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landers；〃 he added quietly。
Simon looked at the two royal personages for a moment。 〃Tell them that I'm pleased to have their wele； or whatever should be said。 And please tell them that I didn't slay the dragon…likely only wounded it…and that I did it to protect my friends； just as Binabik of Yiqanuc did for me many other times。 〃
When he finished the long sentence he was momentarily out of breath； bringing a rush of dizziness。 The Herder and Huntress； who had been watching curiously as he spoke…both had frowned slightly at the mention of Binabik's name…now turned expectantly to Jiriki。
The Sitha paused for a moment； considering； then rattled off a long stream of thick trollish speech。 Uammannaq nodded his head in a puzzled way。 Nunuuika listened impassively。 When Jiriki had finished； she glanced briefly at her consort； then spoke again。
Judging by her translated reply； she might not have heard Binabik's name at all。 She plimented Simon on his bravery； saying that the Qanuc had long held the mountain Urmsheim…Yijarjuk； she called it…as a place to be avoided at all costs。 Now； she said； perhaps it was time to explore the western mountains again； since the dragon； even if it had survived； had most likely disappeared into the lower depths to nurse its wounds。
Uammannaq seemed impatient with Nunuuika's speech。 As soon as Jiriki finished relaying her words the Herder responded with some of his own； saying that now was hardly the time for such adventures； after the terrible winter just passed； and with the evil Croohokuq…the Rimmersmen…so malevolently active。 He hastened to add that of course Simon and his panions； the other lowlander and the esteemed Jiriki； should stay as long as they wished； as honored guests； and that if there was anything he or Nunuuika could grant them to ease their stay； they had only to ask。
Even before Jiriki finished converting these works to the Westerling speech； Simon was shifting his weight from one foot to the other； anxious to respond。
〃Yes；〃 he told Jiriki； 〃there is something they can do。 They can free Binabik and Sludig； our panions。 Free our friends； if you would do us a favor！〃 he said loudly； turning to the fur…swaddled pair before him； who regarded him with inprehension。 His raised voice caused some of the trolls crowded around the stone platform to murmur uneasily。 Simon dizzily wondered if he had gone too far； but for the moment was beyond caring。
〃Seoman；〃 Jiriki said； 〃I promised myself that I would not mistranslate or interfere in your speech with the lords ofYiqanuc； but I ask you now as a favor to me； do not ask this of them。 Please。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Please。 As a favor。 I will explain later； I ask you to trust me。〃
Simon's angry words spilled out before he could control them。 〃You want me to desert my friend as a favor to you？ Haven't I already saved your life？ Didn't I get the White Arrow from you？ Who owes the favors here？〃
Even as he said it he was sorry； fearing that an unbreachable barrier had suddenly grown between himself and the Sitha prince。 Jiriki's eyes burned into his。 The audience began to fidget nervously and mutter among themselves； sensing something amiss。
The Sitha dropped his gaze。 〃I am ashamed； Seoman。 I ask too much of you。〃
Now Simon felt himself sinking like a stone into a muddy pool。 Too fast！ It was too much to think about。 All he wanted was to lie down and not know anything。
〃No； Jiriki；〃 he blurted out； 〃I'm ashamed。 I'm ashamed of what I said。 I'm an idiot。 Ask the two of them if I can speak to them tomorrow。 I feel sick。〃 Suddenly the dizziness was horribly real； he felt the whole cavern tilt。 The light of the oil lamps wavered as though in a stiff wind。 Simon's knees buckled and Haestan caught his arms； holding him up。
Jiriki turned quickly to Uammannaq and Nunuuika。 A rumble of fascinated consternation ran through the trollish throng。 Was the red…crested； storklike lowlander dead？ Perhaps such long thin legs were not capable of bearing weight for long； as some had suggested。 But then； why were the other two lowlanders still standing upright？ Many heads were shaken in puzzlement； many whispered guesses exchanged。
〃Nunuuika； keenest of eye； and Uammannaq； surest of rein： the boy is still sick and very weak。 〃Jiriki spoke quietly。 The multitude； cheated； by his soft speech； leaned forward。 〃I ask a boon； on the primeval friendship of our people。〃
The Huntress inclined her head； smiling slightly。 〃Speak； Elder Brother；〃 she said。
〃I have no right to interfere in your justice； and will not。 I do ask that the judgment of Binabik of Mintahoq not go forward until his panions…including the boy Seoman…have a chance to speak in his behalf。 And that the same be granted also for the Rimmersman； Sludig。 This I ask of you in the name of the Moon…woman； our shared roof。〃 Jiriki bowed slightly； using only his upper body。 There was no suggestion of subservience。
Uammannaq tapped the shaft of his spear with his fingers。 He looked to the Huntress； his expression troubled。 At last he nodded。 〃We cannot refuse this； Elder Brother。 So shall it be。 Two days； then； when the boy is stronger…but even if this strange young man had brought us Igjarjuk's toothy head in a saddlebag； that would not change what must be。 Binabik； apprentice of the Singing Man； has mitted a terrible crime。〃
〃So I have been told；〃 Jiriki replied。 〃But the brave hearts of the Qanuc were not the only thing that gained them the esteem of the Sithi。 We loved the kindness of trolls as well。〃
Nunuuika touched the bs in her hair； her gaze hard。 〃Kind hearts must never overthrow just law； Prince Jiriki； or all Sedda's spawn…Sithi as well as mortals…will return naked to the snows。 Binabik shall have his judgment。〃
Prince Jiriki nodded and made another brief bow before turning away。
Haestan half…carried the stumbling Simon as they walked back across the cavern； down the gauntlet of curious trolls； back out into the cold wind。
2
Masks and Shadows
THE FIRE popped and spat as snowflakes drifted down into the flames to boil away in an instant。 The surrounding trees were still striped with orange； but the campfire had burned down almost to embers。 Beyond this fragile barrier of firelight； mist and cold and dark waited patiently。
Deornoth held his hands closer to the embers and tried to ignore the vast living presence of Aldheorte Forest all around； the twining branches that blotted the stars overhead； the fog…shrouded trunks swaying somberly in the cold； steady wind。 Josua sat across from him； facing away from the flames toward the unfriendly darkness； the prince's angled face； red…washed by rippling firelight； was contorted in a silent grimace。 Deornoth's heart went out to his prince； but it was too difficult to look at him just now。 He turned his eyes away； kneading his chilled fingers as though he could rub away all suffering…his； his master's； and that of the rest of their pitiful； lamed flock。
Someone moaned nearby； but Deornoth did not look up。 Many in their party were suffering； and some…the little handmaiden with the terrible throat wound； and Helmfest； one of the Lord