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old her。 It didn't seem fair。 There had only been a few days in the past week when she had actually been able to see sunlight out of the window upstairs； and now even that was to be snatched away。
Rachel found her needlework hard going。 Her mind kept flittering away； something that normally would not have affected her stitchery at all； but which tonight was causing her to stop for long moments between every few movements of the needle。
What would things have been like if Pryrates hadn 't e？ she wondered。
Elias might not have been a wonderful king like his sainted father； but he was strong and shrewd and capable。 Perhaps he would have outgrown his churlishness and his bad panions； the castle would have remained in her control； the long tables snowy with their spotless cloths； the flagstones swept and mopped to a high gleam。 The chambermaids would be working industriously…under Rachel's stern gaze； everyone worked industriously。 Well； almost everyone 。。。
Yes； Simon。 If the red priest hadn't e to blight their lives； Simon would still be here。 Perhaps he would have found some work to suit him by now。 He would be bigger…oh； they grew so quickly at that age…maybe even with a man's beard； although it was hard to imagine anything manly about young Simon。 He would e by sometimes to visit her at the end of the day； maybe even share a cup of cider and a little talk。 She would keep a careful eye that he wasn't getting too big for his breeches； that he wasn't making a fool of himself over the wrong sort of girls…it wouldn't do to let that boy get too far out of hand。。。。
Something wet fell onto her hand。 Rachel started。
Crying？ Crying； you old fool？ After that mooncalf bay？ She shook herself angrily。 Well； he's in better hands than yours now； and tears won't bring him back。
Still； it would have been nice to see him grown； a man； but still grinning that same impudent grin。。。。
Rachel put down her needlework in disgust。 If she was not going to get any sewing done； it was a waste of time to pretend。 She would find something else to do； instead of just sitting in her chair moping and dreaming like some ancient crone beside the fireplace。 She wasn't dead yet。 There was still work for her to do。
Someone did need her。 Pacing slowly back and forth in the tiny chamber； ignoring the dull throb of her joints； Rachel decided that she would indeed go and look for Earl Guthwulf。 She would be careful； and she would keep as safe as she could； but it was her Aedonite duty to find out whether the poor man was hurt somewhere； or sick。
Rachel the Dragon began making plans。
A great curtain of rain swept across the lich…yard； bending the knee…high grass and splattering on the old tumbled stones。
〃Did you find anything？〃 Miriamele called。
〃Nothing that is pleasant。〃 She could barely hear the troll for the hissing of the rain。 She bent closer to the crypt door。 〃I am finding no tunnel；〃 he elaborated。
〃Then e out。 I'm soaking wet。〃 She pulled her cloak tight and looked up。
Beyond the lich…yard； the Hayholt loomed； its spires dark and secretive against the muddy gray sky。 She saw light glimmering in the red windows of Hjeldin's Tower and crouched lower in the grass； like a rabbit covered by the shadow of a hawk。 The castle seemed to be waiting； quiet and almost lifeless。 There were no soldiers on the battlements； no pennants fluttering atop the roofs。 Only Green Angel Tower with its sweep of pure white stone seemed somehow alive。 She thought of the days she had hidden there； spying on Simon as he daydreamed through idle afternoons in the bell chamber。 As constricting and smothering as the Hayholt had seemed to her then； it had been a paratively cheerful place。 The castle that stood before her now waited like some ancient hard…shelled creature； like an old spider brooding at the center of its web。
Can I actually go there？ she wondered。 Maybe Binabik is right。 Maybe I am being stubborn and headstrong to think I can do anything at all。
But the troll might be wrong。 Could she afford to gamble？ And more importantly； could she walk away from her father； knowing that the two of them might never again meet on this earth？
〃You were speaking the truth。〃 Binabik slipped out through the crypt door； shielding his eyes with his hand。 〃The rain is falling down very strongly。〃
〃Let's go back to where we left the horses；〃 Miriamele said。 〃We can shelter there。 So you found nothing？〃
〃Another place with no tunnels。〃 The troll wiped mud from his hands onto his skin breeches。 〃But there were quite a few dead people； none of them good to be spending time with。〃
Miriamele made a face； 〃But I'm sure that Simon came up here。 It has to be one of these。〃
Binabik shrugged and set out toward the clutch of wind…rattled elms along the lich…yard's south wall。 As he walked； he pulled up his hood。 〃Either you are remembering it with some slight wrongness； or the tunnel is hidden in a way I cannot discover。 But I have scrabbled in all the walls； and been lifting all the stones 。。。〃
〃I'm certain it's not you；〃 she said。 A flare of lightning lit the sky； the thunder followed a few moments later。 Suddenly an image of Simon struggling in the dark earth appeared before her mind's eyes。 He was gone； lost forever； despite all the brave things she and the troll had said。 She gasped and stumbled。 Tears coursed down her rain…wet cheeks。 She stopped； sobbing so hard she could not see。
Binabik's small hand closed about hers。 〃I am here with you。〃 His own voice trembled。
They stood together in the rain for a long time。 At last Miriamele grew calmer。 〃I'm sorry； Binabik。 I don't know what to do。 We have spent the whole day searching and it hasn't done us any good。〃 She swallowed and wiped water from her face。 She could not speak of Simon。 〃Perhaps we should give up。 You were right： I could never walk up to that gate。〃
〃Let us make ourselves dry； first。〃 The little man tugged her forward； hurrying them toward shelter。 〃Then we will talk over what are the things we should do。〃
〃We have looked； Miriamele；〃 said Binabik。 The horses made anxious noises as the thunder caromed across the sky once more。 Qantaqa stared up at the clouds as though the great sound were something she would like to chase and catch。 〃But if you wish it； I will wait and look again when the rain is gone…perhaps the searching would be safer by night。〃
Miriamele shuddered at the thought of exploring the graves after dark。 Besides； the diggers had proved that there was far more to fear in these crypts than just the restless spirits of the dead。 〃I don't want you to do that。〃
He shrugged。 〃Then what is your wishing？〃
She looked at the map。 The wandering lines of ink were nearly invisible in the dark； storm…curtained afternoon。 'There are other lines that must be other tunnels going in。 Here's one。〃
Binabik screwed up his eyes as he studied the map。 〃That one is seeming to me to e out in the rock wall over the Kynslagh。 Very difficult it would be to find； I think； and it would be even more beneath the nose