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n sternly。 I have a premonition of dire evil ing。〃 He turned to Miriamele。 〃Thank you for your news； Princess。 It is none of it happy； but only a fool desires cheerful ignorance and I try not to be a fool。 That is my heaviest burden。〃 He pursed his lips in thought。 〃Well； Dinivan；〃 he said at last； 〃this lends an even more ominous air to the news I received yesterday。〃
〃What news is that； Sacredness？〃 Dinivan asked。 〃We have had little chance to talk since I returned。〃
The lector took a sip of wine。 〃Elias is sending Pryrates to see me。 His ship arrives tomorrow from the Hayholt。 His mission； the message said； is an important one from the High King。〃
〃Pryrates is ing？〃 Miriamele asked； alarmed。 〃Does my father know I'm here？〃
〃No； no； do not fear；〃 the lector said soothingly。 He patted her hand again。 〃It is Mother Church with whom he would trade words。 No one knows you are here but Dinivan and myself。〃
〃He's a devil；〃 she said harshly。 〃Do not trust him。〃
Ranessin nodded gravely。 〃Your warning is well taken； Princess Miriamele； but sometimes it is my duty to speak with devils。〃 He lowered his eves to stare at his hands； as if hoping to find clutched therein a solution to all problems。 When Dinivan took Miriamele out； the lector bid her good…bye courteously； but he seemed wrapped in melancholy。
10
The Mirror
SIMON found himself in the grip of a stubborn anger that would not go away。 As he and Sludig followed the mounted trolls away down the mountain； away from the solemn piles of stone lying nakedly beneath the sky； he felt a rage seeping through him that muddled all his thoughts； so that he could scarcely think of anything for more than a moment at a time。
He walked stiffly； his body still bruised and sore； his stomach churning with anger。 As he walked； he brooded。 Haestan was dead。 Another friend was dead。 There was nothing he could do about it。 He couldn't change it。 He couldn't even cry over it。 That was the most infuriating thing： he could do nothing。 Nothing。
Sludig； pale…faced and shadow…eyed； did not seem anxious to break the silence。 The two lowlanders trudged along side by side down broad； flat sheets of weathered granite and waded through drifts of snow churned into a white froth by rams' hooves。
The foothills seemed to be growing up to meet them。 At each bend in the trail the snowy…shouldered hills emerged once more into the travelers' view； each time larger than before。 Sikkihoq； in turn； seemed to be stretching away into the sky behind them as they steadily descended； ever taller； as though the mountain had finished its business with these mortals and now returned to the loftier and more congenial pany of the sky and clouds。
I won't forget you； Simon warned Sikkihoq as he looked back up the great dagger of stone。 He fought the urge to shout it aloud。 If he squinted； he thought he could still see the spot where the cairns stood。 I won't forget that my friend is buried on your slopes。 I'll never forget。
Afternoon passed swiftly。 They made faster time as the mountain broadened and the paths began to level out； with longer stretches between switchbacks。 Simon noticed signs of the mountain's life that he had not seen higher up： a family of white and brown rabbits grazing between patches of snow； jays and squirrels bickering in the stunted； wind…curled trees。 This evidence of life on what had seemed a barren and heartless rock should have made him feel better； instead； it served only to fuel his directionless anger。 What right to exist did all these small and insignificant things have； when others were dying？ He wondered why they should bother； when any moment a hawk or snake or hunter's arrow might snuff out their lives。 The thought of life scrabbling pointlessly beneath the shadow of death filled him with an oddly exhilarating disgust。
When evening came； the pany chose a gently sloping expanse of stone and brush in which to make camp； sheltered by Sikkihoq's body from the worst of the snow…laden wind。 Simon shed his pack and began picking up deadwood for the fire； but stopped to watch the sun slip down behind the mountains to the west…one of which； he knew； was Urmsheim； the dragon…mountain。 The horizon was streaked with light； as richly colored as any rose grown in the Hayholt's gardens。
An'nai； Jiriki's Sithi kinsman； who had been killed while fighting for the lives of his panions； was buried there on Urmsheim； the soldier Grimmric； a wiry； quiet man； had been interred beside him。 Simon remembered Grimmric whistling as they rode north from Naglimund； a thin trill of sound alternately annoying and reassuring。 Now he would be eternally silent。 He and An'nai would never see a sunset like the one that painted the sky before Simon； beautiful and meaningless。
Where were they？ Heaven？ How could Sithi go to heaven when they didn't believe in it…and where did they think they went when they died？ They were pagans； Simon supposed； which meant they were different… but An'nai had been loyal and brave。 More than that； he had been kind to Simon； very kind in his strange Sithi way。 How could An'nai not go to heaven？ How could heaven be such a stupid place？
The anger； which had abated for a moment； returned。 Simon flung one of the sticks he had gathered as hard as he could。 It whirled through the air； then struck and cartwheeled down the long stony hill； disappearing at last into the underbrush below。
〃e； Simon；〃 Sludig called from behind him。 〃We need your wood for the fire。 Aren't you hungry now？〃
Simon ignored him； staring out at the reddening sky as he ground his teeth in frustration。 He felt a hand on his arm and angrily shrugged it off。 'Please； e；〃 the Rimmersman said kindly。 〃Supper will be ready soon。〃
〃Where is Haestan？〃 Simon asked through tight lips。
〃What do you mean？〃 Sludig cocked his head。 〃You know where we left him； Simon。〃
〃No； I mean where is Haestan？ The real Haestan。〃
〃Ah。〃 Sludig smiled。 His beard had grown very thick。 〃His soul is in heaven； with Usires and the Lord God。〃
〃No。〃 Simon turned to look at the sky again； darkening now with the first mortal blues of night。
〃What？ Why do you say that？〃
〃He's not in heaven。 There is no heaven。 How can there be a heaven； when everyone thinks it's different？〃
〃You are being foolish。〃 Sludig stared at him for a moment； trying to sense Simon's thought。 〃Perhaps everyone goes to their own heaven；〃 the soldier said； then placed his hand again on Simon's shoulder。 〃God knows what He knows。 e and sit down。〃
〃How could God let people die for no reason？〃 Simon demanded； hugging himself as though trying to keep something inside。 〃If God can do that； then He is cruel。 If He isn't cruel； well 。 。 。 well； then。 He just can't do anything。 Like an old man who sits at the window； but can't go out。 He's old and stupid。〃
〃Do not talk against God the Father；〃 Sludig said； his voice chilly。 〃God will not be mocked by an ungrateful boy。 He has given you all the gifts of life 。。。〃
〃It's a lie！〃 Simon shouted。 The soldier's eyes widened in surprise。 Heads turned from the campfire； looking to the sudden noise。 〃It's a lie； a lie！