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〃Miriamele！〃 Binabik gasped。 〃Miriamele！〃 There was no answering cry。 The troll was choking now； fighting for breath。 He could not force his blade closer to Hengfisk's relentlessly smiling face or dislodge the hand around his tiroat。 The monk's knees rose and squeezed Binabik's ribs so that the little man could not wriggle free。
Binabik turned his head and bit Hengfisk's wrist。 For a moment the fingers at his neck clamped even more tightly； then skin and muscle parted beneath the troll's teeth； hot blood welled in his mouth and spilled down his chin。
Hengfisk did not cry out…his grin did not even slacken…but he abruptly twisted； using his legs to throw Binabik to one side。 The troll's knife slipped from his hand and skittered free； but he was too occupied trying not to skid off the edge of the step and down into darkness to do anything about it。 He came to a halt； palms flat on the stone； feet dangling beneath the baluster and past the brink； then pulled himself forward with hands and knees； desperate to recover his knife。 It was lying only inches from Hengfisk； who crouched against the wall； protuberant eyes glaring at the troll； hand drizzling red onto the stair。 But his grin had vanished。
〃Vad。。。 ？〃 Hengfisk's voice was a hollow croak。 He looked from side to side and up and down； as though he suddenly found himself somewhere unexpected。 The expression he turned at last on Binabik was full of confused horror。
〃Why are you attacking me？〃 Binabik rasped。 Blood was smeared on his chin and cheeks。 He could barely speak。 〃We were not having friendship 。。。 but 。。。〃 He broke off in a fit of coughing。
'Troll。。。 ？〃 Hengfisk's face； which moments before had been stretched in glee； had gone slack。 〃What。。。 ？ Ah； horrible； so horrible！〃
Astonished by the change； Binabik stared。
〃I cannot 。。。〃 The monk seemed overwhelmed with misery and bafflement。 His fingers twitched。 〃I cannot 。。。 oh； merciful God； troll； it is so cold。。。 ！〃
〃What has happened to you？〃 Binabik pulled himself a little nearer； keeping a watchful eye on the dagger； but though it lay only a short distance from Hengfisk's hand； the monk seemed oblivious。
〃I cannot tell。 I cannot speak it。〃 The monk began to weep。 'They have filled me。。。 with。。。 pushed me aside。。。 how could my God be so cruel？〃
'Tell me。 Is there some helping thing I can do？〃
The monk stared at him； and for a brief moment something like hope flickered in his bulging； red…rimmed eyes。 Then his back stiffened and his head jerked。 He screamed with pain。
〃Hengfisk！〃 Binabik threw his hands up as though to ward off whatever had stabbed at the monk。
Hengfisk jerked； arms extended straight out； limbs shaking。 〃Do not！。。〃 he shouted。 〃No！〃 For an instant he seemed to master himself； but his gaunt face； when he turned it back to Binabik； began to ripple and change as though serpents roiled beneath the flesh。 〃They are false； troll。〃 There was a terrible； deathly weight to his words。 〃False beyond believing。 But as cunning as Time itself。〃 He turned awkwardly and took a few staggering steps down the stairway； passing so close that Binabik could have reached out to touch him。 〃Go；〃 the monk breathed。
Unnerved even more than he had been by the attack； Binabik crawled forward and picked up his knife。 A sound behind him made him whirl。 Hengfisk； his lips skinned back in a grin once more； was lurching up the steps。 Binabik had time only to lift his arms before the monk fell upon him。 Hengfisk's stinking robe wrapped around them both like a shroud。 There was a brief struggle； then stillness。
Binabik crawled out from beneath the body of the monk。 After regaining his breath； he rolled Hengfisk over onto his back。 The hilt of his bone knife protruded from the monk's left eye。 Shuddering； the troll pulled the blade free and wiped it on the dark robe。 Hengfisk's last smile was frozen on his face。
Binabik picked up his fallen torch and stumbled back up the steps to the landing。 Miriamele had vanished； and the packs that had contained their food and water and other important articles were gone； too。 Binabik had nothing but his torch and his walking stick。
〃Princess！〃 he called。 The echoes caromed into the emptiness beyond the stairs。 〃Miriamele！〃
Except for the body of the monk； he was alone。
〃He must have gone mad。 Are you certain that is what he wants？〃
〃Yes； Prince Josua； I am certain。 I spoke to him myself。〃 Baron Seriddan lowered himself onto a stool； waving away his squire when the young man tried to take his cloak。 〃You know； if this is not a trick； we could hardly wish for a better offer。 Many men will die before we take the city walls； otherwise。 But it is strange。〃
〃It is not at all what I expected of Benigaris；〃 Josua admitted。 〃He demanded that it be Camaris？ Is he so tired
of life？〃
Baron Seriddan shrugged； then reached out to take the cup his squire brought him。
Isgrimnur； who had been watching silently； grunted。 He understood why the baron and Josua were puzzled。 Certainly Benigaris was losing…in the last month； the coalition assembled by Josua and the Nabbanai barons had pushed the duke's forces back until all that remained in Benigaris' control was the city itself。 But Nabban was the greatest city in Osten Ard； and its seaport made a true siege difficult。 Some of Josua's allies had provided their own house navies； but these were not enough to blockade the city and starve it into submission。 So why should the reigning Duke of Nabban offer such an odd bargain？ Still； Josua was taking the news as though it were he who would have to fight Camaris。
Isgrimnur shifted his aching body into a more fortable position。 〃It sounds mad； Josua…but what have we to lose？ It is Benigaris who is trusting our good faith； not the other way around。〃
〃But it's madness！〃 Josua said unhappily。 〃And all he wants if he wins is safe passage for himself and his family and servants？ Those are surrender terms…so why should he wish to fight for them？ It makes no sense。 It must be a trick。〃 The prince seemed to be hoping someone would agree with him。 〃This sort of thing has not been done in a hundred years！〃
Isgrimnur smiled。 〃Except by you； just a few short months ago in the grasslands。 Everyone knows that story； Josua。 They'll be telling it around the campfires for a long time。〃
The prince did not return his smile。 〃But I used a trick to force Fikolmij into that！ And he never dreamed that his champion might lose。 Even if Benigaris does not believe that this is truly his uncle； he must have heard what sort of warrior he is！ None of it makes sense！〃 He turned to the old knight； who had been sitting in the corner； still as a statue。 〃What do you think； Sir Camaris？〃
Camaris spread his broad hands palms upward before him。 〃It must end。 If this is how the ending will e； then I will play my part。 And Baron Seriddan speaks truly： we would be fools to throw away this chance out of suspicion。 We may save many lives。 For that alone； I would do whatever is needed。〃
Josua nodded。 〃I suppose so。 I still do not understand the why of it； but