you raper of children…and of young sheep when you cannot get a child！ You； who love your scars more than you ever could a woman I would rather be dead than your bride！〃
Grim…faced Utvart said nothing； but Fikolmij snorted in dour amusement 〃By the Four…Footed； 1 had almost forgotten that jagged knife you have for a tongue； daughter。 Maybe Josua here is happy to feel the blows of fists for a change； eh？ As for what you prefer； kill yourself the moment the marriage ride is over if you wish。 I only want my bride…price and the honor of the Stallion Clan made good。〃
〃There are better ways to do that than slaughtering helpless prisoners；〃 a new voice said。
All heads turned…even Josua's； though he moved carefully。 Geloe stood m the doorway； arms spread to the lintel； cloak rippling in the wind
〃They have escaped from the bull run！〃 Fikolmij shouted wrathfully。 〃Don't move； woman！ Hotvig； saddle and bring the rest back。 Someone will howl for this！〃
Geloe stepped into the wagon； which was rapidly being crowded。 With a muffled curse； Hotvig pushed past her and out into the darkness。 The witch woman calmly pulled the door closed behind him。 〃He will find them still penned；〃 she said。 〃Only I can e and go as I please。〃
Utvart lifted his broad blade and held it near her neck。 Geloe's hooded yellow eyes touched his and the tall Thrithings…man stepped back a pace； brandishing the sword as though he were menaced。
Fikolmij looked her up and down with puzzlement and guarded anger。 〃What is your business； old woman？〃
Released from Hotvig's grip； Vorzheva had dropped to her knees and crawled past her father to dab at Josua's face with her tattered cloak。 The prince gently caught her hand； holding it away as Geloe spoke。
〃I said； I e and go as I please For now； I choose to be here。〃
〃You are in my wagon； old woman。〃 The March…thane wiped sweat from his forehead with a hairy arm。
〃You thought to hold Geloe your prisoner； Fikolmij。 That was foolish。 Still； I have e to give you advice； in hopes that you have more sense than you have shown so far this day。〃
He seemed to fight an urge to strike out once more。 Seeing his struggle； his strained look； Geloe nodded her head and smiled grimly。
〃You have heard of me。〃
〃I have heard of a devil…woman with your name； one who lurks in the forest and steals the souls of men；〃 Fikolmij grunted。 Utvart stood close behind him； mouth set in a tight line； but the tall man's eyes were wide； and shifted as though he made certain of where the doors and windows were。
〃You have heard many false rumors； I am sure；〃 Geloe said； 〃but there is some truth behind them； however twisted it may have bee。 That truth is in the tales that say I make a bad enemy； Fikolmij。〃 She blinked slowly； as an owl blinks when it catches sight of something small and helpless。 〃A bad enemy。〃
The March…thane pulled his beard。 〃I do not fear you； woman； but I do not trifle with demons needlessly。 You are no use to me。 Go away； then； and I will not trouble you； but do not meddle in what does not concern you。〃
〃Fool of a horse…lord！〃 Geloe flung up her arm； cloak trailing like a black wing。 The door burst open behind her。 The wind that swept in extinguished the lamps and plunged the wagon into near…darkness； leaving only the fire glowing scarlet in its trough like a door into Hell。 Somebody cursed fearfully； barely audible above the moaning inrush。 〃I told you；〃Geloe cried； 〃I go where I please！〃 The door swung shut again； although the witch woman had not moved。 The wind was gone。 She leaned forward so that her yellow eyes reflected restless flames。 〃What happens to these people does concern me…and concerns you as well； although you are too ignorant to know it。 Our enemy is your enemy； and he is greater than you can understand； Fikolmij。 When he es； he will sweep across your fields like a grassfire。〃
〃Hah！〃 The March…thane smirked； but the nervous edge was not gone from his voice。 〃Do not preach to me。 I know all about your enemy； King Elias。 He is no more a man than Josua here。 The Thrithings…men do not fear him。〃
Before Geloe could respond there was a rap at the door； which swung open to reveal Hotvig； bearing his spear and a puzzled expression。 He was only a young man； despite his heavy beard； and he regarded the witch woman with undisguised dismay as he spoke to his chieftain。
〃The prisoners are still in the bull run。 None of the men outside saw this one leave。 The gate is locked； and there are no holes in the fence。〃
Fikolmij grunted and waved his hand。 〃I know。〃 The March…thane's gaze shifted to Geloe for a brooding moment； then he smiled slowly。 〃e here；〃 he ordered Hotvig； then whispered into the rider's ear。
〃It will be done；〃 Hotvig said； darting a nervous glance at Geloe before going out again。
〃So；〃 Fikolmij said； and smiled broadly； showing most of his crooked teeth。 〃You think I should set this dog free to run away。〃 He shoved Josua with his foot； earning a swift glare of hatred from his daughter。 〃What if I do not？〃 he asked cheerfully。
Geloe narrowed her eyes。 〃As I told you； March…thane； I make a bad enemy。〃
Fikomij chortled。 〃And what shall you do to me； when I have told my men to kill the remaining prisoners unless I e to them myself before the next watch of the night to say otherwise？〃 He patted his hands on his belly in contentment。 〃I do not doubt you have charms and spells that can harm me； but now our blades are at each other's throats； are they not？〃 In the corner of the wagon Utvart growled； as if excited by the image invoked。
〃Oh； horse…lord； may the world be preserved from such as you；〃 Geloe said disgustedly。 〃I hoped to convince you to help us； which would be for your good as much as ours。〃 She shook her head。 〃Now； as you say； our knives are out。 Who knows if they may be put away without causing many deaths？〃
〃I do not fear your threats；〃 Fikolmy growled。
Geloe stared at him for a moment； then looked at Josua； who was still seated on the floor watching all that transpired with odd placidity。 Lastly； she turned her gaze on Utvart。 The tall man scowled fiercely； not at all fortable under her scrutiny。 〃I think there is still one favor I can do for you； March…thane Fikolmij。〃
〃I need no。。。〃。
〃Quiet！〃 Geloe shouted。 The March…thane fell silent； balling his fists； his reddened eyes bulging。 〃You are about to break your own laws；〃 she said。 〃The laws of the High Thrithings。 I will help you avoid that。〃
〃What madness are you speaking； devil…woman？！〃 he raged。 〃I am the lord of the clans！〃
〃The clan councils honor no man as March…thane who breaks their old laws；〃 she replied。 〃I know this。 I know many things。〃
With a sweep of his arm； Fikolmij sent a bowl flying from atop his stool to clatter against the wagon's far wall。 〃What law？ Tell me what law or I will throttle you even though you burn me to ashes！〃
〃The laws of bride…price and betrothal。〃 Geloe pointed at Josua。 〃You would kill this man； but he is her betrothed。 If another…〃 she indicated brooding Utvart； 〃…wishes to have her； he must fight for her。 Is that not true； Thane？〃
Fikolmij smiled； a great rancid grin that spread across his face like a stain。 〃You have outsmarted yourself； meddler。 They are not betrothed。 Josua admitted that from his own lips。 I would break no law to kill him。 Utvart stands ready to pay the bride…price。〃
Geloe looked at him intently。 〃They are not married and Josua has not asked her。 This is true。 But have you forgotten your own customs； Fikolmij of the Stallion…Clan？ There are other forms of betrothal。〃
He spat。 〃None but fathering。。。〃he broke off； forehead wrinkling m a sudden thought。 〃A child？〃
Geloe said nothing。
Vorzheva did not look up。 Her face was hidden by her dark hair； but her hand； which had stroked the prince's bloodied cheek； froze like a snake…startled rabbit。
〃It is true；〃 she said finally。
Josua's face was a plicated puzzle of emotions； made even harder to read by the elaborate tracing of bruises and weals。 〃You。。。 ？ How long have you known。。。 ？ You said nothing 。。。〃
〃I have known since just before Naglimund fell；〃 Vorzheva sa