〃I'm not surprised；〃 Elias said calmly。 〃Your face is badly burned； especially around your eyes。 They look very bad。 I was certain you were dead…but you're not。〃 The king's voice was distant。 〃It's a pity； old rade； but I told you to watch out for Pryrates。〃
〃Blind？〃 Guthwulf said； his voice hoarse； throat seizing in a painful spasm。 〃Blind？！〃
His rasping howl broke across the mons； bouncing from wall to stone wall until it seemed a hundred Guthwulfs were screaming。 As he vented his agony； the king patted him on the head as though soothing an old dog。
The river valley waited for the oning storm。 The chilly air warmed and grew heavy。 The Stefflod murmured uneasily and the sky was gravid with angry…looking clouds。 The travelers found themselves speaking softly； as if they rode past the sleeping form of some huge beast who might be awakened by disrespectful loudness or levity。
Hotvig and his men had decided to ride back to the rest of their party； who were nearly four score all told； men； women； and children。 Hotvig's clanfolk and their wagons were following as swiftly as they could； but they were no match for the speed of unencumbered riders。
〃I am still amazed that your people would uproot themselves to follow us into an unknown and ill…omened wilderness；〃 Josua said at their parting。
Hotvig grinned； showing a gap in his teeth earned in some past brawl。 〃Uproot？ There is no such word to the folk of the Stallion Clan。 Our roots are in our wagons and our saddles。〃
〃But surely vour clansmen are worried about riding into such strange territory？〃
A brief look of concern flickered across the Thrithings…man's face； quickly supplanted by an expression of disdainful pride。 〃You forget； Prince Josua that they are my kinfolk。 I told them； if stone…dwellers can ride there without fear； can the people of the Free Thrithings shy away？' They follow me。〃 He pulled at his beard and grinned once more。 〃Be… sides； it is worth many risks to get out from under Fikolmij's hand。 〃
〃And you are sure he will not pursue you？〃 the prince asked。
Hotvig shook his head。 〃As I told you last night； the March…thane has lost face because of you。 Anyway； our clans often split into smaller clan…families。 It is our right as people of the Free Thrithings。 The last thing Fikolmij can do now is to try to keep us few from leaving the greater clan。 That would prove beyond doubt that he is losing his hold on the reins。〃
When they had all gathered around the fire after their encounter in the dark； Hotvig had explained how Fikolmij's treatment of his daughter and Prince Josua had caused much disgruntled talk around the wagons of the Stallion Clan。 Fikolmy had never been a popular leader； but he had been respected as a powerful fighter and clever strategist。 To see him so bedeviled by the mere presence of stone…dwellers； to the point where he would lend aid to Fengbald and others of the High King's men without consulting his clan chiefs； had made many wonder out loud whether Fikolmij was still capable of lording it as March…thane of all of the High Thrithings。
When Earl Fengbald had arrived with his fifty or so armored men； swaggering into the wagon camp like conquerors； Hotvig and some of the other randwarders had brought the men of their own clan…families to Fikolmij's wagon。 The March…thanc had wished to set the Erkynlanders quickly on the trail of Josua's party； but Hotvig and the others had stood against their leader。
〃No stone…dwellers go armed across the Stallion Clan's fields without a gathering of chiefs to say they can；〃 Hotvig had cried； and his fellows had echoed him。 Fikolmij had fumed and threatened； but the laws of the Free Thrithings were the only immutable things in the clan…folk's nomadic existence。 The argument had ended with Hotvig and the other randwarders telling Earl Fengbald…〃a foolish； dangerous man who likes himself well；〃 as Hotvag described him…that the only way the High King's men could pursue Josua was to go around the Stallion Clan's territory。 Fengbald； outnumbered by ten to one or more； had no choice but to ride away； taking the shortest route back off the High Thrithings。 The Earl of Falshire had made many angry threats before departing； promising that the grasslanders' long days of freedom were over； that High King Ehas would e soon and knock the wheels off their wagons once and for all。
Unsurprisingly； this public thwarting of Fikolmij's authority brought on a terrible argument that several times almost erupted into deadly bloodshed。 The disputing ceased only when Hotvig and several other randwarders took their families and followed Josua； leaving Fikolmy behind to curse and lick his wounds； his strength as March…thane weakened but by no means ended。
〃No； he will not follow us；〃 Hotvig repeated。 〃That would say to all the clans that mighty Fikolmij cannot survive the loss of our few wagons； and that the stone…dwellers and their feuds are more important to the March…thane of all the High Thrithings than his own people。 Now； we clan exiles will live near you for a while at your Farewell Stone and talk among ourselves about what we will do。 〃
〃I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your help；〃 Josua said sol… emnly。 〃You have saved our lives。 If Fengbald and his soldiers had caught us； we would be going back to the Hayholt in chains。 Then there would be no one to stop my brother。〃
Hotvig looked at him keenly。 〃You may think so； but you do not know the strength of the Free Thrithings if you think we would be so easily overe。〃 He hefted his long spear。 〃Already the men of the Meadow Thrithings are making things very difficult for the stone…dwellers of Nabban。〃
Father Strangyeard； who had been listening carefully； made a worried face。 〃The king is not the only one we fear； Hotvig。〃
The Thrithings…man nodded。 〃So you told me。 And I would hear more； but now I must go back for the rest of my people。 If your destination is as close as the woman says；〃 he indicated Geloe with careful respect； 〃then look for us before sunset tomorrow。 The wagons can go no faster。〃
〃But do not delay；〃 the wise woman said。 〃I did not speak lightly when I said we must make haste ahead of this storm。〃
〃No one can ride like grasslander horsemen；〃 Hotvig said sternly。 〃And our wagon…teams are not much slower。 We will be with you before tomorrow's night。〃 He laughed； again showing his missing tooth。 〃Leave it to city folk to find stone in the middle of the meadowlands； then want to make their home there。 Still；〃 he said to the prince； 〃I knew when you killed Utvart that things would never be the same for anyone。 My father taught me to trust my hand and my heart。〃 He grinned。 〃My luck； too。 I bet one of my foals on you； Josua； in your fighting with Utvart。 My friends were ashamed to best me so easily； but they took my wager；〃 He laughed loudly。 〃You won four good horses for me！〃 He turned his mount toward the south； waving。 〃Soon we will meet again！〃
〃And no arrows this time；〃 cried Deornoth。
〃Go safely；〃 Josua called as Hotvig and his men spurred away across the green lands。
Heartened by the encounter with the Thrithings…folk； the travelers rode cheerfully through the morning despite the threatening skies。 When they stopped briefly to take their midday meal and water the horses； Sangfugol even convinced Father Strangyeard to sing with him。 The priest's surprisingly sweet voice blended well with the harper's； and if Father Strangyeard did not quite understand what 〃The Ballad of Round…Heeled Moirah〃 was about； his enjoyment was the greater for it； and for the laughing praise given to him after。
When they were in the saddle once more； Deornoth found himself ridmg beside Geloe； who cradled Leieth before her on the saddle。 She rode flawlessly； as one of long experience； Deornoth found himself wondering once more what the wise woman's strange history might be。 She was also still wearing the spare clothing he had brought out of the wagon…camp； as if she had e to that fateful copse of trees naked。 After thinking for a while about why that might be； and remembering the clawed thing that had struck at him in darkness； Deornoth decided that the