the horizon and twilight had sapped the brightest colors from the land。 The threatening stormclouds now obscured much of the northern sky。
As the rest made a circle of scones and built a healthy blaze…firewood was now m broad supply…Deornoth and Isorn took the horses down to the river。
〃At least we are no longer on foot；〃 Isorn said； uncinching the buckle on a set of saddlebags； which slid to the grass with a soft thump。 〃That is something worth thanking Aedon's goodness for。〃
〃True。〃 Deornoth patted Vildalix。 The drops of perspiration on the horse's neck had already chilled m the evening breeze。 Deornoth rubbed him dry with a saddle blanket before moving on to Josua's horse； Vinyafod。 〃We have precious little else to be thankful for。〃
〃We are alive；〃 Isorn said reprovingly； his wide face serious。 〃My wife and children are alive and safe with Tonnrud in Skoggey； and I am here to protect my mother。〃 He pointedly avoided mentioning his father Isgrimnur； from whom there had been no word since the duke had left Naglimund。
Deornoth said nothing； understanding the worry Isorn must feel。 He knew well the love his Rimmersman friend felt for the duke。 In a way； he envied Isorn； and wished his feelings for his own father could be so admirable。 Deornoth was unable to fulfill God's mand for sons to honor their sires。 Despite his knightly ideals； he had never been able to feel anything but the most grudging respect and no love whatsoever for the pinch…souled old tyrant who had made Deornoth's boyhood a misery。
〃Isorn；〃 he said at last； considering； 〃someday； when things are as they were before…before all this happened…and we are telling our grandchildren about it； what will we say？〃 The breeze blew harder； making the willow branches slap together。
His friend did not respond。 After a moment； Deornoth stood up and looked across Vinyafod's back to where Isorn stood a few ells away； holding the horses' reins as they drank from the river。 The Rimmersman was only a faint silhouette against the purple…gray evening sky。 〃Isorn？〃
〃Look to the south； Deornoth；〃 he said； his voice strained。 〃There are torches。〃
Away across the grasslands； back down the Stefflod in the direction from which they had e； a swarm of tiny lights moved across the land。
〃Merciful Aedon；〃 Deornoth groaned； 〃it is Fengbald and his men。 They have caught us up after all。〃 He turned and gave Vinyafod a light slap on the flanks； causing the charger to take a few prancing steps forward。 〃No rest for you yet； fellow。〃 He and Isorn sprinted up the bank toward the wind…whipped flames that marked their camp。
〃And they are less than a league away；〃 Isorn finished breathlessly。 〃Down by the river we could see the lights clearly。〃
Josua's face was posed； but noticeably pale in the firelight。 〃God has given us a hard test； to let us get so far and then pull the trap shut。〃 He sighed。 The eyes of all watched him in fearful fascination。 〃Well； at least we must kick out the fire and ride on。 Perhaps if we can find a thick enough copse of trees to hide in； and if they have no hounds； they may pass us by。 Then we can think of what other plan might suffice。〃
As they clambered into their saddles once more； Josua turned to Deornoth。 〃We brought two bows as part of our booty from Fikolmij's camp； did we not？〃
Deornoth nodded。
〃Good。 You and Isorn take them。〃 The prince laughed grimly； brandishing the stump of his right wrist。 〃I am not much of a bowman； but I think we will have need of a little arrow…play。〃
Deornoth nodded again； wearily。
They rode swiftly； though all the party sensed that they could not do so for long。 The Thrithings horses ran gamely； but it had already been a long day's trek before the pany had stopped。 Vinyafod and Vildalix seemed as though they had several hours left in them； but some of the other mounts were clearly winded； their riders were scarcely stronger。 As his horse moved beneath him and the moonlit grasslands rolled past； Deornoth could almost feel his will to resist ebbing away； draining like sand through the neck of an hourglass。
We have e ten times as far as anyone would have dreamed possible； he thought； clinging tightly to the reins as Vildalix topped one of the meadow downs and plunged down the opposite slope like a boat breasting a wave。 There is no dishonor in failing now。 What more can God expect than that we give our all？ He looked back。 The rest of the party was beginning to fall behind。 Deornoth pulled up on the reins； slowing his charger until he was in the midst of the pany once more。 God might be ready to reward them with a hero's place in Heaven； but he could not give up the struggle while innocents like the duchess and the child were at risk。
Isorn was beside him now； clutching Leieth on the saddle before him。 The young Rimmersman's face was a gray blur in the moonlight； but Deornoth did not need to see his friend to know the anger and determina… tion written on his broad features。
He looked back once more。 For all their haste； the rippling torches had gained ground on them； closing the distance in the last two hours until they trailed the prince's folk by less than a dozen furlongs。
〃Slow up！〃 Josua cried behind him in the darkness。 〃If we run farther； we will have no strength left to fight。 There is a grove of trees atop the rise there。 That is where we will make a stand。〃
They followed the prince up the slope。 The cold wind had risen and the trees bent and thrashed； branches scraping together。 In the dark… ness the pale； swaying trunks seemed white…robed spirits lamenting some terrible circumstance。
〃Here。〃 The prince ushered them past the outermost circle of trees。 〃Where are those bows； Sir Deornoth？〃 His voice was flat。
〃At my saddle； Prince Josua。〃 Deornoth heard the awful formality echoed in his own tones； as though they all participated in some ritual。 He loosed the two bows and flung one to Isorn； who had handed Leieth over to his mother to free his hands。 As Deornoth and the young Rimmersman strung the supple ashwood； Father Strangyeard accepted an extra dagger from Sangfugol。 He held it unhappily； as chough he pinched a serpent's tail。 〃What will Usires think？〃 he said mournfully。 〃What will my God think of me？〃
〃He will know you fought to save the lives of women and children；〃 Isorn said shortly； nocking one of their few arrows。
〃Now we wait；〃 Joshua hissed。 〃We stay close together； in case I see a chance for us to run once more； and we wait。〃
The minutes stretched as taut as the bowstring beneath Deornoth's fingers。 The nightbirds had gone silent in the trees overhead； but for one whose eerie； whispering call echoed over and over until Deornoth wished he could put an arrow through its feathered throat。 A sound as of distant and continuous drumming began to separate itself from the droning mur… mur of the Steffiod； growing ever louder。 Deornoth thought he could feel the ground beginning to shudder beneath his feet。 He suddenly wondered if blood had ever been shed in this seemingly uninhabited land before。 Had the roots of these pale trees ever drunk of things other than water？ The great oaks around the battlefield at the Knock were said to have gorged on blood until their pith was rosy pink。
The thunder of hoofbeats rose until it was louder than Deornoth's own heart drumming in his ears。 He lifted his bow but did not bend it； saving his strength for the moment it would be needed。 A swirl of flickering lights appeared on the meadow below them。 The headlong flight of the horsemen slowed； as though they somehow sensed the prince's folk hiding in the grove above them。 As they reined up； the flames of their streaming torches bobbed upright once more； blooming like orange flowers。
〃They are nearly two dozen；〃 Isorn said unhappily。
〃I will take the first；〃 Deornoth whispered。 〃You take the second。〃
〃Hold；〃 said Josua quietly。 〃Not until I say。〃
The leader got down from his horse； bending to the ground so that he disappeared out of the glow of torchlight。 When he stood his pale； hooded face turned to look up the slope； so that it almost seemed to Deornoth he had sighted them in the fastn