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ere created； how the binding of forces was acplished； it might teach us something about how we can use them against the Storm King。〃
〃I wish I had thought to question Count Eolair more carefully when he was here；〃 said Josua； frowning。 〃He had met the dwarrows。〃
〃Yes； and they told him of their part in the history of Bright…Nail；〃 Father Strangyeard added。 〃It is also possible； however； that it is not the making of them that is important for our purpose； but just the fact that they exist。 Still； if we have some chance in the future to send word to the dwarrows； and if they will speak with us； I for one would have many questions。〃
Josua looked at the archivist speculatively。 〃This chore suits you； Strangyeard。 I always thought you were wasted dusting books and searching out the most obscure points of canon law。〃
The priest reddened。 〃Thank you。 Prince Josua。 Whatever I can do is because of your kindness。〃
The prince waved his hand； dismissing the pliment。 〃Still； as much as you and Binabik and the rest have acplished； there is still far more to do。 We remain afloat in deep waters； praying for a sight of land。。。〃 He paused。 〃What is that noise？〃
Isgrimnur had noticed it； too； a rising murmur that had slowly grown louder than the wind。 〃It sounds like an argument；〃 he said； then waited for a moment； listening。 〃No； it is more than that…there are too many voices。〃 He stood。 〃Dror's Hammer； I hope that someone has not started a rebellion。〃 He reached for Kvalnir and was calmed by its reassuring heft。 〃I had hoped for a quiet day tomorrow before we are to ride again。〃
Josua clambered to his feet。 〃Let us not sit here and wonder；〃
As Isgrimnur stepped out of the door flap； his eyes were abruptly drawn across the vast camp。 It was plain in an instant what was happening。
〃Fire！〃 he called to the others as they spilled out after him。 〃At least one tent burning badly； but it looks like a few more have caught； too。〃 People were now rushing about between the tents； shadowy figures that shouted and gesticulated。 Men dragged on their sword belts； cursing in confusion。 Mothers dragged screaming children out of their blankets and carried them into the open air。 All the pathways were full of terrified； milling campfolk。 Isgrimnur saw one old woman fall to her knees； crying； although she was only a few paces from where he stood； a long distance from the nearest flames。
〃Aedon save us！〃 said Josua。 〃Binabik； Strangyeard； call for buckets and waterskins； then take some of these mad…wandering folk and head for the river…we need water！ Better yet； pull down some of the oiled tents and see how much water you can carry in them！〃 He sprang away toward the conflagration； Isgrimnur hastened after him。
The flames were leaping high now； filling the night sky with a hellish orange light。 As he and Josua approached the fire； a flurry of dancing sparks sailed out； hissing as they caught in Isgrimnur's beard。 He beat them out； cursing。
Tiamak awakened and promptly threw up； then struggled to catch his breath。 His head was hammering like a Perdruinese church bell。
There were flames all around him； beating hot against his skin； sucking away the air。 In a blind panic； he dragged himself across the crisping grass of the tent floor toward what looked like a patch of cool darkness； only to find his face pushed up against some black； slippery fabric。 He struggled with it for a moment； dimly noting its strange resistance； then it flopped aside； exposing a white face buried in the black hood。 The eyes were turned up； and blood slicked the lips。 Tiamak tried to scream； but his mouth was full of burning smoke and his own bile。 He rolled away； choking。
Suddenly； something grabbed at his arm and he was yanked forward violently； dragged across the pale…skinned corpse and through a wall of flame。 For a moment he thought he was dead。 Something was thrown over him； and he was rolled and pummeled with the same swift violence that had carried him away； then whatever covered him was lifted and he found himself lying on wet grass。 Flames licked at the sky close beside him； but he was safe。 Safe！
〃The Wrannaman is alive；〃 someone said near him。 He thought he recognized the Sitha…woman's lilting tones； although her voice was now almost sharp with fear and worry。 〃Camaris dragged him out。 How the knight managed to stay awake after he had been poisoned I will never know； but he killed two of the Hikeda'ya。〃 There was an unintelligible response。
After he had lain in place for a few long moments； just breathing the clean air into his painful lungs； Tiamak rolled over。 Aditu stood a few paces away； her white hair blackened and her golden face streaked with grime。 Be neath her on the ground lay the forest woman Geloe； partially wrapped in a cloak； but obviously naked beneath it； her muscular legs shiny with dew or sweat。 As Tiamak watched； she struggled to sit up。
〃No； you must not；〃 Aditu said to her； then took a step backward。 〃By the Grove； Geloe； you are wounded。〃
With a trembling effort； Geloe lifted her head。 〃No；〃 she said。 Tiamak could barely hear her voice； a throaty whisper。 〃I am dying。〃
Aditu leaned forward； reaching out to her。 〃Let me help you。。。。〃
〃No！〃 Geloe's voice grew stronger。 〃No； Aditu； it is。。。 too late。 I have been stabbed 。。。 a dozen times。〃 She coughed and a thin trickle of something dark ran down her chin； glinting in the light of the burning tents。 Tiamak stared。 He saw what he took to be Camaris' feet and legs behind her； the rest of the knight's long form stretched out in the grass hidden by her shadow。 〃I must go。〃 Geloe tried to clamber to her feet but could not do so。
〃There might be something 。。。〃 Aditu began。
Geloe laughed weakly； then coughed again and spat out a gobbet of blood。 'Do you think I。。。 do not。。。 know？〃 she said。 〃I have been a healer for 。。。 a long time。〃 She held out a shaking hand。 〃Help me。 Help me up。〃
Aditu's face； which for a moment had seemed as stricken as any mortal's； grew solemn。 She took Geloe's hand； then leaned forward and clasped her other arm as well。 The wise woman slowly rose to her feet； she swayed； but Aditu supported her；
〃I must 。。。 go。 I do not wish to die here。〃 Geloe pushed away from Aditu and took a few staggering steps。 The cloak fell away； exposing her nakedness to the leaping firelight。 Her skin was slick with sweat and great
smears of blood。 〃I will go back to my forest。 Let me go while I still can。〃
Aditu hesitated a moment longer； then stepped back and lowered her head。 〃As you wish； Valada Geloe。 Farewell； Ruyan's Own。 Farewell。。。 my friend。 Sinya'a du…n'sha e…d'treyesa inro。〃
Trembling； Geloe raised her arms； then took another step。 The heat from the flames seemed to grow more intense； for Tiamak； where he lay； saw Geloe begin to shimmer。 Her outline grew insubstantial； then a cloud of shadow or smoke seemed to appear where she stood。 For a moment； the very night seemed to surge inward toward the spot； as though a stitch had been taken in the fabric of the Wrannaman's vision。 Then the night was whole again。