dragged from the perilous waves。 His wet clothes were hanging in the low rafters。
Dinivan returned to the room。 〃If he were beyond hope； why would he have remained with you after he had received his silver from Streawe？〃
〃So he could sell me to someone else；〃 she responded bitterly。 〃My father； my aunt； Naraxi child…merchants…who knows？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said the lector's secretary； 〃but I do not think so。 I think he has conceived a feeling of responsibility to you…although that responsibility does not prevent him from profiting where he thinks you will be unharmed； as with the master of Perdruin。 But unless the Padreic 1 know is totally gone； vanished beyond any retrieval； I think he would not harm you； nor would he willingly let harm e to you。〃
〃Small chance；〃 Miriamele said grimly。 〃I will trust him again when stars shine at noontime； but no sooner。〃
Dinivan looked at her closely； then sketched the sign of the Tree in the air。 〃We must be careful of such pronouncements in these strange days； my lady。〃 A grin came back to his face。 〃However； this talk of shining stars reminds me…we have a job to do。 When 1 arranged to use this place to meet you； I promised the tower…keeper that we would light the beacon tonight。 The mariners who ply the coastline expect it to be there； warning them away from the rocks so they can go cast to the harbor at Bacea…sa…Repra。 I should do it now； before it starts to get dark。 Do you want to e along？〃 He clattered down the stairs and returned with the lamp。
Miriamele nodded； following him out onto the hoarding。 〃I was at Wentmouth once when they lit the Hayefur there；〃 she said。 〃It was huge！〃
〃Far bigger than our modest candle；〃 Dinivan agreed。 〃Be careful as you climb here。 This is an old ladder。〃
The tower's topmost room was little more than a place to hold the beacon； a very large oil lamp squatting in the middle of the floor。 There was a smoke…hole overhead in the tower's roof and a fence of metal screens around the wick to slow the wind。 A large curved metal shield hung on the inside wall behind the lamp； facing out toward the sea。
〃What does this do？〃 she asked； running a finger over the shield's
highly polished surface。
〃Helps the light travel farther；〃 Dinivan said。 〃You see how it is curved away from the flame； like a cup？ That collects the lamplight and flings it out through the window…more or less。 Padreic could explain it better。〃
〃You mean Cadrach？〃 Miriamele asked； puzzled。
〃Well； once he could have； anyway。 He was very clever about mechanical things when 1 knew him…pulleys and levers and such。 He studied a great deal about Natural Philosophy； before he 。。。 changed。〃 Dinivan