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her hand and spun away out of reach。 She fought； but the clinging force gave only enough to allow her a few slow； twitching movements。 She could not move forward。 Binabik struggled beside her； but with no more success。 They were helpless。
〃Send her away；〃 Elias repeated； more angrily this time； his eyes looking at anything but her。
〃No； Majesty；〃 the priest urged； 〃let her stay。 Let her watch。 Of all the people in the world； it is your brother；〃 he gestured to something Miriamele could not see； 〃…who is unfortunately beyond appreciating it now…and your treacherous daughter who forced you onto this path。〃 He chortled。 〃But they did not know that the solution you found would make you even greater than before。〃
〃Is she in pain？〃 the king asked brusquely。 〃She is no longer my daughter…but I will not see you torture her。〃
〃No pain； Highness；〃 he said。 〃She and the troll will merely be 。。。 an audience。〃
〃Very well。〃 The king at last met her eyes； squinting as though she were a mile distant。 〃If you had…only listened；〃 he said coldly； 〃if you had only obeyed me 。。。〃
Pryrates put a hand on Elias' shoulder。 〃All was for the best。〃
Too late。 The emptiness and desperation Miriamele had been fighting broke free and spread through her like black blood。 Her father was lost to her； and she was dead to him。 All the risks； the suffering； had been for nothing。 Her misery grew until she thought it would stop her heart。
A fork of lightning split the sky beyond the window。 Thunder made the bells hum。
〃For 。。。 love。〃 She forced her jaws to work against the alchemist's prisoning spell。 Each faint word echoed in her own ears； as though she stood at the bottom of a deep well。 She told him； but it was too late； too late。 〃You 。 。。 I 。。。 did these things 。。。 for love。〃
〃Silence！〃 the king hissed。 His face was a rawboned mask of fury。 〃Love！ Does it remain after worms have gnawed the bones？ I do not know that word。〃
Elias slowly turned back to Camaris。 The old knight had not moved from his spot on the floor； but now； as though some power in the king's attention pelled him； he crawled a few steps closer。 Thorn scraping across the stone tiles before him。
The king's voice became curiously gentle。 〃I am not surprised to see that the black sword chose you； Camaris。 1 was told that you had returned to the living。 I knew that if those tales were true； Thorn would find you。 Now we will act together to protect your beloved John's kingdom。〃
Miriamele's eyes widened in horror as a figure that had been blocked from her sight by Camaris now became visible。 Josua lay crumpled just a little to one side of her father； arms and legs splayed。 The prince's face was turned away； but his shirt and cloak were sodden crimson around his neck； and blood had pooled beneath him。 Miriamele's eyes filled with blurring tears。
〃It is time； Majesty；〃 said Pryrates。
The king extended Sorrow like a gray tongue until it nearly touched the old knight。 Although Camaris was visibly struggling with himself； he began to lift Thorn to meet the shadowy blade in the king's hand。 Fighting against the same force that bound Miriamele。 Binabik gave a muffled shout of warning； but still Thorn rose in the old man's trembling hands。
〃God； forgive me；〃 Camaris cried wretchedly。 〃It is a sinful world 。。。 and I have failed You again。〃
The two swords met with a quiet click that cut through the room。 The noise of the storm diminished； and for amoment the only thing audible was Camaris' moan of anguish。
A point of blackness began to pulse where the tips of the two blades crossed； as though the world had been ripped open and some fundamental emptiness was beginning to leak through。 Even through the bonds of the alchemist's spell； Miriamele could feel the air in the high chamber suddenly grow hard and brittle。 The chill deepened。 Traceries of ice began to form in the arches of the windows and along the walls； spreading like wildfire。 Within moments the chamber was furred with a thin surface of ice crystals that shimmered in a thousand strange colors。 Icicles were growing on the great bells； translucent fangs that gleamed with the light of the red star。
Pryrates lifted his arms triumphantly。 Glinting flakes clung to his robe。 〃It has begun。〃
The somber cluster of bells at the ceiling did not move； but the bone…shaking sound of a greater bell rang out once more。 Powdery ice fluttered as the tower trembled like a slender tree caught in storm winds。
Simon tugged at the handle and cursed quietly。 This lower door was wedged shut…there would be no easy entry into the room beneath the missing floor…and now he heard footsteps ing up the stairwell again。
His joints still hurt fiercely； but he scrambled back up the stairs to the other door as quickly as he could； then stepped inside； taking care this time to stand at the very edge of the flooring； which had held his weight before。 He was forced to move far to the side of the door as it closed。 As the footfalls passed outside； he carefully made his way along the strip of wood to look through the doorslit； but by the time he could reach it he glimpsed only a small dark shape vanishing up the stairwell； lurching strangely。 He waited a score of heartbeats； listening； then crept outside and took a torch from the nearest bracket。
To his vast relief； Simon saw by the torch's light that there was indeed a bottom to the chamber below； and though parts of that lower floor had rotted through as well； it was mostly intact。 Bright…Nail lay gleaming in a pile of discarded furniture。 Seeing it lying there like a piece of splendid jewelry thrown onto a midden heap； Simon felt a violent pang。 He must get it back。 Bright…Nail must go to the tower。 Even from a distance； he could feel its yearning。
A faint thread of the blade's song coiled through his thoughts as he found what seemed the most stable spot on the floor below； gripped the butt of the torch between his teeth； then slid his legs over the edge of the strip inside the doorway。 He let himself down to the full extension of his arms； then dropped； his heart fluttering as he landed The wood creaked loudly and sagged a little；but held。 Simon took a step toward Bright…Nail； but his foot sank as though into muddy ground。 He hurriedly pulled it back to see that a section of the floor a little larger than his boot sole had crumpled and fallen in。
Simon got down onto his hands and knees。 He made his way across the treacherous surface with slow caution taking more than a few splinters as he probed before him。 The cry of the wind outside was muffled。 The torch burned hot beside his cheek； its quavering flame threw his shadow up on the wall； a hunched thing like a beast。
He stretched out his hand。 Nearer。。。 nearer。。。 there！ His fingers closed around Bnght…Nail's hilt； and instantly he could feel its song intensify； vibrating through him； making him feel wele。。。 and more。 Its need became his need。
Up； he thought suddenly。 The word seemed a glowing thing before his mind's eye。 It's lime to go up。
But that was easier said than acplished。 He sat back on his