osses that we have almost been forgetting Thorn。 This is an object that is making legends！ Perhaps it is the greatest weapon ever to have e to light in Osten Ard…greater than Hern's spear Oinduth； greater than Chukku's sling。〃
〃Powerful it may be；〃 Sludig grumbled； 〃but I have doubts as to how lucky it is。 It didn't save Sir Camaris； did it？〃
Binabik showed a small； secretive smile。 〃But he did not have it when he was swept over the side in Firannos Bay： Towser the jester told that to us。 That is why we were able to discover it on the dragon…mountain。 Otherwise it would be at ocean's bottom…like Camaris。〃
The wind shrieked； rattling the branches overhead。 Sludig waited an appropriate interval； then moved closer to the forting fire。 〃How could such a great knight fall off a boat？ God grant that I die more honorably； in battle。 It only proves to me； if I had any doubts； that boats are things best left alone。〃
Binabik's yellow grin widened。 〃To be hearing such words from one whose ancestors were the greatest sailors mankind has known！〃 His expression grew serious。 〃Although it must be told that some doubt Camaris was swept into the sea。 Some there are who say that he was drowning himself。〃
〃What？ Why in Usires' name would he do such a thing？〃 Sludig poked at the fire indignantly。
The troll shrugged。 〃It is only being rumor； but I do not ignore such things。 Morgenes' writings are filled with many strange stories。 Qinkipa！ How I wish I had found more time for reading the doctor's book！ One thing Morgenes was telling in his life…story of Prester John was that Sir Camaris was much like our Prince Josua： a man of strange； melancholy moods。 Also； he was much in admiration of John's queen； Ebekah。 King Prester John had made Camaris her special protector。 When the Rose of Hernysadharc…as many were naming her…died in the birthing of Josua； Camaris was said to be much upset。 He grew fell and strange； and railed against his God and Heaven。 He gave up sword and armor and other things； as one who takes up a life of religion…or； as one who knows he will die。 He was making his way back to his home in Vinitta after a pilgrimage to the Sancellan Aedonitis。 In a storm he was lost in the ocean off Harcha…island。〃
Binabik leaned forward and began pulling the wrapped birds out of the fire； exerting caution so as not to burn his stubby fingers。 The fire crackled and the wind moaned。
〃Welladay；〃 Sludig said at last。 〃What you say only makes me more sure that I will avoid the high and the mighty whenever possible。 But for Duke Isgrimnur； who has a good level head on his shoulders； the rest of them are drifty and foolish as geese。 Your Prince Josua； if you will pardon my saying it； first among them。〃
Binabik's grin returned。 〃He is not my Prince Josua； and he is…what was your wording？…drifty。 But not foolish。 Not foolish at all。 And he may be our last hope for staving off the ing storm。〃 As though he had stumbled into an unfortable subject； the troll busied himself with their supper。 He pushed a smoking bird over to the Rimmersman。 〃Here。 Have something to eat。 Perhaps if the Hunen are enjoying the cold weather； they will be leaving us alone。 We can then gain ourselves a good night sleeping。〃
〃We will need it。 We have a long road before we can give away this damnable sword。〃
〃But we owe it to those who have fallen；〃 Binabik said； staring out into the dark reaches of the surrounding forest。 〃We do not have the freedom of making a failure。〃
As they ate； Qantaqa rose and paced about the campsite； listening intently to the wailing wind。
Snow was blowing savagely across the Waste； flung hard enough by the howling wind to strip the very bark from the trees along the Aldheorte's ragged north fringe。 The great hound； not hindered in the least by such unfriendly weather； bounded lightly back through the blinding flurries； stone…hard muscles coiling and uncoiling beneath its short fur。 When the dog reached Ingen's side； the Queen's Huntsman reached into his vest and produced a length of gnarled； dried meat that had at one end something suspiciously like a fingernail。 The white hound crunched it in a second； then stood peering out into the darkness； cloudy little eyes full of eagerness to be moving once more。 Ingen scratched carefully behind the dog's ears； his gloved fingers trailing across a bulgingly muscled jaw that could crush rock。
〃Yes； Niku'a；〃 the huntsman whispered； voice echoing within his helm。 His own eyes were as madly intent as those of the hound。 〃You have the scent now； do you not？ Ah； the Queen will be so proud。 My name will be sung until the sun turns black and rotten and drops from the sky。〃
He lifted his helmet and let the stinging wind batter his face。 As certainly as he knew that frosty stars shone somewhere above the dark… ness； so； too； he knew that his quarry was still before him； and that he drew nearer to it with every day that passed。 At this moment he did not feel himself to be the stolid； tireless hound that was his sigil； and whose snarling face made the mask of his helm； he was instead some subtler； more feline predator； a creature of fierce but quiet joy。 He felt the freezing night on his face and knew that nothing that lived beneath the black sky could escape him for long。
Ingen Jegger slid the crystalline dagger from his sleeve and held it before him； staring at it as though it were a mirror in which he could see himself； the Ingen who had feared to die in obscurity。 Catching some hardy beam of moonlight or starshine； the translucent blade burned with a chilly blue fire； its carvings seemed to writhe like serpents beneath his fingers。 This was all he had dreamed； and more。 The Queen in the Silver Mask had set him a great task； a task befitting the making of a legend。 Soon…he felt it with a certainty that made him tremble…soon that task would be acplished。 Ingen let the dagger slide back into his sleeve。
〃Go； Niku'a；〃 he whispered； as though the hidden stars might betray him if they heard。 〃It is time to hunt our prey to ground。 We will run。〃
Ingen vaulted into the saddle。 His patient mount stirred as if awakening。
The snow swirled； blowing through the empty night where a moment before a man； a horse； and a dog had stood。
The afternoon light was failing； the translucent walls of Jiriki's house gradually growing darker。 Aditu had brought a meal of fruit and warm bread to Simon's room； an act of kindness for which he would have been even more appreciative had she not stayed to annoy him。 It was not that Simon did not enjoy Aditu's pany or admire her exotic beauty： it was； in fact； her very beauty and shamelessness that disturbed him； making it especially difficult to concentrate on such mundane tasks as eating。
Aditu trailed a finger up his backbone once more。 Simon nearly choked on a mouthful of bread。
〃Don't do that！〃
The Sitha…woman made an interested face。 〃Why not？ Does it cause you pain？〃
〃No！ Of course not。 It tickles。〃 He turned away sulkily； inwardly regretting his lack of manners…but not much。 He was feeling； as he usually did around Aditu； quite flummoxed。 Jiriki； for all his alien ways； had never made Simon think of himself as a cloddish mortal： beside Aditu； Simon felt himself to be made of mud。
She was attired today in little but feathers and jeweled beads and a few strips of fabric。 Her body gleamed with scented oils。
〃Tickles？ But is that bad？〃 she asked。 〃I do not wish to hurt you or make you unfortable； Seoman。 It is just that you are so…〃 she searched for the proper word； 〃…so unusual； and I have seldom been near your kind。〃 She seemed to be enjoying his disfiture。 〃You are very wide here。。。〃 She ran a finger from one of his shoulders to the other； sighing as this occasioned another muffled yelp。 〃It is clear you are not made like our folk。〃
Simon； who had slid out of reach once more； grunted。 He was unfortable around her； that was a simple fact。 Her presence had begun to make him feel as though he had some kind of damnable itch； and in his solitude he had e to both yearn for and yet fear her arrivals。 Every time he stole a glance at her slim body； displayed with an i