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p and down。 This time there was no amusement。
〃What？ Stop； you say？ Stop what？〃
〃I don't think those people want to go with you。〃 Simon addressed the male captive； who was struggling weakly in the grip of one of the large Fire Dancers。 〃Do you？〃
The man's eyes flicked back and forth between Simon and his chief captor。 At last。 miserably； he shook his head。 Simon knew then that what the man feared must be truly terrible； that he would risk making this situation worse in the desperate…and unlikely…hope that Simon could save him from it。
〃You see？〃 Simon tried； with mixed results； to keep his voice firm and calm。 〃They do not wish to acpany you。 Set them free。〃 His heart was pounding。 His own words sounded curiously formal； even deliberately high…flown； as if this were a Tallistro story or some other chronicle of imaginary heroism。
The bald man looked around the room as if to judge how many might be prepared to join Simon in resistance。 No one else was moving； the entire room seemed to share a single held breath。 The Fire Dancer turned back to Simon； a grin curling his thick lips。 〃These folk betrayed their oath to the Master。 This is no concern of yours。〃
Simon felt an immense fury wash over him。 He had seen all the bullying he had the stomach for； from the countrywide misdeeds of the king to the precisely pointed cruelties of Pryrates。 He tightened his grip on the hilt。 〃I am making it my concern。 Take your hands from them and get out。〃
Wthout further argument； the leader spat out a word and the follower who held the woman let her go…she slumped against the table； knocking a bowl onto the floor…and leaped toward Simon； his blunt…headed staff swinging in a wide arc。 A few people shouted in fear or excitement。 Simon was frozen for an instant； his sword only halfway out of his scabbard。
Idiot！ Mooncalf！
He dropped to the floor and the staff whistled over his head； knocking several cloaks from the wall and being entangled in one of them。 Simon seized the moment and threw himself forward into the man's legs。 They both fell； tumbling； and Simon's sword came free of the scabbard and thumped into the floor rushes。 He had hurt his shoulder…his attacker was heavy and solidly…built…and as he disentangled himself and pulled free； the Fire Dancer managed to catch him with a cudgel blow to his leg which stung cold as a knife wound。 Simon rolled toward his lost sword and was hugely grateful when he felt it beneath his fingers。 His attacker was up and moving toward him； his cudgel darting out like a striking snake。
From the corner of his eye； Simon could see that the second big man was ing toward him as well。
First things first； was the inane thought that ran through his head； the same thing Rachel had always told him about doing his chores when he wanted to go climb or play a game。 He rose to a standing crouch； his sword held before him； and deflected a blow from his first attacker。 It was impossible to remember all the things he had been taught in the muddle of noise and movement and panic； but he was relieved to find that as long as he could keep his sword between himself and the Fire Dancer； he could keep the man at bay。 But what would he do when the second arrived？
He received an answer of sorts a moment later； when a blur of movement at the edge of his vision warned him to duck。 The second man's staff whickered past and clacked against the first man's。 Simon took a step backward without turning and then whirled and swung his blade around as hard as he could。 He caught the man behind him across the arm； drawing an angry shriek。 The Fire Dancer dropped his staff and stumbled back toward the doorway； clutching his forearm。 Simon returned his attention to the man in front of him； hoping that the second man was； if not defeated； at least out of the battle for a few desperately…needed moments。 The first attacker had learned the lesson of not getting too close； and was now using the length of his club to keep Simon on the defensive。
There was a crash from behind； Simon； startled； almost lost sight of the foe before him。 Seeing this； the man aimed another whirling blow at his head。 Simon managed to get his blade up in time to deflect it； then； as the Fire Dancer raised the staff once more； Simon brought his sword up； sweeping the cudgel even farther upward so that it struck the low timbers of the roof and caught in the netting below the thatch。 The Fire Dancer stared up for a moment in surprise； in that instant； Simon took a step forward； lodged the sword against the man's midsection and pushed it home。 He struggled to pull the blade free； conscious that at any moment the other attacker； or even the leader； might be upon him。
Something struck him from the side； flinging him against a table。 For a moment； he was staring into the alarmed face of one of the mon…room drinkers。 He whirled to see that the person who had shoved him； the bald man Maefwaru； was pushing his way between the tables； headed toward the door； he did not pause to look down at either of his minions； the one Simon had slain or the other； who lay in a curious position near the doorway。
〃It will not be so easy；〃 Maefwaru shouted as he vanished through the door and into the rainy night。
A moment later Miriamele stepped back into the room。 She looked down at the Fire Dancer laying there； the one Simon had wounded on the arm。 〃I've broken our jug on his head；〃 she said； excited and breathless。 〃But I think the one who just ran out is going to e back with more of his friends。 Curse my luck！ I couldn't find anything to hit him with。 We'll have to run。〃
〃The horses；〃 Simon panted。 〃Are they？〃 〃A few steps away；〃 replied Miriamele。 〃e。〃 Simon bent and snatched up the supper sack he had left on the floor。 The kerchief was wet； soaked by the ale that had splashed from the jug which lay in pieces around the limp Fire Dancer。 He looked around the room。 The man and woman that Maefwaru and his henchmen had threatened were cringing against the far wall； staring as bewilderedly as any of the inn's other customers；
〃You had better get out of here； too；〃 he called to them。 'That bald one will bring back more。 Go on…run！〃
Everyone was looking at him。 Simon wanted to say something clever or brave…heroes usually did…but he couldn't think of anything。 Also； there was real blood on his sword and his stomach seemed to have crawled up into his throat。 He followed Miriamele out the door； leaving behind two bodies and a room full of wide eyes and open； speechless mouths。
6
The Circle Narrows
The swirl of snow had lessened； but the wind still moved angrily across the hillside beneath Naglimund； fluting in the teeth of the broken wall。 Count Eolair nudged his horse toward Maegwin's mount； wishing he could shield her somehow； not just from the cold but also from the horror of the naked stone towers； the windows now flickering with light。
Yizashi Grayspear rode forward from the ranks of the Sithi； his lance couched beneath one arm。 He lifted the other and waved something that looked like a silver baton。 His hand flashed in a wide arc； making a