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Binabik looked at her solicitously。 〃Mountain…clambering is what we Qanuc learn before we can talk。 You have been doing well to stay with me。〃
Miramele did not bother with a reply。 A few moments later Cadrach staggered up and toppled against the wall； then slid down onto the step an arm's length from her。 His pale face was moist； his eyes remote。 She watched him fight for breath； and after a moment's hesitation offered him the water skin。 He took it without looking up。
〃Rest； both of you；〃 said Binabik 〃Then after will be time for the last climbing。 We are near； very near。〃
〃Near to what？〃 Miriamele took the water skin from Cadrach's unresponsive fingers and had another drink； then passed it back to the troll。 〃Binabik； I have been trying to find the breath to ask you…what is happening？ Something the dwarrows said； something you thought of。。。〃 She held his eye； although she could see he wished to look away。 〃What is it？〃
The troll fell silent； but he cocked his head as though listening。 There was nothing to be heard in the stairwell except the rough noise of their breathing。 He sat down beside her。
〃It was indeed something the dwarrows were saying… although that alone would not have been making my thoughts leap so。〃 Binabik stared at his feet。 〃There are other thoughts I have； too。 Something I have been long pondering…the 'false messenger' of Simon's dream。〃
〃In Geloe's house；〃 Miriamele whispered； remembering。
〃And he was not the only one。 A message we were receiving in the White Waste； sparrow…carried…which now it is my thinking was sent by Dinivan of Nabban； since Isgrimnur later heard him speak it as well…also held a warning against false messengers。〃
Miramele felt a pang at the memory of Dinivan。 He had been so kind； so clever…yet he had been broken like a kindling…stick by Pryrates。 Isgrimnur's tale of the horrors he had seen in the Sancellan Aedonitis still colored her nightmares。
A sudden thought came to her： she had fought Cadrach when he tried to take her out of the Sancellan； resisted him and called him a liar until he was forced to strike her senseless and carry her out…but he had； in fact； told her the truth。 Why hadn't he simply run and saved himself； leaving her to make her own way？
She turned to look at him。 The monk had still not caught his breath； he lay curled against the wall； his face blank as a wax doll's。
〃So long have I wondered who could be such a messenger；〃 Binabik continued。 〃Many are the messengers who have e to Josua； and also to Simon and Dinivan； the two who somehow had these warnings。 Which messenger was meant？〃
〃And now you think you know？〃
Binabik started to answer； then took a breath。 〃Let me tell you what I am thinking。 Perhaps you will be finding some flaw…you too； Cadrach。 I have hope only that I am wrong。〃 He knitted the fingers of his small hands together and frowned。 〃The dwarrow…folk say the Great Swords were all having their forging with the help of Words of Making…words that the dwarrows say are used for pushing back the rules of the world。〃
〃I didn't understand that。〃
〃I will try for explaining；〃 Binabik said unhappily。 〃But truly we are having little time to talk。〃
〃When I've caught my breath； you can talk while we're climbing。〃
The troll nodded。 〃Then here is my explaining about the world's rules。 One is that things want to fall downward。〃 He put the stopper on the water skin and then dropped it； illustrating his point。 〃If some other kind of falling is wanted…to make this fall upward； that might be…that is one thing that the Art is being used for。 To make something that is going against the world's rules。〃
Miriamele nodded。 Beside her； Cadrach had raised his head as though listening； but he still stared out at the opposite wall。
〃But if some rule must be broken for a long time； then the Art used must have great powerfulness； just as lifting a heavy thing once and then dropping it is easier than the holding of it in the air for hours。 For such tasks； the dwarrows and others who were practicing the Art used 。。。〃
〃。。。 The Words of Making；〃 Miriamele finished for him。 〃And they used them when the Great Swords were forged。〃
Binabik bobbed his head。 〃They did that because all the Great Swords were forged of things that had no place in Osten Ard； things which were resisting the Arts used for creating a magical weapon。 This needed overing； but not just for a moment。 Forever was the time that these resisting forces must be subdued； so the most powerful Words of Making were being used。〃 He spoke slowly now。 〃So those blades； it is my thinking； are like the pulled…back arm of the giant sling…stones your people use to attack walled cities…balanced so that one touch sends a vast rock flying like a tiny； tiny bird。 Such great power is being restrained in each one of those swords…who knows what the power of three brought together may be doing？〃
〃But that's good；〃 said Miriamele； confused。 〃Isn't that what we need…the strength to overe the Storm King？〃 She looked at Binabik's sorrowful face and her heart grew heavy。 〃Is there some reason we can't use it？〃
Cadrach shifted against the wall； turning his gaze at last on the troll。 A gleam of interest had kindled in his eyes。 〃But who will use it？〃 the monk asked。 〃That is the question； is it not？〃
Binabik nodded unhappily。 〃That is indeed what I am fearing。〃 He turned to the princess。 〃Miriamele； why is Thorn being brought here？ Why are Josua and others searching for Bright…Nail？〃
〃To use against the Storm King；〃 Miriamele replied。 She still did not see where the troll's questions were leading； but Cadrach evidently did。 A grim half…smile； as of reluctant admiration； curled the monk's lips。 She wondered who the admiration was for。
〃But why？〃 asked the troll。 〃What was telling us to use them against our enemy？ This is not something for tricking you； Miriamele…it is what I myself have been worrying until my head feels full of sharp stones。〃
〃Because 。。。〃 For a moment； she could not remember。 〃Because of the rhyme。 The rhyme that told how to drive the Storm King away。〃
〃 When frost doth grow on Claves' bell 。。。〃 Binabik recited； his voice ringing strangely in the stairwell。 His face twisted in what looked like pain。
〃And Shadows walk upon the road
When water blackens in the Well
Three Swords must e again
〃When Bukken from the Earth do creep
And Hunen from the heights descend
When Nightmare throttles peaceful Sleep
Three Swords must e again
〃To turn the stride of treading Fate
To clear the fogging Mists of Time
If Early shall resist Too Late
Three Swords must e again 。。。〃
〃I've heard it a hundred times！〃 she snapped。 Anger only thinly covered her fear at the little man's strange expression。 〃What are you saying？〃
Binabik lifted his hands。 〃Listen； listen to what it is telling； Miriamele。 All the first parts are true things … diggers； giants； the great bell in Nabban…but at the end it only speaks of turning Fate； of clearing Time 。。。 and of Early fighting against Late。〃
〃So？〃
〃What； then； is to say that it speaks to us！？〃 hissed Binabik。