Numerous other objects showed traces of Qantaqa's attention as well。 She had pulled a great pile of robes into the cave's far corner and poked the garments into a suitable wolf…nest。 Beside this bed lay several much…chewed articles； including the remains of a few of the rolled skins…the fragments crawling with writing unfamiliar to Simon…and Binabik's walking stick。
〃I could have wished you were finding something else for chewing； Qantaqa；〃 the troll said； frowning as he picked it up。 The wolf tipped her head to one side and whined uneasily； then padded over to Sisqi； who was looking into some of the alcoves； and who distractedly pushed the wolfs large head away。 Qantaqa flopped down on the floor and began disconsolately scratching herself。 Binabik held his stick up to the torch's light。 The tooth marks were not deep。
〃Chewing more for fort of Binabik…smell than any other thing；〃 the troll smiled。 〃Fortunately。〃
〃What is it you seek？〃 Sludig said urgently。 〃We must be going while darkness holds。〃
〃Yes； you speak correctly；〃 Binabik said； sliding his stick in beneath his belt。 〃e； Simon； help me as we make a quick searching。〃
With Haestan and Sludig joining in； Simon pulled down scrolls from the niches that Binabik himself could not reach。 They were made of thin…pounded hide； so thoroughly greased that they were slimy to the touch； the runes that covered them were burned directly into the hide； as though with a hot poker。 Simon handed one after another to Binabik； who perused each quickly before tossing it onto one of several growing piles。
Looking around at the great rocky honeyb and all the scrolls； Simon marveled at what an arduous job it must have been to create such a library…and it was just that； he realized； as much as Father Strangyeard's archive at Naglimund or Morgenes' workshop full of heavy volumes； even though these books were furls of hide； scribed with fire instead of ink。
At last Binabik had a pile of a dozen or so that seemed to interest him。 These he spread flat and rolled together into one heavy bundle； then dropped the whole mass into his sack； which he had found near the cave's entrance。
〃Now we can go？〃 Sludig asked。 Haestan was rubbing his hands together； trying to keep them warm。 He had taken off his clumsy gloves to help with the scrolls。
〃As soon as we are putting these back into the holes。〃 The troll indicated the large pile of discarded skins。
〃Are ye mad？〃 Haestan said heatedly。 〃Why waste precious time doin' such？〃
〃Because these are rare； precious things；〃 Binabik said calmly； 〃and if we are leaving them here on cold ground； they will be soon ruined。 'He who is not bringing in his flock at night gives away free mutton'…that is what we Qanuc say。 It will be taking a moment； only。〃
〃S'Bloody Tree；〃 Haestan swore。 〃Lend me help； Simon…lad；〃 he grunted； stooping to the pile； 〃else we'll be here 'til dawn…time。〃
Binabik directed Simon in the filling of some of the empty upper niches。 Sludig watched impatiently for a moment before joining the effort。 Sisqi had been quietly rummaging through the alcoves until she had amassed her own pile of rolled skins； which she had then rolled up and slipped under her hide jacket； but now she suddenly turned and called in rapid Qanuc。 Binabik pushed past a wad of tangled furs to stand at her side。
She held out a scroll tied shut with a black leather thong。 The cord was wrapped not only around the middle of the roll of skin； but around both ends as well。 Binabik。 took it from her； touching two fingers to his forehead in a gesture of seeming reverence。
〃This is Ookekuq's knot；〃 he said quietly to Simon。 〃There is no
doubting of that。〃
〃This is Ookekuq's cave； too； isn't it？〃 Simon said； puzzled。 〃Why is a knot surprising？〃
〃Because this knot tells it is something of importance。〃 Binabik explained。 〃It is also something I have not seen before…something that was hidden from me； or that my master was making just before we left on the journey where he died。 And this knot； I am thinking； was only used for things of great power； messages and spells that were for certain eyes only。〃 He again ran his fingers over the knot； his brow wrinkled in thought。 Sisqi stared at the scroll； her eyes bright。
〃Well； that's last of th'damnable things；〃 Haestan said。 〃If that be somethin' y'want； little man； bring it with。 We've no more time for wastin'。〃
Binabik hesitated for a moment； caressing the knot gently while he looked once more around the cavern； then slipped the knotted scroll into his sleeve。 〃Time it is；〃 he agreed。 He gestured the others to the cavern doorway ahead of him； extinguishing the torch in a depression in the stone floor as he followed them out。
The rest of the troll's panions had stopped； huddled before the cave like a herd of wind…rattled sheep。 Sedda； the moon； had at last vanished in the west behind Sikkihoq； but the night was suddenly full of light。
A large troop of trolls was moving toward them。 Faces grim in their hoods； spears and firebrands in their hands； they had fanned out around Ookequk's cave and now held the path on both sides。 Even in force； the trolls were so quiet that Simon could hear the burning hiss of their torches before the sound of a single footfall reached him。
〃Chukku's Stones；〃 Binabik said bleakly。 Sisqi dropped back to take his arm； her eyes wide in the torchlight； her mouth set in a grim line。
Uammannaq the Herder and Nunuuika the Huntress guided their rams forward。 They both wore belted robes and boots。 Their black hair flowed loose； as though they had dressed hurriedly。 As Binabik stepped forward to meet them； armed trolls moved in behind him； hemming his panions in a thicket of spears。 Sisqinanamook stepped out of the encirclement to join him； standing at his side with her chin lifted defiantly。 Uammannaq avoided his daughter's eyes； staring down instead at Binabik。
〃So； Binbinaqegabenik；〃 he said。 〃you will not stand and face the justice of your people？ I had thought more of you than that； however low your birth。〃
〃My friends are innocent。〃 Binabik replied。 〃I held your daughter as hostage until the Rimmersman Sludig had made it to safety with the others。〃
Nunuuika rode forward until her mount stood shoulder to shoulder with her husband's。 〃Please credit us with some wisdom； Binabik； even though we are not either of us as clever as your master was。 Who sent the guards away？〃
She peered down at Sisqi。 The Huntress' face was cold； but showed a trace of harsh pride。 〃Daughter； I thought you were a fool when you determined to marry this wizardling。 Now…well； I will say at least thai you are a loyal fool。〃
She turned to Binabik。 〃Because you have recharmed my daughter； do not think you will escape your sentence。 The Ice House is unmelted。 Winter has killed the Spring。 The Rite of Quickening went unperformed…and instead you return to us with childish tales。 Now you are back hatching devil…tricks in your master's cave that your pet wolf has guarded for you。〃 Nunuuika was in the grip of a rising fury。 〃You have been judged； oath…breaker。 You will go to the ice cliffs of Ogohak Chasm and you will he thrown over！〃
〃Daughter； go back to our home；〃 Uammannaq growled。 〃You have done great wrong。〃
〃No！〃 Sisqi's cry caused a stir among the watching trolls。 〃I have listened to my heart； yes； but listened to what wisdom I have gained as well。 The wolf has kept us jrom Ookequk's house…but that has not been to Binbiniqegabenik's benefit。〃 She pulled the thong…tied scroll from Binabik's sleeves and thrust it forward。 〃This I found there。 None of us thought to see what Ookequk had left behind。〃
〃Only a fool hurries to rummage in the effects of a Singing Man；〃 Uammannaq said； but his expression had subtly changed。
〃But Sisqi；〃 Binabik said； nonplussed； 〃we do not know what the scroll contains！ It could be a spell of great peril； or 。 。 。〃
〃I have a good idea；〃 Sisqi said grimly。 〃Do you see whose knot this is？〃 she asked； handing the scroll to her mother。
The Huntress looked at it briefly and made a dismissive gesture as she handed it to her husband。 〃It is Ookequk's knot； yes 。。。〃