〃We will not wait much longer； never fear。〃 The Norn's taunting voice took on a note of satisfaction。 〃You have caught me； but my fellows discovered all that we need to know。 You may as well offer up your death…prayers to that little man…on…a…stick that you worship； for nothing will stop us now。〃
Now it was Einskaldir who moved with a growl toward the Norn。
〃Dog！ Blaspheming dog！〃
〃Silence；〃 Josua snapped。 〃He does it purposefully。〃 Deornoth laid a cautious hand on Einskaldir's muscled arm。 One did not grab heedlessly at the Rimmersman； who had a cold but swift temper。 〃Now；〃 Josua said； 〃what do you mean； 'discovered what you need to know'？ What might that be？ Speak； or I shall let Einskaldir have you。〃
The Norn laughed； the sound of wind in dry leaves； but Deornoth thought he had seen a change in the purple eyes when Josua spoke。 It seemed the prince had struck close to some delicate spot。 〃Kill me； then…swiftly or slowly；〃 the prisoner taunted。 〃1 will say no more。 Your time…the time of all mortals； shifty and annoying as insects…is nearly over。 Kill me。 The Lightless Ones will sing of me in the lowest halls of Nakkiga。 My children will remember my name with pride。〃
〃Children？〃 Isorn's surprise was clear in his voice。 The prisoner turned a look of icy contempt onto the blond northerner； but did not speak。
〃But why？〃 Josua demanded。 〃Why should you ally yourself with mortals？ And what threat are we to you； far up in your northern home？ What does your Storm King gain from this madness？〃
The Nom only stared。
〃Speak； damn your pale soul to hell！〃
Nothing。
Josua sighed。 〃Then what do we do with him？〃 he murmured； almost to himself。
〃This！〃 Einskaldir stepped away from Deornoth's restraining arm and lifted his axe。 The Norn stared up at him for a silent heartbeat； angled face like a blood…smeared mask of ivory； before the Rimmersman brought the hand…axe around； shearing through the skull and smashing the prisoner back against the earth。 The Norn's thin frame began to writhe； doubling over； straightening； then snapping forward once more as though he were hinged in the middle。 A fine mist of blood sprayed from his head。 The death…throes were as horribly monotonous as the contortions of a smashed cricket。 After several moments； Deornoth had to turn away。
〃Curse you； Einskaldir；〃 Josua said at last； voice ragged with rage。 〃How dare you？ I did not tell you to do that！〃
〃And if I didn't； then what？〃 Einskaldir said。 〃Take him with us？ Wake up with that grinning corpse…face over yours some night？〃 He seemed a little less sure than he sounded； but his words were stiff with anger。
〃By the Good God； Rimmersman； can you never wait before you strike？ If you have no respect for me； what of your Master Isgrimnur； who bade you obey me？〃 The prince leaned forward until his agonized face was only a hand's breadth from Einskaldir's bristling dark beard。 The prince held Einskaldir's eye； as though trying to see something hidden。 Neither man spoke。
Staring at his prince's profile； at Josua's moon…painted face so full of fierceness and sorrow； Deornoth was reminded of a painting of Sir Camaris riding to the first Battle of the Thrithings。 King John's greatest knight had worn just such a look； proud and desperate as a starving hawk。 Deornoth shook his head； trying to clear the shadows away。 What a night of madness this had bee！
Einskaldir turned aside first。 〃It was a monster；〃 he grumbled。 〃Now it is dead。 Two of its fellows are wounded and driven away。 I will go clean the fairy blood from my sword。〃
〃First you will bury the body；〃 Josua said； 〃Isorn； help Einskaldir。 Search the Norn's clothing for anything that might tell us more。 God help us； we know so little。〃
〃Bury it？〃 Isorn was respectful but dubious。
〃Let us not give away anything that might save us…including information。 〃Josua sounded tired of talking。 〃If the Norn's fellows do not find the body； they may not know he is dead。 They may wonder what he is telling us。〃
Isorn nodded without much conviction and bent to the unpleasant task。 Josua turned and took Deornoth by the arm。
〃e；〃 the prince said。 〃We must talk。〃
They walked a little way from the clearing； staying within hearing of the campsite。 The shards of night sky visible through the thick trees had gone dark blue； beginning to warm to dawn。 A solitary bird whistled。
〃Einskaldir means well； Prince Josua；〃 Deornoth said； breaking the stillness between the two men。 〃He is fiery； impatient…but not a traitor。〃 Josua turned to him in surprise。 〃Heaven save us； Deornoth； do you think I do not know？ Why do you think I said so little？ But Einskaldir acted rashly…I would have wished to hear more from the Norn； though the end would have to have been the same。 I hate cold…blooded killing； but what would we have done with the murderous creature？ Still； Emskaldir considers me too much a thinker to be a good warrior。 〃 His laugh was melancholy。 〃He is probably correct。 〃 The prince raised his hand to still Deornoth's response。 〃But that is not why I wanted to speak alone。 Emskaldir is my affair。 No； I wanted to hear your thoughts on the Norn's words。 〃
〃Which； Highness？〃
Josua sighed。 〃He said that his fellows had found what they wanted。 Or learned what they wished to know。 What could that mean？〃
Dcornoth shrugged 〃My skull is still rattling； Prince Josua。〃
〃But you said yourself that there must be a reason that they haven't killed us。 〃 The prince sat down on the mossy trunk of a toppled tree； motioning the knight to join him。 The bowl of sky was turning lavender overhead。 〃They send a walking dead man to e among us； they shoot arrows but don't kill us； to prevent us from turning east…and now they send a few of their creatures to sneak into our camp like thieves。 What do they want？〃
No answer would e； no matter how hard Deornoth thought。 He could not shake his memory free from the Norn's mocking smile。 But there had been another look； too； that momentary glimmer of unease。
〃They fear。。。〃 Deornoth said； feeling the idea very close； 〃they fear。。。〃
〃The swords；〃 Josua hissed。 〃Of course！ What else would they fear？〃
〃But we have no magical sword；〃 Deornoth said。
〃Perhaps they do not know that；〃 Josua said。 〃Perhaps that is one of the virtues of Thorn and Minneyar…that they are invisible to the Norns' magic。 〃 He slapped at his thigh。 〃Of course！ They must be； or the Storm King would have found them and destroyed them！ How else could weapons deadly to him still exist？〃
〃But why have they tried to prevent our going east？〃
The prince shrugged。 〃Who can say？ We must think on this more； but I believe it is the answer。 They fear we already have one or both of the swords and they are afraid to e against us until they know。〃
Deornoth felt his heart sinking。 〃But you heard what the creature said。 They know now。 〃
Josua's smile faded。 〃True。 Or at least they must be fairly sure。 Still； it is a piece of knowledge that might still work in our favor； somehow。 Somehow。。。〃 He stood。 〃But they are no longer afraid to approach us。 We must travel even more swiftly。 e。〃
Wondering how a pany so injured and dispirited could make any greater haste； Deornoth followed the prince back through the dawn light to camp。
7
Spreading Fires
SEAGULLS wheeling in the gray morning sky hatefully echoed the creaking of the oarlocks。 The rhythmic squeak； squeak； squeak of the oars was like an insistent finger digging at her side。 Miriamele felt her anger building。 At last； she turned on Cadrach in a fury。
〃You。。。 you traitor！〃 she spat。
The monk goggled at her； his round face growing pale with alarm。
〃What？〃 Cadrach looked as though he would have liked to move away； and quickly； but they were cramped together m the rowboat's narrow stern。 Lenti； Streawe's sullen servitor； watched them in irritation from the rowing bench where he and the other servant pulled languidly at the handles。 〃My lady。。。〃 Cadrach began； 〃I don't。。。〃
His feeble denials only made her angrier。 〃Do you think I'm a fool？〃 she snarled。 〃I am slow to realize； but if I think long enough； I get ther