〃Still； I somehow do not think they would follow us all the way through Aldheorte Forest just for enjoyment。〃 The prince frowned； thinking。 〃I find it hard to think of why they might fear us； straggling lot that we are。 What else could they want？〃
〃To put us in cages；〃 Towser said grumpily； rubbing his sore legs。 The long day's walking had been harder on him than on anyone else except Sangfugol。 'To make us dance for them。〃
〃Quiet； old man；〃 Einskaldir snarled。
〃Do not order him；〃 Isorn said； giving Einskaldir a purposeful look…a difficult thing to do in near…darkness。
〃I think Towser is right；〃 Strangyeard said in his quiet； apologetic way。
〃What do you mean？〃 Josua asked。
The archive…master cleared his throat。 〃It seems to make sense；〃 he began； 〃…not that they want us to dance； I mean。〃 He tried to smile。 〃But the putting us in cages。 They may want to capture us。〃
Deornoth was excited。 〃I think Strangyeard has it！ They did not kill us when they might have。 They must want us taken alive。〃
〃Or want some of us alive；〃 Josua said carefully。 〃Perhaps that is why they used the corpse of that poor young pikeman…to get safely among us and then spirit one or more of us away。〃
〃No；〃 Deornoth's excitement suddenly dissipated； 〃for why didn't they surround us then； when they had the chance？ 1 asked myself that earlier and I still cannot answer。〃
〃If they wanted to 。。。 to capture one of our number；〃 Strangyeard offered； 〃perhaps they were afraid that one would be killed in a struggle。〃 〃If so；〃 Duchess Gutrun said； 〃it is surely not me they are after。 I am scarcely of any use； even to myself。 They are after Prince Josua。〃 She made the sign of the Tree over her breast。
〃Of course；〃 Isorn said； putting his big arm around his mother's shoulder。 〃Ehas sent them to capture Josua。 He wants you alive； my lord。〃
Josua looked unfortable。 〃Perhaps。 But why are they shooting arrows at us now？〃 He pointed to where Sangfugol lay； Vorzheva holding the harper's head as she gave him a drink of water。 〃It seems that there is even greater danger of accidentally killing their target； now that we are on the move。〃
No one could answer this。 They sat unfortably for some long while； listening to the sounds of the damp night。
〃Hold a moment；〃 Deornoth said。 〃We are confusing ourselves； I think。 When have we been attacked by them？〃
〃Early in the morning after the night that 。 。 。 that the young pikeman came to our fire；〃 Isorn said。
〃And was anyone hurt？〃
〃No；〃 Isorn said； thinking back。 〃But we were lucky to escape。 Many of the arrows missed by very little。〃
〃One of 'em took my hat off〃 Towser said querulously。 〃My best hat！ Lost！〃
〃Pity it wasn't your best head；〃 Einskaidir snapped。
〃But the Norns are very good archers；〃 Deornoth continued； ignoring the Rimmersman and the old jester。 〃And when has anyone else been shot？〃
〃Yesterday！〃 Isorn said； shaking his head。 〃You should know。 Gamwold dead； Sangfugol badly wounded。〃
〃But Gamwold wasn't shot。〃
Everyone turned to look at Josua。 There was a sudden power in the prince's voice that sent a thrill up Deornoth's back。
〃Gamwold fell；〃 the prince said。 〃All of our party who've been killed except for Gamwold died from our battles with the diggers。 Deornoth has it aright！ The Norns have been chasing us for three days…three full days… and have fired upon us many times。 Sangfugol is the only one who has been hit。〃
The prince stood up； his face disappearing from the fireglow。 The others could hear him pacing。 〃But why？ Why did they risk an arrow then？ We were doing something that frightened them。 Doing something…〃 He stopped。 〃Or going somewhere 。 。 。〃
〃What do you mean。 Prince Josua？〃 Isorn asked。
〃We were turning east…toward the heart of the forest。〃
〃That's true！〃 Deornoth said； thinking back。 〃We had been going south since we came down the Stile from Naglimund。 That was the first time we cried to turn east； in toward the deeper part of the forest。 Then； when the harper was shot and Gamwold fell； we retreated back down the hill and kept walking south along Aldheorte's outskirts thereafter。〃
〃We are being herded；〃 Josua said slowly。 〃Like ignorant animals。〃
〃But that is because we tried to do something that worried them；〃 Deornoth pointed out。 〃They are trying to keep us from going east。〃
〃And we still do not really know what for；〃 Isorn said。 〃Herded toward capture？〃
〃More likely to slaughter；〃 Einskaldir said。 〃They just want to do the killing at home。 Have a feast。 Invite guests。〃
Josua actually smiled as he sat down； the fire catching a quick gleam of teeth。
〃I have decided；〃 he said； 〃to decline their invitation。〃
An hour or two before dawn； Father Strangyeard came and tapped Deornoth on the shoulder。 Deornoth had heard the archive…master crawling about in the darkness； but the touch of a hand on his shoulder still made him start。
〃Only me； Sir Deornoth；〃 Strangyeard said hastily。 〃It is my turn to take watch。〃
〃That's not necessary。 I don't think I will sleep； anyway。〃
〃Well； then； perhaps we can 。 。 。 can share the watch。 If my talk will not irritate you。〃
Deornoth smiled to himself。 〃Not at all； Father。 And you need not call me 'Sir。' It is nice to have a calm hour or so…we have had precious little calm lately。〃
〃It is just as well； I suppose； that I am not left to stand guard alone。〃Strangyeard said。 〃My sight is not good； you know…and that is in my one remaining eye。〃 He chuckled apologetically。 〃There is nothing more frightening than to see the words in my beloved books growing fainter every day。〃
〃Nothing more frightening？〃 Deornoth asked gently。
〃Nothing。〃 Strangyeard was firm。 〃Oh； not that I do not fear other things； but death； just for example…well； my Lord will take me when He knows it is time。 But to spend my last years in darkness； unable to see the writings that are my work on this earth 。。。〃 The archivist broke off； embarrassed。 〃I am sorry； Deornoth； I am babbling of trivialities。 It is this hour of the night。 At home in Naglimund； I often wake at this time； just before the sun es up 。 。 。〃 The priest paused again。 Both men thought silently of what had happened to the place where they had lived。
〃When we are safe； Strangyeard；〃 Deornoth began suddenly； 〃if you cannot read； I will e and read to you。 My eyes are not as quick as
yours； nor my mind； but I am stubborn as an unfed horse。 I will grow better with practice。 I will read to you。〃
The archivist sighed； then was quiet。 〃That is too kind；〃 he said a moment later。 〃But you will have more important things to do when we are safe again and Josua sits the high throne of Osten Ard…matters far graver than reading to an old book…shifter。〃
〃No。 No； I do not think so。〃
They sat for a long while and listened to the wind。
〃So we will 。 。 。 will strike out toward the east today？〃 Strangyeard
asked。
〃Yes。 And I think the Norns will not be happy about such a plan。 I fear that more of us will be wounded or killed。 But we must seize our destiny with both hands。 Prince Josua recognizes that； thank the Good God。〃
Strangyeard sighed。 〃Do you know； I have been thinking。 I feel quite。 。 。 quite ridiculous saying it； but 。 。 。〃He trailed into silence。
〃What？〃
〃Perhaps it is not Josua they seek to capture。 Perhaps it is 。。。 me。〃
〃Father Strangyeard！〃 Deornoth was quite surprised。 〃Why would that be？〃
The priest bobbed his head； ashamed。 〃I know it seems foolish； but I must mention it。 You see； I am the one who had studied Morgenes' manuscript telling of the Three Great Swords…and I am the one carrying it now。〃 He tapped the pocket of his voluminous robe。 〃With Jarnauga； I searched and studied； trying to divine the whereabouts of Fingil's sword Minneyar。 Now that he is dead…well； I hate to sound as if I were shouting my own importance； but。 。 。〃He held out something small that swung from a chain； just visible in the growing light。 〃He gave me his Scroll； the badge of his League。 Perhaps that has made me dangerous to the rest of the party。 Maybe if I surrendered； they would let the rest of you go？