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the floor。
〃A Nakkiga shaft；〃 he rasped。 〃I should have known。 The Norns make strong weapons…but not strong enough。〃 The bleeding had stopped； and now a tiny wisp of smoke wafted from one of the holes in his neck。
Miriamele had nocked another arrow； and now tremblingly drew her bow and leveled the black point at his face。 〃May 。。。 may God send you to Hell； Pryrates！〃 She struggled to form the words without falling into panicked shrieking。 〃What have you done with my father？！〃
〃He is upstairs。〃 The priest laughed suddenly。 He stood now without wavering； and seemed almost gleefully drunk on his own display of power。 〃Your father is waiting。 The time we have both waited for is e。 I wonder who shall enjoy it more？〃 Pryrates lifted his lingers and curled them。 The air grew momentarily hotter around Miriamele's hand； then the arrow snapped。 The suddenly empty bow almost flew from her grasp。
〃It is not so pleasant tugging out arrows that I will stand and let you feather me all day； girl。〃 Pryrates turned to look back across the antechamber at Cadrach。 The broken doorway behind the monk； barred by the alchemist's ward； was full of shifting； crimson…streaked shadows。 The priest beckoned。 〃Padreic； e here。〃
Cadrach gave a low moan； then stood and took a lurching step。
〃Don't do it！〃 Miriamele called to him。
〃Do not be so cruel；〃 said Pryrates。 〃He wishes to attend his master。〃
〃Fight him； Cadrach！〃
The priest cocked his head。 〃Enough。 Soon I shall have to go and attend to my duties。〃 He lifted his hand again。 〃e here； Padreic。〃
The monk staggered forward； sweating and mumbling。 As Miriamele watched helplessly； he sank into a heap at Pryrates' feet； face pressed against the stone。 He edged forward； quivering； and laid his cheek against one of the priest's black boots。
〃That is better；〃 Pryrates crooned。 〃I am glad you are not so foolish as to challenge me…glad that you remember。 I feared you had forgotten me during your travels。 And where have you been； little Padreic？ You left me and went to keep pany with traitors； I see。〃
〃It is you who are being the traitor；〃 Binabik shouted at him。 He grimaced as Camaris shifted； trying at last to break the troll's grip on his legs。 〃To Morgenes； to my master Ookequk； to all who were taking you in and teaching you their secrets。〃
The priest looked up at him； amused。 〃Ookequk？ So you are the fat troll's errand boy？ This is splendid； indeed。 All of my old friends gathered here to share this day with me。〃
Camaris was clambering to his feet。 Binabik struggled to retain his hold； but the old man reached down and effortlessly dislodged him； then straightened； black Thorn dangling in his hand。 He took a few hesitant steps toward the stairs。
〃Soon； now；〃 said Pryrates。 'The call is very strong。〃 He turned his attention to Miriamele。 〃I fear the rest of our conversation will have to wait。 The ritual will soon reach a delicate moment。 It would be good for me to be there。〃
Miriamele was desperate to distract him； to keep him away from her uncle and father。 〃Why do you do this； Pryrates？ What can you gain？〃
〃Gain？ Why； everything。 Wisdom such as you cannot even imagine； child。 The entire cosmos laid naked before me； unable to hide even its smallest secret。〃 He extended his arms； and for a moment seemed almost to grow。 His robe billowed； and eddies of dust whirled away across the chamber。 〃I will know things at which even the immortals can only guess。〃
Camaris suddenly cried out as though he had been stabbed； then stumbled toward the wide staircase。 As he did； the great bell tolled again from somewhere above； making everything shiver and rock。 The room wavered before Miriamele's eyes； flames licked up the walls； then vanished as the echoes faded away。
Miriamele's head was reeling； but Pryrates seemed unaffected。 〃That means the moment is very near；〃 he said。 〃You hope to detain me while Josua confronts his brother。〃 The priest shook his hairless head。 〃Your uncle can no more halt what is to e than he could carry this castle away on his shoulders。 And neither can you。 I hope I can find you when everything is finished； little Miriamele…I am not quite sure what will remain； but it would be a shame to lose you。〃 His cold eyes flicked over her。 'There is so much we will do。 And we will have as long as we want…forever； if need be。〃
Miriamele felt her heart smothered in an icy fist。
〃But you've failed！〃 she shouted at him。 〃The other sword isn't here！ You've failed； Pryrates！〃
He smiled mockingly。 〃Have I？〃
She turned as something moved just at the edge of her vision。 Camaris' resistance had faded at last； and he was shambling up the first flight of stairs； within moments he had vanished around the spiraling stairwell。 She watched the old man go with dull resignation。 They had done everything they could； but it had not been enough。
Pryrates stepped past Binabik and Miriamele to follow the old knight； then stopped at the base of the steps and slapped at his neck。 He turned slowly to stare at the troll； who had just taken his blowpipe from his lips。 Pryrates plucked something from behind his ear and examined it。 〃Poison？〃 he asked。 〃You are a fitting apprentice for Ookequk。 He was always slow to learn。〃
He dropped the dart on the floor and ground it beneath his black boot； then mounted the stairs。
〃He is fearing nothing；〃 Binabik whispered； awed。 〃I do not 。。。〃 He shook his head。
Miriameie stared at the priest's red garment until it had disappeared into the shadows。 Her gaze moved down to the sad； broken bodies of Isorn and the other soldiers。 The flame of her anger； which had nearly been extinguished by fear； suddenly sprang up again。
〃My father is up there。〃
On the floor beside them； Cadrach lay weeping with his face buried in his sleeve。
Tiamak hurried up the stairs。
All our calculations； all our clever plans； our hopes； he mourned。 All for nothing。 The swords were a trick； they said。 We have been foolish； foolish。。 。。
He scrambled upward； ignoring the flare of pain each step brought as he fought to keep close to Josua； who was a slender gray shadow moving through the near…darkness above him。 Tiamak's mouth was dry。 Something waited at the top of these stairs。
Death； he thought。 Death； crouching like a ghant in the treetops。
From somewhere above the bell thundered again； a shuddersome impact that shook him as an angry parent shakes a child。 Flames flickered again before his eyes； and the very substance of things seemed to shred apart。 It seemed an agonizingly long time before he could see the steps before him once more； and could make his clumsy； nerveless legs do what he bade them。 The tower。。。 was it ing to life？ When everything else was about to die？ Why did she send me？ What can I do？ He Who Always Steps on Sand； I am so frightened！
Prince Josua pulled farther ahead； then disappeared from view； but the lame Wrannaman climbed on。 Quick glances through the tower windows showed him brawling chaos raging across the unfamiliar terrain below。 The Conqueror Star glared like an angry eye overhead。 Snow cluttered the reddened skies； but he could make out t