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Thank you； merciful Usires。 Thank you。
It was 。。。 wonderful。 The fruit was far from ripe； the juice tan； even sour； but it felt like he held the living green earth in his hand again； that the life of the sun and wind and rain was crisping between his teeth and tongue； running down his throat。 For a moment he forgot all else； savoring the glory of it。
He lifted the cover from the bowl； sniffed to make sure it was water； then drank it down in thirsty gulps。 When the bowl was empty； he grabbed the plate of food and darted back down the corridor； searching for a place to hide and eat in safety。
Simon fought with himself to make the apple last； even though each bite seemed like a year of his life given back to him。 When he had finished it； and had licked every bit of juice from his fingers； he stared longingly at the bread and onion。 With masterful self…control； he tucked them both into the pockets of his breeches。 Even if he found his way back to the surface； even if he was near some place where people were； there was no guarantee he would be fed。 If he came up within Erchester or one of the small villages along the Kynslagh； he might find a place to hide and even some allies； if he came up in the Hayholt； all hands might be turned against him。 And if he was wrong about what the plate signified…well； he would be grateful to have the rest of the meal when the thrilling effect of an entire apple wore off。
He picked up the torch…it was even dimmer now； the flames a transparent azure…and stepped back out into the corridor； then paced forward until he reached the branching place。 A chill passed through him。 Which way had he turned？ He had been in such a hurry to put distance between himself and anyone who might return for the food that he had acted without his normal care。 Had he turned left； as he should have？ Somehow that did not seem correct。
Still； he could do nothing but trust to the way he had done it so far。 He took the rightward branching。 Within moments； he became convinced that he had chosen wrongly： this way led down。 He retraced his steps and took another of the corridors； but this one also sloped away downward。 A few moments' examination proved that all the branches went down。 He walked back toward where he had eaten the apple and found the stem he had dropped； but when he held the guttering torch close to the ground he saw that the only footprints on the dusty floor led back the way he had e。
Curse this place！ Curse this mad maze of a place！
Simon trudged back to the branching。 Something had happened； it was clear…the tunnels had shifted again in some strange way。 Resigned； he chose the downward path that seemed least steep and started on his way again。
The corridor twisted and turned； leading him back into the depths。 Soon the walls again showed signs of Sithi work； hints of twining carvings beneath the centuries of grime。 The passageway widened； then widened again。 He stepped out into a vast open area and knew it only from the far…ranging echoes of his bootheels： his torch was little more now than a smoldering glow。
This cavernous place seemed as high…ceilinged as that which had held the great pool。 As Simon moved forward and his eyes adjusted to the greater dimensions； his heart lifted。 It was like the chamber of the pool in another way as well： a great staircase ran upward into the darkness； following the curve of the walls。 Something else gleamed faintly in the middle of the chamber。 He moved closer； and the dying light of his torch revealed a great circle of stone that might have been the base of a fountain； at its center； set in black earth but stretching up to many times Simon's height； was a tree。 Or at least it seemed to be a tree…there was a suggestion of humped and knotted roots at the bottom and amazingly tangled branches above…but no matter how close he held the torch； he could see no detail of it； as though it were draped in clinging shadow。
As he leaned nearer； the shadow…tree rattled in an unfelt wind； a sound like a thousand dry hands rubbing against each other。 Simon leaped back。 He had been about to touch it； certain it was carved stone。 Instead he turned and hurried past it to the base of the winding stairway。
As he circled around the perimeter of the chamber； picking his way up the steps by fading torchlight； he was still intensely aware of the tree standing at the room's center。 He could hear the breathing sound of its leaves as they moved； but he could feel its existence even more strongly； it was as palpable in the darkness as someone lying beside him in a bed。 It was not like anything he had felt before…less starkly powerful than the pool； perhaps； but somehow more subtle； an intelligence vast； old； and unhurried。 The pool's magic was like a roaring bonfire…something that could burn or illuminate； but would do neither unless someone was present to use its power。 Simon could not imagine anyone or anything using the tree。 It stood and dreamed and waited for no one。 It was not good or evil； it simply was。
Long after he had left the base of the stairway behind him； he could feel its living presence。
The light from his torch grew less and less。 At last； after he had climbed some hundreds of steps； it finally died。 Having anticipated its passing for so long did not make the moment any less dreadful： Simon slumped down and sat in plete darkness； too tired even to weep。 He ate a mouthful of bread and some onion； then squeezed some of the last of the water from his drying shirt。 When he had finished； he took a deep breath and began to crawl up the stairs on his hands and knees； feeling before him in the blackness。
It was hard to tell whether the voices that followed him were phantoms of the underground realm or the chattering of his own drifting thoughts。
Climb up。 All will be ready soon。
On your knees again； mooncalf？
Step after stone step passed beneath his hands。 His fingers were numb； his knees and shins aching dully。
The Conqueror is ing！ Soon all will be ready。
But one is missing！
It does not matter。 The trees are burning。 All is dead； gone。 It does not matter。
Simon's mind wandered as he clambered up the winding track。 It was not hard to imagine that he had been swallowed whole； that he was in the belly of some great beast。 Perhaps it was the dragon…the dragon that was spoken of in the inscription on his ring。 He stopped and felt his finger； reassured by the feel of the metal。 What had Binabik said the inscription meant？ Dragon and Death？
Killed by a dragon； maybe。 I've been swallowed by one； and I'm dead。 I'll climb around and around inside it forever； here in the dark。 I wonder if anyone else has been swallowed？ It's so lonely。。。。
The dragon is dead； the voices told him。 No； the dragon is death； others assured him。
He stopped and ate a little more of his food。 His mourn was dry； but he did not take more than a few drops of water before resuming his four…legged climb。
Simon stopped to catch his breath and rest his aching leg for perhaps the dozenth time since entering the stairwell。 As he crouched