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〃If you don't want to get worked to death；〃 the man said； then began coughing； long dry rasps that sounded as though they came all the way up from his feet。 It was some time before he could talk again。 〃If Doctor sees you be a new 'un；〃 he wheezed； 〃he'll get his work out of you； never fear。 And more。 A right bad 'un； he be。〃 The man said it very convincingly。 〃Don't want him noticing you。〃
Simon looked down at the soiled scraps of cloth。
〃Thank you。 What's your name？〃
〃Stanhelm。〃 The man coughed again； 〃And don't tell others you be new either； or they'll run to Doctor so fast your eyes'll pop out。 Tell 'em you worked with ore buckets。 Those'uns sleep in 'nother hole on t'other side； but White Foxes and soldiers dump all runaways back through this door； 'matter which side 'uns ran from。〃 He reflected sadly。 〃Few of us left and work to do。 That's why 'uns brought you back and didn't kill you。 What be your name； lad？〃
〃Seoman。〃 He looked around。 The other forge men had fallen back into unheeding silence。 Most had curled themselves up on their thin blankets and closed their eyes。 〃Who is this Doctor？〃 For a split instant the sound of the name had filled him with wild hope； but Morgenes； even if he had lived through the dreadful blaze； would never be someone to occasion fear in men like these。
〃You'll meet 'un soon enough；〃 Stanhelm said。 〃Don't be in no hurry。〃
Simon wrapped the strip of cloth about his face。 It smelled of smoke and dirt and other things； and did not seem very easy to breathe through。 He told Stanhelm so。
〃You keep it wet。 Thank Ransomer Himself you've got it； you will。 Otherwise； fire goes right down your throat and burns innards。〃 Stanhelm prodded the shirt with a blackened finger。 〃Put that on； too。〃 He looked nervously over his shoulder at his fellow forge workers。
Simon understood。 As soon as he pulled on the shirt； he would no longer be different…he would not draw attention。 These were bent； almost broken men； that was clear。 They did not want to be noticed if they could avoid it。
When his head poked free of the neck hole and he could see again； a looming shape was lurching toward him。 For an instant； Simon thought one of the snow…giants had somehow found its way south to the Hayholt。
The great head turned slowly from side to side。 The mask of ruined flesh wrinkled in anger。
'Too much sleeping； little rat…men；〃 the thing rumbled。 〃Work to do。 The priest wants everything finished now。〃
Simon thanked Usires for the tattered fabric that made him another faceless captive。 He knew this one…eyed monster。
Oh； Mother of Mercy。 They've given me to Inch。
19
Cunning as Time
〃Do you think Simon could be down here somewhere？〃
Binabik looked up from his dried mutton； which he had been tearing into small pieces。 It was the morning meal； if morning could be said to exist in a sunless； skyless place。 〃If he is；〃 the little man said； 〃I am thinking there is only a small chance we will find him。 I am sorry； Miriamele； but here there are many leagues of tunnels。〃
Simon wandering alone and in darkness。 The thought hurt too much…she had been so cruel to him！
Desperate to think of something else； she asked： 〃Did the Sithi really build all this？〃 The walls stretched high above； so that the torchlight failed before it found the upper reaches。 They were roofed over by purest black； but for the absence of stars and weather； she and the troll might be sitting beneath the open night sky。
〃With help they built it。 The Sithi were having the assisting of their cousins； I have read…in fact； they were the people who were making the maps you copied。 Other immortals； masters of stone and earth。 Eolair said some still are living beneath Hernystir。〃
〃But who could live down here？〃 she wondered。 〃Never seeing the day 。。。〃
〃Ah； you are not understanding。〃 The troll smiled。 〃Asu'a was full of light。 The castle you were living in had its building on the top of the Sithi's great house。 Asu'a was buried so that the Hayholt could be born。〃
〃But it won't stay buried；〃 Miriamele said grimly。
Binabik nodded。 〃We Qanuc have a believing that the spirit of a murdered man cannot rest； and stays on in the body of an animal。 Sometimes it is following the one who killed him； sometimes it is staying in the place he was loving most。 Either way； there is no rest for it until the truth has been discovered and the crime has been given its punishment。〃
Miriamele thought of the spirits of all the murdered Sithi and shivered。 She had heard more than a few strange echoes since they had entered the tunnels beneath Saint Sutrin's。 〃They can't rest。〃
Binabik cocked an eyebrow。 'There is more here than just restless spirits； Miriamele。〃
〃Yes； but that's what the。。。〃 she lowered her voice 〃。。。 that's what the Storm King is； isn't he？ A murdered soul looking for vengeance。〃
The troll looked troubled。 〃I am not happy to be talking of such things here。 And he brought his own death upon him； I am remembering。〃
〃Because the Rimmersmen had surrounded this place and were going to kill him anyway。〃
〃There is truth in what you say；〃 Binabik admitted。 〃But please； Miriamele； no more。 I do not know what things are in this place； or what ears might be listening； but I am thinking that the less we speak of such matters； the happier we will be。 In many ways。〃
Miriamele inclined her head； agreeing。 In fact； she wished now she had never mentioned it。 After more than a day wandering in these disturbing shadows； the thought of the undead enemy was already close enough。
They had not penetrated far into the tunnels the first night。 The catab passages beneath Saint Sutrin's had gradually bee wider and wider； and soon had begun to slant steadily downward into the earth； after the first hour； Miriamele thought that they must have descended beneath even the bed of the many…faThorned Kynslagh。 They had soon found a relatively fortable spot to stop and eat a meal。 After sitting down for a short while； both of them had realized just how weary they truly were； so they had spread their cloaks and slept。 Upon awaking； Binabik had relit their torches from his firepot…a tiny earthenware jug in which a spark was somehow kept smoldering…and after a few bites of bread and some dried fruit washed down with warm water； they had set out again。
The day's traveling had brought them down many twisting paths。 Miriamele and Binabik had done their best to stay close to the general directions on the dwarrow map； but the tunnels were snaky and confusing； it was hard to feel very confident that they were following the correct course。 Wherever they were； though； it was clear that they had left the realms of humankind。 They had descended into Asu'a…in a way； they had circled back into the past。 Trying to fall asleep； Miriamele had found her thoughts reeling。 Who could know the world had so many secrets in it？
She was no less overwhelmed this morning。 A well… traveled child； even for a king's daughter； she had seen many of the greatest monuments of Osten Ard； from the San