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A blind man living in the caverns。 Pryrates smiled。 He had a reasonably good idea who that might be。 〃And the other？ One of the foundrymen being punished； I take it？〃
〃That it was； master。 But Inch called him something else。〃
〃Something else？ What？〃
The man paused； his face a mask of terror。 〃Can't remember；〃 he whispered。
Pryrates leaned down until his hairless face was only a handbreadth from the man's nose。 〃I can make you remember。〃
The forge man froze like a serpent…tranced frog。 A small whimper escaped his throat。 〃I be trying； master；〃 he squeaked； then： 〃 'Kitchen Boy'！ Doctor Inch called him 'Kitchen Boy'！〃
Pryrates straightened up。 The man slumped； his chest heaving。
〃A kitchen boy；〃 the priest mused。 〃Could it be？〃 Suddenly he laughed； a rasping scrape of sound。 〃Perfect。 Of course it would be。〃 He turned to the soldiers。 〃There is nothing else for us to do here。 And the king has need of us。〃
Inch's henchman stared at the alchemist's back。 His lips moved as he worked up the nerve to speak。 〃Master？〃
Pryrates turned slowly。 〃What？〃
〃Now 。。。 now that Doctor Inch be dead 。 。。 well； who do you wish to 。。。 to take charge here？ Here in king's forge？〃
The priest looked sourly at the grizzled； ash…blackened man。 〃Sort that out yourselves。〃 He gestured at the waiting soldiers； marking out half of the score of men。 〃You lot will stay here。 Do not bother protecting Inch's cronies…I should not have left him in charge of this place so long。 I want you only to make sure that wheel stays in the water。 Too many important things are driven by it to risk a second occurrence of a folly like this。 Remember： if that wheel stops turning again； I will make you very； very sorry。〃
The designated guards took up positions along the edge of the watercourse； the rest of the soldiers filed out of the forge。 Pryrates' stopped in the doorway to look back。 Under the impassive gaze of the guardsmen。 Inch's chief henchman was quickly being surrounded by a tightening ring of grim forge workers。 Pryrates laughed quietly and let the door crunch shut。
Josua sat up； startled。 The wind was howling fiercely； and the shape in the tent's door loomed giant…size。
〃Who is there？〃
Isgrimnur； who had been nodding during the long silence； snorted in surprise and fumbled for Kvalnir's hilt。
〃I cannot stand it any longer。〃 Sir Camaris swayed in the doorway like a tree in a strong wind。 〃God save me； God save me 。。。 I hear it even in my waking hours now。 In the darkness it is all there is。〃
〃What are you talking about？〃 Josua rose and went to the tent flap。 〃You are not well； Camaris。 e； sit down here beside the fire。 This is no weather to be out wandering。〃
Camaris shook off his hand。 〃I must go。 It is time。 I can hear the song so clearly。 It is time。〃
〃Time for what？ Go where？ Isgrimnur； e help me。〃
The duke struggled to his feet； wheezing at the pain of stiff muscles and still…tender ribs。 He took Camaris by the arm and found the muscles tight as wet knots。
He is terrified！ By the Ransomer； what has done this to him？
〃e； sit。〃 Josua urged him toward a stool。 〃Tell us what ails you。〃
The old knight abruptly pulled away and took a few staggering steps backward out into the snow。 Thorn's long scabbard bumped against his leg。 〃They are catling； each to each。 They need。 The blade will go where it will go。 It is time。〃
Josua followed him out onto the hillside。 Isgrimnur； puzzled and worried； limped after； pulling his cloak tight against the wind。 The Kynslagh lay below； a dark expanse beyond the blanketing white。 〃I cannot understand you； Camaris；〃 the prince called over the wind。 〃What is it the time for？〃
〃Look！〃 The old man threw up an arm； pointing into the murk of storm clouds。 〃Do you not see？〃
Isgrimnur； like Josua； looked upward to the sky。 A dull spot of ember…red burned there。 〃The Conqueror Star？〃 he asked。
〃They feel it。 It is time。〃 Camaris took another retreating step； wobbling as though he might at any moment tumble backward down the hill。 〃God grant me strength； I can resist it no longer。〃
Josua caught the duke's eye； silently asking his help。 Isgrimnur walked forward and he and the prince again grasped Camaris' arms。 〃e in from the cold；〃 Josua begged。
Sir Camaris yanked himself free…his strength never ceased to astonish Isgrimnur…and for a moment his hand strayed to Thorn's silver…wrapped hilt。
〃Camaris！〃 Isgrimnur was shocked。 〃You would draw blade against us！？ Your friends！？〃
The old man stared at him for a moment； his eyes curiously unfocused。 Then； slowly； the duke saw his tension ease。 〃God help me； it is the sword。 It sings to me。 It knows where it wants to go。 Inside。〃 He gestured limply toward the dark bulk of the Hayholt。
〃And we will take you there…and the sword； too。〃
Josua was calm。 〃But there is the simple matter of breaching the walls that we must deal with first。〃
〃There are other ways；〃 said Camaris； but his wild energy had faded。 He allowed himself to be led into Josua's tent。
Camaris downed the cup that Josua had filled for him in a single gulp； then drained a second serving。 This worried Isgrimnur almost as much as the strange things the old knight had said： Camaris was reknowned as a moderate man。 Still； by his haunted look； the old knight now seemed to wele anything that might bring him relief from the agony Thorn caused him。
Camaris would say nothing more； although Josua pressed him for information in what Isgrimnur thought was an exceedingly solicitious yet awkward manner。 Ever since the night on the ship； Isgrimnur had seen Josua's attitude to the old knight change； as though even the old man's presence made him dreadfully unfortable。 Isgrimnur wondered； not for the first time； what terrible thing Camaris had told him。
After a while； the prince gave up and returned to the discussion interrupted by the knight's appearance。
〃We know now that there are indeed forces still within the castle walls； Isgrimnur…considerable forces of men； mercenaries as well as the Erkynguard。〃 Josua frowned。 〃My brother shows more patience than I would have suspected。 Not even a sally while we were landing。〃
〃Patience 。。。 or perhaps Elias has some worse fate planned for us。〃 The duke tugged at his beard。 〃For that matter； Josua； we do not even know that your brother is still alive。 Erchester is all but deserted； and the few people we have managed to find there wouldn't know if Fingil himself had e back from the grave and was sitting on the Dragonbone Chair。〃
〃Perhaps。〃 The prince sounded doubtful。 〃But I cannot rid myself of the feeling that I would know if Elias were dead。 In any case； even if Pryrates rules him； or has even taken the throne himself； we are still faced with the Storm King and the Scroll League's angry star。〃
Isgrimnur nodded。 〃Someone is in there； right enough。 Someone knows our plans。 And they took your father's sword。〃
Josua's mood darkened。 〃That was a blow。 Still； when I saw that Swertclif was unguarded； I had little hope left we would find it there。〃