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May you be carried to the green valleys
Of His domains。
Where the souls of the good and righteous sing from the hilltops；
And angels are in the trees；
Speaking joy with God's own voice。
〃May the Ransomer protect you
From all evil；
And may your soul find peace everlasting；
And heart's ease beyond pare。〃
Sludig laid his Tree atop the stones； then walked back to stand by Simon。
〃One last thing let me say；〃 Binabik called out； raising his voice。 He spoke the same words in Qanuc and his people listened attentively。 〃This is the first day in a thousand years that Qanuc and Utku…troll and lowlander…have been fighting at each other's side； have been blooded together and have fallen together。 It is the hate and the hating of our enemy that has been bringing this upon us； but if our peoples can stand together for the battle that is ing…a greatest； but perhaps also last； battle…the deaths of all our friends will be even better given than they now are。〃 He turned and repeated the words for his tribesmen。 Many of them nodded their heads； pounding their spear butts on the ground。 From somewhere up the slope； Qantaqa howled。 Her mournful voice echoed all over the mountain。
〃Let us not forget them； Simon；〃 Binabik said as the rest of his fellows mounted up。 〃These； or any of the others who have already died。 Let us be taking strength from the gifting of their lives…because if we fail； they will perhaps be seeming the lucky ones。 Are you able to walk？〃
〃For a while；〃 Simon replied。 〃Sludig will walk with me。〃
〃We will not ride long today； for the afternoon has far advanced；〃 the troll said； squinting up at the white spot of sun。 〃But all speed is necessary。 Half our pany； nearly； we have lost in killing five giants。 The Storm King's mountains to the west are full of such creatures； and we cannot be knowing there are not more nearby。〃
〃How long before your fellow trolls turn their own way；〃 Sludig asked； 〃to go to this Blue Mud Lake your master and mistress spoke of？〃
〃That is another thing for concern；〃 Binabik agreed grimly。 〃Another day or two days； then we will be three travelers only in the Waste。〃 He turned as a large gray shape appeared at his elbow； panting hugely。 Qancaqa nudged him impatiently with her broad nose。 〃Four travelers； if I may be pardoned；〃 he amended； but did not smile。
Simon felt himself empty as they started down Sikkihoq's last reaches； hollowed out； so that if he stood just right the wind might whistle through him。 Another friend was gone； and home was only a word。
9
Cold Weather and Curses
EVENING light was failing。 Prince Josua's tattered minions were tumbled all together beneath a tangle of willows and cypresses in a moss…carpeted gulley that had once been a riverbed。 A slender； muddy trickle ran along in the middle； all that remained of the watercourse。 Above them rose a hilly slope whose heights were hidden behind close…crowding trees。
They had hoped to be atop the rise when the sun went down； a defensive position superior to anything they could hope to find in this thick…shrouded valley； but twilight was now imminent and the pany's progress had slowed to a crawl。
Either they had guessed correctly； Deornoth reflected； and the Norns were indeed trying to herd them rather than kill them； or else they had been very lucky。 Arrows had flown in biting swarms throughout the day。 Several had found targets； but none of the wounds had been mortal Einskaldir had been struck on his helmet； causing a gash above his eye that wept blood all the long afternoon。 The back of Isorn's neck had been slashed by another arrow； and Lady Vorzheva had received a long； bloody weal on her forearm。
Surprisingly； Vorzheva had seemed almost unaffected by her injury； binding it with a strip of her tattered skirt and plodding on without a word of plaint。 Deornoth had been impressed by this show of courage； but had also wondered if it might not be an indication of dangerous and despairing unconcern。 She and Prince Josua were pointedly not speaking with each other。 Vorzheva's face turned grim whenever the prince was near。
Josua； Father Strangyeard； and Duchess Gutrun had so far escaped damage。 Ever since their fleeing troop had reached the gulley and had taken advantage of its scanty protection to fall down exhausted； they had all been busily engaged in binding of wounds。 At the moment； the priest was tending to Towser； who had fallen sick during the march； the other pair were looking after Sangfugol's injuries。
Even if the Norns do not mean to kill us； they obviously intend to stop us； Deornoth thought； rubbing his aching leg。 Perhaps they no longer care whether we have one of the Great Swords； or perhaps their spies told them we do not。 But why don't they simply kill us； then？ Do they wish to capture Josua？ Trying to understand the Norns was dizzying。 What should we do； in any case？ Is it better to be shot to pieces and then captured； or to turn and fight to the death？
But did they even have a choice？ The Norns were mere shadows in the forest。 As long as they had arrows to shoot； the white…faced pursuers could do as they wished。 What could Josua's folk do to force them to fight？
Fog was forming rapidly on the damp ground； turning the trees and stones indistinct； as though Josua's people were trapped in some between…world that straddled life and death。 An owl flitted silently overhead like a gray ghost。
Deornoth struggled to his feet and went to help Strangyeard。 The prince came to join them； watching as the priest swabbed Towser's feverish brow with his kerchief。
〃It is a pity。。。〃 Strangyeard said without looking up。 〃A pity； I mean； that the fog is everywhere； but we still have so little clean water Even the ground is wet； but it does us no good。〃
〃If tonight is as damp and cold as the last；〃 Deornoth said； grasping Towser's hand as the old man fretfully clutched at the kerchief； 〃we will be able to wring out our clothes and fill the Kynslagh 〃
〃We must not spend the night here；〃 Josua said。 〃We must get to high ground。 〃
Deornoth looked at him carefully。 The prince was showing no signs of his earlier lassitude…in fact； Josua's eyes were bright。 He seemed to be ing back to life just as all around him were dying。 〃But how； my prince？' Deornoth asked。 〃How can we hope to drag our bleeding bodies up that hill？ We do not even know how high it is。〃
Josua nodded； but said： 〃Nevertheless； we must climb it before dark。 What little ability to resist that we retain will be useless if they can e down on us from above。〃
His fierce face daubed with dried blood； Einskaldir came and crouched beside them。 〃If only they would e within reach。〃 He dandled his axe and laughed sourly。 〃If we show ourselves； they pick us to pieces。 They see better in dark than us。 〃
〃We must go up the slope all in a herd；〃 the prince said； 〃…huddled up like frightened cattle。 Those on the outside will wrap their legs and arms in whatever thick clothing we have。 That way； if they fear to make a fatal shot； they will be perhaps less likely to let fly into a crowd； where the missed wounding in th