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； on penalty of a beating； so the maidens can splash in the Gratuvask。 And cold！ The river is born from the snows of the northern mountains！ You have not heard shrieking until you hear a hundred young girls plunge into a chilly river on an Avrel morning！〃 She laughed again。 〃There is a story； you know； about one young man who was determined to see the Gratuvask maidens…it is a famous tale in Rimmersland； perhaps you have heard it？〃 She broke off； water sluicing from her cupped hands。 〃Vorzheva？ Are you ill？〃
The Thrithings…woman was bent over； her face pale as milk。 〃Just a pain；〃 she said harshly； straightening up。 〃It will go away soon。 See； I am better now。 Tell your story。〃
Gutrun looked at her suspiciously。 Before the duchess could say anything； Geloe spoke up from her seat on the bank nearby； where she had been tidying Leieth's hair with a b made from fishbone。
〃The story must wait。〃 The witch woman's tone was sharp。 〃See…we are not alone。〃
Vorzheva and the duchess turned to follow Geloe's pointing finger。 Across the meadows； some three or four furlongs away to the south； a mounted rider stood poised on a hillock。 He was much too far away for his face to be discernible； but there was little doubt he was looking in their direction。 All the women stared back； even Leieth； her strange eyes wide。 After several silent moments in which it seemed that no hearts beat； the solitary figure turned his horse and rode down the hillock； vanishing from sight。
〃How。。。 how frightening；〃 the duchess said； clutching the neck of her dress closed with a damp hand。 〃Who is it？ Those horrible Norns？〃
〃I cannot say；〃 Geloe rasped。 〃But we should return to tell the others； in case Josua did not see。 We must be concerned with any strangers now； be they friend or foe。〃
Vorzheva shuddered。 Her face was still pale。 〃There are no friendly strangers on these grasslands；〃 she said。
The women's news was enough to convince Josua that they could dally no longer。 Unhappily； the pany shouldered their few possessions and set off again； following the course of the Ymstrecca east alongside the border of the now…distant forest； a thin dark strip on the misty northern horizon。
They saw no one else all afternoon。
〃These seem like fertile lands；〃 Deornoth said as they searched for a spot to camp。 〃Isn't it strange that we have seen no people beside that lone rider？〃
〃One rider is enough。〃 Josua was grim。
〃My people have never liked it here； so near to the old forest；〃 Vorzheva said； and shivered。 〃There are spirits of the dead beneath the trees。〃
Josua sighed。 〃These are things I would have laughed at a year ago。 Now I have seen them； or things even worse。 God save me； what a world this has bee！〃
Geloe looked up from where she was making a bed of grass for young Leieth。 〃It has always been the same world； Prince Josua；〃 she said。 〃It is only that in these troubled hours things are seen more clearly。 The lamps of cities blur many shadows that are plain beneath the moon。〃
Deornoth awoke in the deeps of night； his heart beating swiftly。 He had been dreaming。 King Elias had bee a spindly thing of grasping claws and red eyes clinging to Prince Josua's back。 Josua could not see him and did not even seem to know that his brother was there。 In the dream Deornoth tried to tell him； but Josua did not listen； only smiled as he walked through the streets of Erchester with the terrible Elias…thing riding his back like a deformed baby。 Every time Josua bent to pat the head of a child or give a coin to a beggar； Elias reached out to undo the good work when Josua had passed； snatching the coin back or scratching the child's face with dirty nails。 Soon an angry crowd followed behind Josua； shouting for his punishment； but the prince went blithely on； unknowing； even as Deornoth screamed and pointed at the evil thing riding the prince's shoulders。
Awake on the benighted grasslands； Deornoth shook his head； trying to pull free from the clinging sense of disquiet。 Elias' dream…face； wizened and spiteful； would not leave his mind… He sat up and looked around。 All the camp was sleeping but for Valada Geloe； who sat dreaming or ponder… ing over the last coals of the dying fire。
He lay back and tried to sleep； but could not for fear the dream would return。 At last disgusted by his own weak…heartedness； he got up and quietly shook out his cloak； then walked to the fire and sat down near Geloe。
The witch woman did not look up at his approach。 Her face was red…splashed by firelight； eyes staring unblinkingly into the embers as chough nothing else existed。 Her lips were moving but no sound came forth； Deornoth felt a chill creep up the back of his neck。 What was she doing？ Should he wake her？
Geloe's mouth continued to work。 Her voice rose to a whisper。 〃。。。Amerasu； where are you？ Your spirit is dim。。。 and I am weak 。。。〃
Deornoth's hand stopped an inch from the witch woman's rough sleeve。
〃。 。 。 If ever you share； let it be now 。。。〃 Geloe's voice hissed like the wind。 〃Oh； please。。。〃A tear； scarlet…shot； trickled down her weathered cheek。
Her despairing whisper drove Deornoth back to his makeshift bed。 He did not fall back into sleep for some time； but lay staring up at the blue…white stars。
He was awakened once more before dawn…this time by Josua。 The prince shook Deornoth's arm； then lifted his handless right wrist to his lips； gesturing for silence。 The knight looked up to see a clot of darkness to the west； thicker even than the general obscurity of night； approaching along the line of the river。 The muffled sound of hoofbeats rolled toward them over the grass。 Deornoth's heart raced。 He felt on the ground for his scabbard； and was soothed only a little by the feeling of his sword hilt beneath his fingers。 Josua crawled away to wake the others。
〃Where is the witch woman？〃 Deornoth whispered urgently； but the prince was too far away to hear； so he crawled over to where Strangyeard lay。 The older man； sleeping lightly； was awake in a moment。
〃Be still；〃 the knight murmured。 〃There are riders ing。〃
〃Who？〃 Strangyeard asked。 Deornoth shook his head。
The oning riders； still little more than shadows； split almost noiselessly into several groups； sweeping wide around the encampment。 Deornoth had to marvel at their silent horsemanship even as he cursed his party's lack of bows and arrows。 A folly； to fight with swords against mounted men…if men they were。 He thought he could count count two dozen attackers； although any estimate was dubious in this half…light。
Deornoth got to his feet； even as a few shadowy figures around him did the same。 Josua； nearby； drew Naidel from its sheath； the sudden hiss of metal against leather seemed as loud as a shout。 The surrounding figures reined up； and for a moment utter silence fell once more。 Someone passing a stone's throw away would never have suspected the presence of a single soul； let alone two forces at battle ready。
A voice broke the stillness。
〃Trespassers！ You walk on the land of Clan Mehrdon！ Lay down your arms。
Flint rang on steel； then a torch blossomed behind the nearest figur