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ect for what the Hernystirman had once been warring with distrust of anyone who could betray one of the troll's friends。 He shrugged。 〃Chukku's Stones！ Enough of talking。 Let us be seeing to important things now。〃 He rose and padded across the cavern toward the dwarrows。
〃Why did you run away； Cadrach？ I told you I was sorry about Tiamak's parchment 。。。 about all that。〃
The monk finally turned his eyes to hers。 His gaze was curiously flat。 〃Ah； but you were right； Miriamele。 I am a thief and a liar and a drunkard； and that is the truth of many years。 That I did a few honest deeds does not change that。〃
〃Why do you always say such things？〃 she demanded。
〃Why are you so determined to see the worst in yourself？〃
The look on his face became something almost accusatory。 〃And why are you determined to see the best in me； Miriamele？ You imagine that you know all about the world； but you are only a young girl； after all is said and done。 There are limits to your imagination； to your understanding of how black a place the world truly is。〃
Stung； Miriamele turned away and busied herself looking in the saddlebag。 He had only been back a few moments； and already she wanted to strangle him…yet she was searching diligently for something to feed him。
I suppose I might as well keep him healthy until I decide to kill him。
Cadrach was leaning against the cavern wall； head thrown back and eyes closed； overe with exhaustion。 She took the opportunity to look him over。 He had grown even thinner since he had abandoned her on the grasslands； his face sagged； the skin deprived of its padding of flesh。 Even in the pink light of the dwarrows' stones； the monk looked gray。
Binabik returned。 〃Our safeness may not last long。 Yis…fidri is telling me the door…wards will never be as strong now that they have once been forced。 Not all the Norns are being masters like your monkish friend； but some of them might be。 And even if none of them can open it； it is likely that Pryrates will not be prevented。〃
〃Masters？ What do you mean？〃
〃Lore…masters。 Learned in the Art…what folk who are not Scrollbearers sometimes are calling magic。〃
〃Cadrach said he couldn't do magic any more。〃
Binabik shook his head in bemusement。 〃Miriamele； once Padreic of Crannhyr was perhaps the most adept user of the Art in all of Osten Ard…although that was in part being so because other Scrollbearers； even the greatest； Morgenes； chose not to risk its deepest currents。 It is seeming that Cadrach has not lost his skills； either…how else did he force the dwarrows' door？〃
〃It all happened so fast。 I suppose I hadn't thought about it。〃 She felt a brief upsurge of hope。 Perhaps fate had brought the monk here for a reason。
〃I did what I had to；〃 Cadrach said abruptly。 Miriamele； who had thought he was asleep； jumped。 〃The White Foxes would have caught me in a few more moments。 But I am not what I was； troll。 Working the Art takes discipline and hard work。。。 and peace。 I have been a stranger to those things for many years。〃 He let his head fall back against the cavern wall。 〃Now the well is dry。 I have no more to give。 Nothing。〃
Miriamele was determined to have answers。 〃You still have not explained why you followed me； Cadrach。〃
The monk opened his eyes。 〃Because there is nothing else。 The world holds nothing else for me。〃 He hesitated； then looked at Binabik angrily； as though the little man was eavesdropping on something he had no right to hear。 The words came slowly。 〃Because 。。。 because you were kind to me； Miriamele。 I had forgotten what it feels like。 I could not go with you to face the questions； the looks； the disgust of all those others…Duke Isgrimnur and the rest…but neither could I let go of that small touch of life 。。。 life as it once was。 I could not let go。〃 He reached up with both hands and rubbed at the skin of his face； then laughed wretchedly。 〃I suppose I am not so much a dead man as I thought。〃
〃Was it you who followed Simon and me in the forest？〃
〃Yes； and through Stanshire and Falshire as well。 It was only when this one joined you；〃 he indicated Binabik； 〃that I had to fall farther behind。 That wolf has a keen nose。〃
〃You were not much help when the Fire Dancers caught us。〃
Cadrach only shuddered。
〃So you followed us all the way here？〃
〃I lost your track after Hasu Vale。 It was pure luck I found you again。 If you had not e to Saint Sutrin's； where I had found a sheltering roof courtesy of that madman Domitis； I think we would never have met again。〃 He laughed again； harshly。 〃Think on that； my lady。 Your luck went bad when you entered God's house。〃
〃Enough of this。〃 Miriamele was losing patience with Cadrach's self…loathing。 〃You are here。 What do we do now？〃
Before the monk could offer any suggestion； Yis…fidri came shambling up。 The dwarrow looked mournfully at Cadrach； then turned to Miriamele and Binabik。 〃This man is right in one thing。 Someone else is now outside this cavern。 The Hikeda'ya have e。〃
There was a silence as the words sank in。
〃Are you certain？〃 Miriamele held little hope they were wrong； but the thought of being hemmed in the cavern with the corpse…faced Norns outside was dreadful。 The White Foxes had been fearsome enough as characters in her uncle's tales of the fall of Naglimund； but on the hillside above Hasu Vale she had seen them for herself。 She never wished to see them again…but she doubted she would be so lucky。 Her panic； which had abated with the surprise of Cadrach's entrance； now returned。 She was suddenly short of breath。 〃You're certain it's the Norns； not just some of my father's soldiers？〃
〃This man we did not expect；〃 said Yis…fidri； 〃but we know what things move through our tunnels。 The door does for now hold them out； but soon that may change。〃
〃If these are your tunnels； you must know a way we can escape！〃
The dwarrow said nothing。
〃Perhaps we will after all be using those stones we gathered；〃 Binabik said。 〃We should give thought to trying an escape before more of our enemies arrive。〃 He turned to Yis…fidri。 〃Can you tell how many are being outside？〃
The dwarrow fluted what sounded like a question to his wife。 After listening to her reply； he turned。 〃The number of one hand's fingers； perhaps。 But that will not be true for long。〃
〃That few？〃 Miriamele sat up。 〃We should fight！ If your folk wilt help us； surely we can defeat so few of them and escape！〃
Yis…fidri shrank back； plainly uneasy。 〃I have told you。 We are not strong。 We do not fight。〃
〃Listen to what the Tinukeda'ya say。〃 Cadrach's voice was cold。 〃Not that it will make much difference soon； but I for one prefer to await the end here rather than be spitted on one of the White Foxes' spears。〃
〃But the end is certain if we wait。 At least if we try to escape； there is a chance。〃
〃There is no chance either way；〃 the monk replied。 〃At least here； we can make our peace and die by our own choice when it suits us。〃
〃I cannot believe what a coward you are！〃 cried Miriamele。 〃You heard Yis…fidri！ A half…dozen Norns at the most！ That is not the end of the world。 We have a chance！〃
Cadrach turned to