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〃What's wrong？〃 he asked nervously； expecting at any moment to hear the bellowing voices of giants。
〃I think they had hoped Binabik was wrong；〃 Sludig said。 〃Perhaps they were hoping to find springtime hidden here。〃
Simon saw little that was unusual。 The sheltering hills were thatched with snow and many of the trees that surrounded the lake were bare of leaf。 The evergreens were mantled in white； like cottonwool spears。
Many of the trolls brought the heels of their hands to their chests； as if what they saw spoke more eloquently of trouble than any words of Binabik or his master Ookequk。 As they spurred their mounts along the narrow trail； Simon and Sludig trudged forward once more； following the tracks of the rams into the lake valley。 Another flurry of snow came sifting down from Sikkihoq。
They made camp at a great cavern on the lake's northwestern banks。 The cave was surrounded by well…worn pathways。 The massive stone fire pit； nearly brimful with frozen ash； testified to the generations of trolls who had camped there。 Soon a huge fire； the biggest they had made since leaving Mmtahoq； was burning by the lakeside。 As darkness fell and the stars began to kindle； the flames threw wild shadows on the rocky faces of the hills。
Simon was sitting near the fire oiling his boots when Binabik found him。 At the troll's bidding； he put the boots back on and took a burning brand from the blaze； then followed Binabik away into the darkness。 They walked along the edge of the hillside for a furlong； circling around the lakeshore until they reached another cave； its high entranceway almost hidden behind a stand of spruces。 A strange whistling noise came from within。 Simon knitted his brows in apprehension； but Binabik only smiled and waved at him to follow； pushing back a low…hanging branch with his walking stick so taller Simon could enter without catching his torch in the trees。
The cavern was thick with the smell of animals； but it was a familiar smell。 Simon lifted the brand so the light splashed the farthest depths of the cavern。 Six horses looked back； whinnying nervously。 The cavern floor was piled high with dried grass。
〃Good that is；〃 Binabik said； ing up beside him。 〃I had been fearing they might have run away； or the food might not have been of sufficiency。〃
〃Are they ours？〃 Simon asked； approaching slowly。 The nearest horse fluttered its lips and danced back a step； Simon held out his hand for it to smell。 〃I think they are。〃
〃Of course；〃 Binabik chuckled。 〃We Qanuc are not horse…murderers。 My folk put them here for safety when we were all taken up…mountain。 We also keep this place for our rams when they are birthing and the weather is cold。 From now on； Simon…friend； you need be walking no more。〃
After stroking the nearest horse； which submitted grudgingly but did not pull away； Simon saw the gray and black spotted mare he had ridden from Naglimund。 He moved toward her； wishing he had something to give her。
〃Simon；〃 Binabik called； 〃catch！〃
He turned in time to receive something small and hard； which crumbled slightly as he clutched it in his palm。
〃Salt；〃 Binabik said。 〃I brought it from Mintahoq。 I have brought one lump for each。 The rams have a great fondness for salt and I am guessing your horses will； too。〃
Simon offered it to the gray…and…black。 She took it； her mouth tickling his hand。 He stroked her powerful neck； feeling it tremble beneath his fingers。 〃I don't remember her name；〃 he whispered sadly。 〃Haestan told me； but I forgot。〃
Binabik shrugged and began distributing the salt among the other horses。
〃It's good to see you again；〃 Simon told the mare。 〃I'll give you a new name。 How about 'Homefinder'？〃
Names did not seem to be very important to her。 She flicked her tail and nosed Simon's pockets for more salt。
When Simon and Binabik got back to the fire the kangkang was flowing vigorously and the trolls were singing； rocking back and forth before the flames。 As they approached； Sisqi detached herself from the group and came to take Binabik's hand； silently laying her hooded head upon his shoulder。 From a distance the trolls sounded as though they were having a hilarious time of it； but as Simon drew nearer the expressions on their faces told differently。
〃Why do they look so sad； Binabik？〃
〃We are having a saying on Mintahoq；〃 the little man explained； 〃…'Mourning is for home。' When we are losing one of our folk on the trail we bury them in that place； but we save our tears until we are safe in our caves once more。 Nine of our folk died on Sikkihoq。〃
〃But you said 'mourn at home。' These people are not home yet。〃
Binabik shook his head； then answered a quiet question from Sisqi before returning his attention to Simon。 〃These hunters and herders are making ready for the ing of the rest of Yiqanuc's folk。 The word is even now flying from one mountain to another： the highlands are not a place of safety and spring is not ing。〃 The little man smiled wearily。 〃They are home； Simon…friend。〃
Binabik patted Simon's hand； then he and Sisqi veered off toward the fire to join the chorus。 The blaze was fed and the flames leaped higher； so that all the lake valley seemed to glow with orange light。 The mourning songs of the Qanuc echoed out across the still waters； carrying even above the bitter voice of the wind and the rush of the falls。
Simon went off in search of Sludig。 He found the Rimmersman bundled in his cloak a short distance from the fire； sitting on a rock with a skin full of kangkang between his knees。 Simon sat down beside him and took a long swallow from the offered wineskin； sucking cold air afterward。 He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and handed it back。
〃Have I told you of the Skipphavven； Simon？〃 Sludig asked； staring at the fire and the swaying trolls。 〃You have not seen beauty until you have seen the maidens who gather mistletoe from the mast of Sotfengsel； Elvrit's buried ship。〃 He took a drink and passed it to Simon。 〃Ah； sweet God； I hope Skali of Kaldskryke at least has enough Rimmersman pride to tend to the graves of the longships at the Skipphavven。 May he rot in hell。〃
Simon took two more long pulls on the wineskin； hiding the faces he made from Sludig。 The kangkang tasted awful； but it warmed him。 〃Skali is the one who took Duke Isgrimnur's land？〃 he asked。
Sludig looked over； a little blearily。 He had been working at the skin for some time。 〃He is。 Black…hearted； treacherous son of a wolf…bitch and a carrion crow。 May he rot in Hell。 It is blood feud now。〃 The Rimmersman pulled meditatively at his beard and turned his gaze upward to the stars。 〃It is blood feud all over the world； these days。〃
Simon looked up with him and saw an advancing line of dark clouds out of the northwest obscuring the stars along the horizon。 For a moment he thought he could see the Storm King's dark hand reaching out； blotting light and warmth。 He trembled； pulling his cloak tighter； but the cold did not go away。 He reached for the skin again。 Sludig was still staring upward。
〃We are very small；〃 Simon said between swallows。 The kangkang seemed to be flowing in his veins like b