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ck when old Fallen had been an apprentice。 The transgressors were found living on a distant archipelago； far to the north。 One of the hoon boat…wanderers…whose job it was to patrol at sea the same way human hunters roamed the forests and urrish plainsmen ranged the steppes…came upon a thronging cluster of her kind； dwelling amid ice floes； surviving by seeking the caves of hibernating rouol shamblers and spearing the rotund beasts as they slept。 Each summer； the renegade tribe would e ashore and set fires across the tundra plains； panicking herds of shaggy； long…toed gallaiters； sending the frightened ungulates tumbling over cliffs by the hundreds； so that a few might be butchered。
Ghahen； the boat…wanderer； had been drawn by the smoke of one mass killing and soon began dealing with the crime in the manner of her folk。 Patient beyond human fathoming； gentle in a way that gave Dwer nightmares to hear of it； she had taken an entire year to winnow the band； one by one； painlessly confiscating from each member its precious life bone； until all that remained was a solitary male elder； whom she seized and brought home to testify； ferrying the dejected captive in a boat piled high with the fifth vertebra of all his kin。 After reciting his tale…a crooning lament lasting fourteen days…that final seagoing sooner was executed by the hoon themselves； expiating their shame。 All the impounded vertebrae were ground to dust and scattered in a desert； far from any standing water。
The forbidding memory of that story filled Dwer's heart with leaden worry。
Spare me； please； from being asked to do as Ghahen did。 I couldn't。 Not if all the sages ordered it。 Not if Lark said the fate of all Jijo hung in the balance。 There's got to be a better way。
Just where the rocky shelf seemed about to narrow down to nothing； letting the divided tracts of boo converge and obliterate the trail； a clearing abruptly opened ahead。 A bowl…shaped depression； nearly a thousand meters across； with an algae…crusted lake in its center and a narrow outlet at the far end。 A fringe of great…boo lined the crater's outer rim； and spindly tufts of the tenacious plant sprouted from crevices between jagged boulders that lay tumbled across the silent mountain vale。 The lake's watery shore was outlined by a dense hedge； appearing at a distance like rank moss； from which radiated countless twisted tendrils； many of them broken stumps。 Even where Dwer stood； ropy fibers could be seen half…buried in the dust； some as thick as his leg。
The peaceful quiet was belied by an eerie sense of lifelessness。 The dust lay undisturbed by footprints； only the scrape of wind and rain。 From prior visits； Dwer knew why prudent creatures avoided this place。 Still； after the strangling confinement of that tunnel…trail； it felt good to see sky again。 Dwer had never much shared the prevailing dread of crossing open ground； even if it meant walking for a short time under the glaring sun。
As they picked their way past the first boulders； the glaver began to mew nervously； creeping alongside Rety to keep in her shadow。 The girl's eyes roved avidly。 She seemed not to notice drifting off the trail； at an angle that would skirt the fringe of the lake。
Dwer took several long strides to catch up。 〃Not that way；〃 he said； shaking his head。
〃Why not？ We're headin' over there； right？〃 She pointed to the only other gap in the outer wall of boo； where a narrow； scummy stream leaked through the valley's outlet。 〃Quickest way is past the lake。 Looks easier； too； except right by the shore。〃
Dwer gestured toward a relic webbery of dun strands； draping the nearby jagged boulders。 〃Those are…〃 he began。
〃I know what they are。〃 She made a face。 〃Buyur didn't only live on the Slope； y'know； even if you westies do think it's simply the best place to be。 We got mule…spiders over the hill； too； eatin' up old Buyur ruins。
〃Anyway； what're you so scared of？ You don't think this one's still alive； do you？〃 She kicked one of the desiccated vines； which crumbled to dust。
Dwer controlled himself。 It's that chip on her shoulder talking。 Her people must have been awful to her。 Taking a breath； he replied evenly。
〃I don't think it's alive。 I know it is。 What's more…this spider's crazy。〃
Rety's first reaction was to raise both eyebrows in surprised fascination。 She leaned toward him and asked in a hushed voice…〃Really？〃
Then she tittered； and Dwer saw she was being sarcastic。 〃What's it do？ Put out sticky lures full o' berry…sugar an' sweet gar； to snatch little girls who're bad？〃
Taken aback； Dwer finally grunted。 〃I guess you could say something like that。〃
Now Rety's eyes widened for real； brimming with curiosity。 〃Now this I gotta see！〃
She gave the rope at her waist a sudden yank。 The formidable…looking knot fell apart； and she took off； dashing past several craggy stones。 The gaily squeaking noor pursued with excited bounds。
〃Wait！〃 Dwer yelled futilely； knowing it useless to chase her through the boulder maze。 Scrambling up a nearby talus slope of rocky debris； he managed to glimpse her ragged ponytail； bobbing as she ran toward where the rocky slabs converged in a tumbled labyrinth rimming the lake shore。
〃Rety！〃 he screamed into the wind。 〃Don't touch the…〃
He stopped wasting breath。 The same breeze that pushed the lake's musty pungency against his face stole his words before they could reach her ears。 Dwer slid back down to the trail； only to realize…damn！ Even the glaver was gone！
He finally found it half an arrowflight uphill； shambling back the way they had e； following whatever instinct sometimes drove its kind to wander doggedly east； away from fort and protection and toward near…certain death。 Growling under his breath； Dwer seized the mare's tether and sought something； anything； to tie her to； but the nearest stand of gangly boo lay too far away。 Dropping his pack； he whipped out a length of cord。 〃Sorry about this；〃 he apologized； using his hip to lever the glaver over。 Ignoring her rumbling plaint； he proceeded to hobble her rear legs； where he hoped she couldn't reach the rope with her teeth。
〃Pain； frustration…both quite tedious are。〃
〃Sorry。 I'll be back soon；〃 he answered optimistically； and took off after the sooner child。
Stay uphill and downwind； Dwer thought； angling to the right of her last heading。 This might just be a trick to let her circle around and head for home。
A little later； he noticed he had reflexively unlimbered his bow； cranking the string tension for short range； and had loosed the clamp securing the stubby arrows in his thigh quiver。
What good will arrows do； if she makes the spider angry？
Or worse； if she catches its interest？
Toward the valley's rim； many stones retained a semblance to their ancient role； segments of whatever Buyur structure once stood proudly on this site； but as Dwer hurried inward； all likeness to masonry vanished。 Ropy strands festooned the boulders。 Most appeared quite dead…gray； desiccated； and flaking。 However； soon his eye caught a greenish streak here。。。 and over there a tendril oozing slime across a stony surface； helping natu