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epeated helplessly。 〃What can it mean？ Who wrote it； Binabik？〃
The troll shook his head。 He tucked the silver of parchment in his bag and then kneeled； scraping a hole in the snow。 〃It is a Scrollbearer； and there are not many now alive。 It might be Jarnauga； if he still lives。 There is also Dinivan in Nabban。〃 He laid the little gray bird in the hole and tenderly covered it over。
〃Dinivan？〃 Simon asked。
〃He is the helper of the Lector Ranessin； the head of your Mother Church；〃 Binabik said 〃A very good man。〃
Sludig； who had stood silent； suddenly spoke。 〃The lector is part of your heathen circle？〃 he said wonderingly。 〃With trolls and such？〃
Binabik smiled a tiny smile。 〃Not the lector。 Father Dinivan； his helper。 And it is not a 'heathen circle；' Sludig； but a band of those who wished the preserving of important knowledge…for just such times as these are。〃 He frowned。 〃I am thinking of who else it might be who was writing this message to us…or to me； rather； for it is my master's arts that likely drew the bird here to me。 If not one of the two 1 mentioned； then I cannot be saying； for Morgenes and my master Ookequk are dead。 There are no other Scrollbearers I know of； unless new ones have been chosen。〃
〃Could it be Geloe？〃 Simon asked。
Binabik thought for a moment； then shook his head。 〃She is one of the wisest of the wise； but she has never been a true Scrollbearer； and I am doubting she would use the League's rune in place of her own。〃 He mounted up onto Qantaqa's back。 〃We will think of the meaning of this warning as we ride。 There are many messengers who have led us to this place； and many others we will doubtlessly be meeting in days and weeks to e。 Which are false？ It is a puzzle of great difficulty。〃
〃Look； the ravens are flying！〃 Sludig cried。 Simon and Binabik turned to see the birds swarm up from the stand of trees like smoke； swirling in the gray sky before wheeling away into the northwest； their disdainful voices echoing。
〃They have done what they were sent for doing；〃 Binabik said。 〃Now they are headed back to Stormspike； do you suppose？〃
Simon's cold fear deepened。 〃You mean the Storm King sent them after us？〃
〃I have little doubt that they were meant to keep that message from our eyes；〃 Binabik said； leaning forward to pick his walking stick from the ground。
Simon turned to follow the flight of the vanishing ravens。 He almost expected to see a dark figure looming on the northern horizon； a burning red gaze in a faceless black head。
〃Those storm clouds on the horizon look very dark；〃 Simon said。 〃A lot darker than they did before。〃
〃The lad's right； 〃 Sludig glowered。 〃That's an ugly storm gathering。〃
Binabik sighed。 His round face was grim； too。 〃The last part of the message we all of us understand。 The storm is spreading； in more than one way only。 We have a long journeying ahead over open and unprotected country。 We will need to go with all the speed that we can be making。〃
Qantaqa started ahead。 Simon and Sludig spurred their horses forward。 Prompted by something he did not understand； Simon looked back once more； although he knew what he would see。
The ravens； now little more than black specks on the wind； were fading from sight into the dark swell of the gathering storm。
13
The Stallion Clan
PRINCE JOSUA'S pany came out at last onto the plains after nearly a month m the vast； ancient forest。 As they broke through the last line of trees； the grasslands opened before them； a floor of uneven turf shrouded by morning mist； merging seamlessly with the gray horizon。
Father Strangyeard sped his pace to catch up with Geloe。 The witch woman was striding purposefully out onto the flatland； wet stems falling before her approach。
〃Valada Geloe；〃 Strangyeard said breathlessly； 〃ah； this is a marvelous book Morgenes has written。 Marvelous！ Valada Geloe； have you read this passage？〃 He tried to juggle the loose pages； stumbled over a tussock； and only barely retained his balance。 〃I think there is something here of importance。 Ah； how silly of me； how foolish…there are many things of importance。 What a marvelous book！〃
Geloe put her hand on Leieth's shoulder； bringing the child to a halt。 The little girl did not look up； but stood where she had stopped； staring out into the mists。
〃Strangyeard； you will do yourself an injury；〃 Geloe said brusquely。 She looked at him expectantly。 〃Well？〃
〃Oh； dear；〃 the archivist said。 He tugged at his eyepatch self…consciously； almost losing his armful of pages in the process。 〃I didn't want you to stop walking I can read and still keep up。 〃
〃I repeat you will do yourself an injury。 Read。〃
Before Strangyeard could do so； they were interrupted by new arrivals。
〃Praise God；〃 Isorn cried He and Deornoth struggled out of the trees upslope。 〃We are out of the cursed forest and on open ground！〃 The pair carefully set down the litter they had been dragging； glad to rest Sangfugol's weight for a moment。 Under the witch woman's ministrations； the harper was healing well and swiftly from what should have been a fatal corruption of his blood； but he still could not walk more than a few hours at a time。
Geloe turned to look back。 〃Praise God all you wish；〃 she warned； 〃but we may regret the loss of those sheltering trees before long。〃
The rest of the party limped down out of the woods。 Prince Josua was helping Towser； who walked dazed and unspeakmg； the old man's eyes were rolled up； as though he contemplated a distant heaven hidden behind the fog…blanketed sky。 Vorzheva and Duchess Gutrun walked a little way behind them。
〃It has been many years since I have seen the Thrithings；〃 Josua said； 〃even this tamer part。 I had almost forgotten its beauty。〃 He closed his eyes in thought for a moment； then opened them once more to gaze out toward the indistinct horizon。 〃It is like no other land in all of Osten Ard…some call it 'God's tabletop。' 〃
〃If this is indeed God's tabletop；〃 Sangfugol said with a weak smile； 〃my prince； He uses us for dice。 Aedon save me； I am meant to sing of Jack Mundwode and his naughty bandits； not ape their forest…traipsing。〃 He struggled out of the litter。 〃I need to get out of this thumping； bouncing torture device and sit down…no； the grass is fine for me。 I fear my sore leg more than the wet。〃
〃Some gratitude；〃 Isorn said； smiling。 〃I think I shall show you what thumping really is； harper。〃
〃Very well；〃 Josua said。 〃We shall rest。 No one stray far； and if you go more than a stone's throw； take someone with you。〃
〃So we have escaped the forest；〃 Deornoth sighed。 〃If only Einskaldir could have seen it。〃 He thought of the Rimmersman's grave in one of the quiet glades of Shisae'ron； a simple mound marked only by his helmet and Strangyeard's wooden Tree。 Even Geloe's healing skills had not been enough to save him from the terrible wounds he had received leading their escape from the Norns。 Now； fierce Einskaldir would lie forever in a place of timeless calm。 〃He was a stern bastard； bless him。〃 Deornoth shook his head。 〃He never gave up； either…but I don't think he believed we would ever get awa