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〃 'So here it ends；' Miriamele said。 I must say that she did not sound particularly upset。 She was fey； Isgrimnur。 She had worked as hard as any of us to stay alive； but she seemed to do it only to help the rest of us。
〃 'It is not over 。 。。' Cadrach said。 The monk sank to his knees beside the edge of the pit and spread his hands flat over the nothingness。 The tower was quivering itself apart； and it seemed to me that the man was praying… although I admit I could think of nothing better to do at that point。 As he did； he twisted his face like a man lifting a heavy load。 At last he looked over his shoulder to Miriamele。 'Now cross；' he said。 His voice was strained。
〃 'Cross？' She stared at him。 There was anger on her face； strong anger。 'What final trick of yours is this？'
〃 'You once said 。。。 only trust me again 。。。 when stars shone at midday；' the monk said softly。 Every word was an effort。 I could barely hear him； and 1 could not understand what he intended or what he was talking about。 'You saw them；' he said。 'They were there。'
〃She looked at him for what seemed like a dreadfully long time as the tower trembled。 Then she gently set Simon's shoulders down and took a step toward the pit。 I reached out to pull her back； but Binabik stopped me。 He had a strange look on his face。 So did she； for that matter。 So did Cadrach。
〃Miriamele closed her eyes； then stepped out from the edge。 I was certain that she would fall down and be killed； and I may have shouted something； but she walked out onto the solid air as though the stone steps were still there。 Isgrimnur； there was nothing beneath her feet！〃
〃I believe you；〃 the duke grunted。 〃I have been told Cadrach was once a mighty man。〃
〃She opened her eyes and did not look down； but turned to Binabik and me and beckoned us to bring Simon。 For the first time； there was something lively in her face again； but it was not happiness。 We wrestled Simon down…he was groaning by then； awakening…and she reached up and took his feet； then began to back away over the nothingness。 I could not believe what she was doing…what I was about to do！ I slitted my eyes so I could see only Miriamele moving carefully downward； and followed her。 Binabik was beside me； holding Simon's other shoulder。 He looked between his feet； but then looked up again very quickly。 Even a mountain…troll has some limits； it seems。
〃It took us a long time。 There were still things like steps beneath us； we could not see them； and we had no idea how far to either side they extended； so we went very carefully。 The tower was making deep moaning noises now； as though its roots were being plucked from the ground。 If I live a thousand years； Isgrimnur； I will never forget walking across nothingness and trying to stay on my feet as everything pitched and tipped！ He Who Always Steps on Sand was truly with us。 Truly。
〃At last we reached a place where there was real stone。 As I stepped onto it and let out my breath； I looked back。 Cadrach was on the far side still。 His face was gray as ashes and his sides were heaving。 He looked like a drowning man before he sinks the last time。 What strength did it take him to do what he had done？ Nearly all； it seemed。
〃Miriamele turned and called to him to cross； but he only lifted his hand and sat back。 He could barely speak。 'Go on；' he said。 'You are not safe yet。 That was all I had。' He smiled…smiled； Isgrimnur！…and said： 'I am not the man I was。'
'The princess cursed him and cursed him； but more rock was tumbling free； and Binabik and I shouted that there was nothing to be done； that if Cadrach could not； he could not。 Miriamele looked down at Simon； then back at the monk。 At last she said something I could not hear； then reached down for Simon's feet。 As we hurried down the stairwell； I looked back and saw Cadrach sitting beside the broken edge； and the light from the gray sky shone on him through the broken wall。 His eyes were closed。 He might have been praying； or just waiting。
〃We went down another flight； and then Simon was fighting to be let free。 We set him down； since we could not carry him against his will…he is quite strong！…but neither could we wait to see if his wits were about him。 Binabik pulled at his wrist； talking to him all the while； and he stumbled along with us。
〃Dust was so thick from crumbling stone that I could barely breathe； and now there was fire； too； a blaze which had burned away one of the inner doors and was filling the stairwell with smoke。 Beyond the windows we could see other pieces of the tower's upper stories topple past。 Simon pointed to one of the windows and shouted we must go there。 We thought he was addled； but he grabbed Miriamele and dragged her toward it。
〃He was not addled； or at least in this he was not； for outside the window was a porch of stone…perhaps it has some drylander name…and beyond it the edge of a wall。 It was still a long drop to the ground； but the wall was not far away； only a little farther than I am tall。 But the tower was shaking itself to pieces； and we almost fell from the porch。 More pieces were dropping。 Simon suddenly bent down and grabbed at Binabik； said something to him…then flung him through the air！ I was astonished！ The troll landed on the edge of the wall； slipped a little on the snow； but held his balance。 Miriamele went next； jumping without help； Binabik kept her from sliding off when she landed。 Then Simon urged me； and I held my breath and jumped。 I would have fallen if the other two had not been waiting； because the stone porch had begun to tip downward as I went； and I almost did not leap far enough。
〃Now Simon stood； trying to find his balance； and Miriamele was screaming at him to hurry； hurry； and Binabik was shouting； too。 Simon leaped and landed； and as he did； most of the porch dropped away； crashing into the snow beneath。 We all three caught at him and pulled him to safety before he toppled off the wall。
〃A few moments later the entire tower collapsed in on itself with a noise like nothing I have ever heard； louder than any thunderstorm 。。。 but you heard it。 You know。 Pieces of stone bigger than this tent smashed past us； but none hit the wall。 Most of the tower fell inward； and a cloud of dust and snow and streaming smoke rose up as high as the tower had reached； then spread out across the castle grounds。〃 '：
Tiamak took a deep breath。 〃We stood for a long time staring。 It was as though I watched a god die。 I learned later what Miriamele and the others had seen in the towertop； and that must have been stranger still。 When we could think of moving again； Simon led us down through the throne room； past that astounding chair of bones； and out to meet you and the rest。 I thanked my Wran deities that the fighting was all but over…I could not have lifted a hand if a Norn had put a knife to my neck。〃 He sat for a while； shaking his head。 Isgrimnur cleared his throat。 〃So nothing could have survived； then。 Even if Josua or Camaris lived until the end； they would have been crushed。〃
〃We will never know from what remains in that rubble；〃 Tiamak said。 〃I cannot think we coul