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re hard and wearIsorne； she still dreamed sometimes that she could put off her royalty as easily as a cloak and bee one of their number。 Hard work had never frightened her； but she was terrified of solitude。
〃No；〃 Simon said firmly。 〃You should never let me get this close to you。〃
He moved his foot slightly and twisted the hilt of his sword so that its cloth…wrapped blade pushed hers away。 Suddenly； he was pressing against her。 His smell； pounded of sweat and leather jerkin and the sodden fragments of a thousand leaves； was very strong。 He was so tall！ She forgot that sometimes。 The sudden impact of his presence made it hard for Miriamele to think clearly。
〃You've left yourself open now；〃 he said。 〃If I used my dagger； you wouldn't have a chance。 Remember； you'll almost always be fighting someone with more reach。〃
Instead of trying to bring her sword back where it would do some good； she let it drop； then put both hands against Simon's chest and pushed。 He fell back； stumbling； before he regained his balance。
〃Leave me alone。〃 Miriamele turned and walked a few steps away； then stooped to pick up a few branches for the fire so her shaking hands would have something to do。
〃What's wrong？〃 Simon asked； taken aback。 〃Did I hurt you？〃
〃No； you didn't hurt me。〃 She took her armful of wood and dumped it into the circle they had cleared on the forest floor。 〃I'm just done with that game for a while。〃
Simon shook his head； then sat to undo the rags wound about his sword。
They had made camp early today； the sun still high above the treetops。 Miriamele had decided that tomorrow they would follow the little streamlet that had long been their panion down to the River Road； the course of the stream had been bending in that direction for most of this day's journey。 The River Road wound beside the Ymstrecca； past Stanshire and on to Hasu Vale。 It would be best； she had reasoned； for them to take to the road at midnight and still have some walking time before dawn； rather than spend all of this night in the forest and then wait through daylight again so they could travel the road in darkness。
This had been her first opportunity to use her sword in several days； except for the inglorious purpose of clearing brush。 It had even been she who had suggested an hour of practice before they ate their evening meal…which was one of the reasons her abrupt change of heart obviously puzzled Simon。 Miriamele felt torn between a desire to tell him it wasn't his fault； and an obscure feeling that somehow it was his fault…his fault for being male； his fault for liking her； his fault for ing with her when she would have been happier being miserably alone。
〃Don't mind me； Simon；〃 she said at last； and felt weak for doing so。 〃I'm just tired。〃
Mollified； he finished his careful rewinding of the cloth； then dropped the ball of dusty fabric into his saddlebag before ing to join her beside the unlit fire。 〃I just wanted you to be careful。 I told you that you lean too far。〃
〃I know； Simon。 You did tell me。〃
〃You can't let someone bigger than you get that close。〃
Miriamele found herself wishing silently that he would stop talking about it。 〃I know； Simon。 I'm just tired。〃
He seemed to sense that he had annoyed her again。 〃But you're good； Miriamele。 You're strong。〃
She nodded； absorbed now with the flint。 A spark fell into the curls of tinder； but failed to produce a flame。 Miriamele wrinkled her nose and tried again。
〃Do you want me to try？〃
〃No； I don't want you to try。〃 She struck again without result。 Her arms were getting weary； Simon looked at the wood shavings； then up at Miriamele's face； then quickly back down again。 〃Remember Binabik's yellow powder？ He could start a fire in a rainstorm with that。 I saw him make one catch when we were on Sikkihoq； and there was snow； and the wind was blowing。。。。〃
〃Here。〃 Miriamele stood； letting the flint and the steel bar tumble to the dirt beside the tinder。 〃You do it。〃 She walked to her horse and began hunting through the saddlebags。
Simon seemed about to say something； but instead applied himself to the task of fire…lighting。 He had no better luck than Miriamele for a long time。 At last； when she had returned with a kerchief full of the things she had found； he finally caught a small spark and provoked it into flame。 As she stood over him she saw that his hair was getting quite long； hanging down onto his shoulders in reddish curls。
He looked up at her shyly。 His eyes were full of concern for her… 〃What's wrong？〃
She ignored his question。 〃Your hair wants cutting。 I'll do it after we eat。〃 She undid the kerchief。 〃These are our last two apples。 They're getting a little old； in any case…I don't know where Fengbald found them。〃 She had been told about the source of much of Josua's confiscated foodstuffs。 There was an obscure pleasure in eating what had once been destined for that strutting braggart。 〃There's still some dried mutton； too； but we're almost through with it。 We may have to try out the bow sometime soon。〃
Simon opened his mouth； then shut it。 He took a breath。 〃We'll wrap the apples in leaves and bury them in the coals。 Shem Horsegroom used to do that all the time。 Then it doesn't matter if they're a little old。〃
〃If you say so；〃 Miriamele replied。
Miriamele leaned back and licked her fingers。 They still smarted a little from the hot apple skin； but it had been worth it。 〃Shem Horsegroom；〃 she said； 〃is a man of astonishing wisdom。〃
Simon smiled。 His beard was sticky with juice。 〃It was good。 But now we don't have any more。〃
〃I couldn't eat any more tonight； anyway。 And tomorrow we'll be on the road to Stanshire。 I'm sure we can find something almost as good along the way。〃
Simon shrugged。 〃I wonder where old Shem is；〃 he asked after a few moments had passed。 The fire popped and spat as the leaves in which the apples had cooked began to blacken。 〃And Ruben。 And Rachel。 Do you think they're all still living at the Hayholt？〃
〃Why shouldn't they be？ The king still needs grooms and blacksmiths。 And there must always be a Mistress of Chambermaids；〃 She offered a faint smile。 Simon chortled。 〃That's true。 I can't imagine anyone getting Rachel to leave unless she wanted to。 You might as well try to drag a porcupine out of a hollow stump。 Even the king…your father； I mean…couldn't make her leave until she was ready。〃
〃Sit up。〃 Miriamele felt the sudden need to do something。 〃I said I was going to cut your hair。〃
Simon felt at the back of his head。 〃Do you think it needs it？〃
Miriamele's look was stern。 〃Even sheep get sheared once a season。〃
She got out her whetstone and sharpened her knife。 The noise of the blade on the stone was like a louder echo of the crickets that chirped beyond the light of the small fire。
Simon peered over his shoulder。 〃I feel like I'm about to be carved for the Aedonmansa feast。〃
〃You never know what may happen when the dried meat runs out。 Now look straight ahead and be quiet。〃 She stood behind him； but there