ough…hewn table and chair and a ragged carpet that had been rolled and tied； then left to lie at the base of the stone staircase。 Sea air swirled through the unshuttered window。 Cadrach； who had not spoken during the walk up the cliff path； staggered a few paces away from the door and sank down onto the wooden floor； laying his head on the carpet and falling quickly back into sleep。
〃He is exhausted； poor man；〃 Dinivan said。 He took a lamp from the table and lit it from another already burning； then stopped to look carefully at the monk。 〃He has changed； but perhaps some of it is the result of his mishap。〃
〃He was in the water a long rime；〃 Miriamele said； a little guiltily。
〃Ah； well； then。〃 Dinivan stood up。 〃We shall leave him to sleep and go upstairs。 There is much to talk about。 Have you eaten？〃
〃Not since last night。〃 Miriamele was suddenly ravenous。 〃I need water； too。〃
〃All shall be yours；〃 Dinivan smiled。 〃Go on up。 I am going to get your panion out of these wet clothes； then I will join you。〃
The room upstairs was better furnished； with a cot； two chairs； and a large chest that stood against the wall。 A door； swinging gently； led out onto the hoarding。 On top of the chest sat a plate covered with a kerchief。 Miriamele lifted the cloth to reveal cheese； fruit； and three round loaves of brown bread。
〃The grapes grown over the hill in Teligure are really splendid；〃 the priest said from the doorway。 〃Help yourself。〃
Miriamele fell to without having to be invited again。 She took a whole loaf and a lump of cheese； then pulled loose a large bunch of grapes and retired to one of the chairs。 Pleased； Dinivan watched her eat for a moment； then disappeared down the stairs。 He returned shortly with a sloshing pitcher。
〃The well is nearly empty； but the water is good；〃 he said。 〃Well； where should we begin？ You have heard about Naglimund by now； haven't you？〃
Miriamele nodded； her mouth full。
〃Something you may not know。 Josua and some others escaped。〃
In her excitement she choked on a crust of bread。 Dnuvan helped hold the pitcher so she could drink。
〃Who went with him？〃 she asked when she could speak。 〃Duke Isgrimnur？ Vorzheva？〃
Dinivan shook his head。 〃I do not know。 There was terrible destruction and few survived。 All the north is thick…shot with rumors。 It is hard to sift truth from them； but Josua's escape is certain。〃
〃How did you find out？〃
〃I'm afraid there are some things I may not say…not yet； anyway； Princess。 Please believe that it is for the best。 The Lector Ranessin mands me； and I am sworn to him…but there are some things I don't even tell His Sacredness。〃 He grinned。 〃Which is as it should be。 A great man's secretary must exercise discretion everywhere； even with the great man himself。〃
〃But why did you have Count Streawe send me to you？〃
〃I did not know how informed you were。 I heard that you were bound for the Sancellan Mahistrevis to speak to your uncle； Duke Leobardis。 I could not let you go there。 You know that Leobardis is dead？〃
〃Streawe told me。〃 She got up and took a peach from the plate。 After a moment's consideration； she broke off another hunk of cheese。
〃But did you know Leobardis died by treachery？ By the hand of his own son？〃
〃Benigaris？〃 She was astonished。 〃But has he not taken the duke's place？ Haven't the nobles resisted？〃
〃His treachery is nor mon knowledge； but there are whispers of it everywhere。 And his mother Nessalanta is his strongest supporter…although I am sure that she at least suspects what her son did。〃
〃But if you know； why don't you do something！？ Why hasn't the lector done anything？〃
Dinivan bowed his head； a look of pain on his face。 〃Because that is one of the things I haven't told him。 I am sure he has heard the rumors； however。〃
Miriamele put her plate on the bed。 〃Elysia； Mother of God！ Why haven't you told him； Dinivan？〃
〃Because I cannot prove it； nor can I reveal the source of my information。 And there is nothing he could do without proof； my lady； except to upset an already strained situation。 There are other grave problems in Nabban； Princess。〃
〃Please。〃 She waved her hand impatiently。 〃Here I sit in a monk's robe； wearing my hair like a boy； and everyone is my enemy but you…or so it seems。 Call me Miriamele。 And tell me what is happening in Nabban。〃
〃I will tell you a little； but most should wait。 I have not entirely ignored my secretarial duties： my master the lector would like you to e to see him in the Sancellan Aedonitis and we will have plenty of time to talk as we ride。〃 He shook his head。 〃It is enough to say that people are unhappy； that the doom…criers who once were scorned in the streets of Nabban are suddenly the subject of great attention。 Mother Church is under siege。〃 He bent forward； staring at his large hands as he searched for words。 〃The people feel a shadow over them。 Although they cannot name it； still it darkens their world。 Leobardis' death…and your uncle was much…beloved； Miriamele…has shaken his subjects； but it is rumor that truly frightens them： rumor of things worse than war in the north； worse than any contending of princes。〃
Dinivan stood and pulled the door all the way open to let in the breeze。 The sea below was flat and glossy。 〃The doom…shouters say that a force is arising to cast down Holy Usires Aedon and the kings of men。 In the public squares they cry that all must prepare to bow to a new sovereign； the rightful master of Osten Ard。〃
He came back and stood over Miriamele。 Now she could see the signs of deep worry on his face。 〃In some dark places a name is even being whispered…the name of this ing scourge。 They whisper of the Storm King。〃
Miriamele let out her breath in a great sigh。 Even the staring sun of noon could not disperse the shadows that seemed to e crowding into the tower room。
〃They spoke of these things at Naglimund；〃 Miriamele said later； as they stood outside on the walkway looking out over the water。 〃The old man at Naglimund； Jarnauga； seemed to think the end of the world was ing； too。 But I did not hear everything。〃 She turned to look at Dinivan； fierce grief upon her slender face。 〃They kept things from me because I'm a girl。 That's not right…I'm smarter than most of the men I know！〃
Dinivan did not smile。 〃I've no doubt of that； Miriamele。 In fact； I think you should seek a greater challenge than merely being wiser than men。〃
〃But I left Naglimund to do something；〃 she continued unhappily。 〃Hah！ That was smart； wasn't it？ I thought I'd bring Leobardis in on my uncle's side； but he already was。 And then he was killed； so what good did it do Josua anyway？〃 She trooped a little way around the tower until she looked out on the spine of the cliff and the backslope that fell away into a green valley。 Rolling hills stretched beyond； brushed with rippling light as the wind moved among the grasses。 She tried to imagine the end of the world and could not do so。 〃How do you know Cadrach？〃 she asked at last。
〃Cadrach is a name I never heard until you mentioned it；〃 he replied。 〃1 knew him as Padreic； long years ago。〃
〃How many years ago could that be？〃 Miriamele smiled。 〃You're not that old。〃
The priest shook his head。 〃I have a young face； I suppose； but actually I am nearing forty years…not much younger than your Uncle Josua。〃
She scowled。 〃All right； many years ago。 Where did you know him？〃
〃Here and elsewhere。 We were members of the same 。 。 。 order； I suppose you would say。 But something happened to Padreic。 He fell away from us； and when I later heard tell of him the stories were not good。 It seemed that he had descended into very bad ways。〃
〃I'll say。〃 Miriamele made a face。
Dinivan looked at her curiously。 〃And how did you happen to give him this unexpected…and no doubt undesired…bath？〃
She told him about their trip together； about Cadrach's suspected small treacheries and her confirmation of his larger one。 When she had finished； Dinivan led her inside again； where Miriamele found her hunger had returned。
〃He has not done right by you； Miriamele； but has not； I think； done entirely wrong either。 There may be hope