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Josua nodded。 〃I suppose so。 I still do not understand the why of it； but I suppose I must agree。 The people of Nabban do not deserve to suffer because their lord is a patricide。 And if we acplish this； we have a greater task before us…one for which we will need our army whole and strong。〃
Of course； Josua's down…mouthed； Isgrimnur realized。 He knows that we have horrors before us that may overshadow the slaughter in the Onestrine Pass so gravely that we think back on that battle as a day of sport。 Only Josua； of all of us in this room； survived the siege of Naglimund。 He's fought the White Foxes。 Of course he's grim。
Out loud； he said： 〃Then it's settled。 I just hope somebody will help me find a stool for my fat old backside so I can watch it happen。〃
Josua looked at him a little sourly。 〃It is not a tourney； Isgrimnur。 But you will be there…we all will。 That seems to be what Benigaris wants。〃
Rituals； Tiamak thought。 My people's must seem as odd to the drylanders as these to me。
He stood on the windy hillside； watching as Nabban's great city gates swung wide。 A small procession of horsemen emerged； the leader dressed in plate armor that gleamed even beneath the cloudy afternoon skies。 One of the other riders carried the huge blue and gold banner of the Kingfisher House。 But no horns blew。
Tiamak watched Benigaris and his party ride toward the place where the Wrannaman stood with Josua's pany。 As they waited； the wind grew stronger。 Tiamak felt it through his robe and shivered。
It is bitterly cold。 Too cold for this time of year； even near the ocean。
The riders stopped a few paces short of the prince and his followers。 Josua's soldiers lounged in scattered ranks about the bottom of the hillside； caught up in the moment and watching attentively。 Faces also peered from the windows and rooftops of outer Nabban and from the city walls。 A war had been abruptly halted so that this moment could take place。 Now all the participants stood waiting； like toys set up and then forgotten。 Josua stepped forward。 〃You have e； Benigaris。〃 The leading rider pushed up the visor of his helm。 〃I have； Josua。 In my way； I am an honorable man。 Just like you。〃
〃And you intend to abide by the terms you gave baron Seriddan？ Single bat？ And all you ask if you win is safe conduct for your family and retainers？〃
Benigaris flexed his shoulders impatiently。 〃You have my word。 I have yours。 Let us get on with this。 Where is。。。 the great man？〃
Josua looked at him with some distrust。 〃He is here。〃
As the prince spoke； the circle of people behind him parted and Camaris stepped forward。 The old knight wore chain mail。 His surcoat was without insignia； and he held the antique sea…dragon helmet under his arm。 Tiamak thought that Camaris looked even more unhappy than usual。
As he stared at the old man's face； Benigaris' sour smile curled the ends of his mustaches。 〃Ah。 I was right。 I told her。〃 He nodded toward the knight。 〃Greetings； Uncle。〃
Camaris said nothing。
Josua lifted his hand。 He seemed to be finding the scene increasingly distasteful。 〃So； then。 Let us get on with it。〃 He turned to the Duke of Nabban。 〃Varellan is here； and he has not been mistreated。 I promise that whatever happens； we will treat your sister and mother with kindness and honor。 〃
Benigaris stared at him for a long moment； his eyes cold as a lizard's。 〃My mother is dead。〃 He snapped his visor down； then turned his horse and rode a short way back up the hillside。
Josua wearily beckoned Camaris。 'Try not to kill him。〃
〃You know I can promise nothing；〃 the old knight said。 〃But I will grant him quarter if he asks。〃
The wind grew sterner。 Tiamak wished he had taken up drylander clothing more pletely： breeches and boots would be a decided improvement over the bare legs and sandals that his robe barely protected from the cold。 He shivered as he watched the two riders turn toward each other。
He Who Bends the Trees must have woken up angry； he thought； echoing something his father had often said。 The idea sent a deeper chill through him than had the wind。 But I do not think that it is the weatherlord of the Wran who sends this cold。 We have another enemy； one who has lain quiet for a long time…and there is no question that he can mand wind and storms。
Tiamak stared up at the hillside where Camaris and Benigaris faced each other across a distance that a man could walk in a few short moments。 They were only separated by a short span； and were bound close by ties of blood； but it was clear that an impassable gulf stretched between them。
And meanwhile the Storm King's wind blows； Tiamak thought。 As these two； uncle and nephew； dance some mad drylander ritual 。。。 just like Josua and Elias。。。。
The two riders abruptly spurred toward each other； but they were nothing but a blur to Tiamak。 A sickening notion had crept over him； black and frightening as any storm cloud。
We have been thinking all along that King Elias was the tool of Ineluki's vengeance。 And the two brothers have gone brawling from Naglimund to Sesuad'ra； biting and scratching at each other so that Prince Josua and the rest of us have had no chance to do anything but survive。 But what if Elias is as benighted about what the Storm King plans as we are？ What if his purpose in some vast plan is only to keep us occupied while that dark； undead thing pursues some pletely different end？
Despite the cold air on the hill； Tiamak felt beads of sweat cooling on his forehead。 If this was true； what could Ineluki be planning？ Aditu swore that he could never e back from the void into which his death spell had cast him…but perhaps there was some other revenge he schemed for that was far more terrible than simply ruling humankind through Elias and the Norns。 But what could it be？
Tiamak looked around for Strangyeard； anxious to share this worry with his fellow Scrollbearer； but the priest was hidden by the milling crowd。 The people around the Wrannaman were shouting excitedly at something。 It took the distracted Tiamak a moment to realize that one of the mounted men had unhorsed the other。 A brief stab of fear was allayed when he saw that it was gleaming…armored Benigaris who had fallen。
A murmur ran through the crowd when Camaris dismounted。 Two boys ran forward to lead the horses away。
Tiamak put aside his suspicions for the moment and squeezed between Hotvig and Sludig； who were standing just behind the prince。 The Rimmersman looked down in annoyance； but when he saw Tiamak he grinned。 〃Knocked him rump over plume！ The old man is giving Benigaris a stern lesson！〃
Tiamak winced。 He could never understand his panions' pleasure at such things。 This 〃lesson〃 might end in death for one of the two men who were now circling each other； shields up and longswords at the ready。 Black Thorn looked like a stripe of emptiest night。
At first it seemed the bat would not last long。 Benigaris was an able fighter； shorter than Camaris but stocky and broad…shouldered； he swung the heavy blade as easily as a smaller man might have brandished Josua's Naid