ke all right。 But my old teachers would agree with you。 I was frequently told that my questions were the devil's tongue speaking in my head。 Lector Ranessin； when he offered me the position of his secretary； told my teachers： Better the devil's tongue to argue and question than a silent tongue and an empty head。' Some of the Church's more proper priests find Ranessin a difficult master。〃 Here Dinivan frowned。 〃But they know nothing。 He is the best man on earth。〃
During the long afternoon Cadrach allowed the distance between himself and his panions to diminish gradually； until at last they were riding nearly side…by…side once more。 This concession did not loosen his lips； however； although he seemed to be listening to Miriamele's questions and Dinivan's stories of the land through which they passed； he did not in any way join the conversation。
The cloud…strewn sky had turned orange and the sun was streaming into their eyes as they approached the walled town of Grants Sacrana； the spot Dinivan had chosen for them to spend the night。 The town sat on a bluff overlooking the Coast Road。 The hills all around； sunset brushed； were tangled with grape vines。
To the travelers' surprise； a squad of guardsmen sat mounted at the broad gate questioning those who sought entrance。 They were not local…levied troops； but armored men wearing the gold kingfisher of the royal Benidrivine House。 When Dinivan gave their names…choosing Cadrach's by default and offering 〃Malachias〃 on the princess' behalf…they were told that they must ride on and harbor elsewhere that night。 〃And why should such a thing be？〃 Dinivan demanded。 The sheepish guardsman could only stubbornly repeat his order。
〃Then let me speak to your sergeant。〃
The sergeant； when produced； echoed his subordinate's words。
〃But why； man？〃 the priest asked hotly。 〃By whose orders？ Is there plague here； or something like？〃
〃Something like indeed；〃 the sergeant said； scratching his long nose in a worried manner。 〃It's by the orders of Duke Benigaris himself； or so I take it to be。 I have his seal on it。〃
〃And I bear the seal of the Lector Ranessin；〃 Dinivan said； producing a ring from his pocket and waggling its blood…red ruby beneath the startled sergeant's nose。 〃Know that we are on the holy business of the Sancellan Aedonitis。 Is there plague； or what？ If there is no dangerous air or diseased water； we will stay here tonight。〃
The troop…sergeant took off his helmet and squinted at Dinivan's signet ring。 When he looked up； his thick face was still troubled。
〃As I said； Your Eminence；〃 he begun unhappily； 〃it's like a plague。 It's those madmen； those Fire Dancers。〃
〃What are Fire Dancers？〃 Miriamele asked； remembering to imitate a boy's gruff tones。
〃Doom…criers；〃 Dinivan said grimly。
〃If that were all；〃 the sergeant said； spreading his hands helplessly。 He was a large man； broad…shouldered and thick…legged； but he looked quite undone。 〃They're mad； the lot of them。 Duke Benigaris has manded that we 。。。 well； keep a watch over them。 We are not to interfere； but I thought that at least we could keep more strangers from ing in 。。。〃 He trailed off； looking uneasily at Dinivan's ring。
〃We are not strangers； and as the lector's secretary I am in little danger of falling under the sway of these people's exhortations；〃 Dinivan said sternly。 〃So let us in； that we may find shelter for the night。 We have ridden long。 We are tired。〃
〃Very well； Your Eminence；〃 the sergeant said； waving for his troops to unblock the gates。 〃But I take no responsibility 。。。〃
〃We all take responsibility in this life； every one of us；〃 the priest responded seriously； then softened his expression。 〃But our Lord Usires understands about difficult burdens。〃 He made the sign of the Tree as they rode in past the sergeant's jostling men…at…arms。
〃That soldier seemed very upset；〃 Miriamele said as they clattered up the central row。 Many houses were shuttered； but pale faces peeped from doorways； watching the travelers。 For a town the size of Granis Sacrana； the streets were surprisingly empty。 Small groups of soldiers rode back and forth from the gates； but only a few other folk hurried along the dusty street； darting uneasy glances at Miriamele and her panions before dropping their eyes and hustling on。
〃The troop…sergeant is not the only one；〃 Dinivan answered as they rode along in the shadows of the tall houses and shops。 〃Fear sweeps through all Nabban like a plague these days。〃
〃Fear goes where it is invited；〃 Cadrach said quietly； but turned away from their questioning looks。
When they reached the marketplace in the center of town they discovered why Grants Sacrana's streets were so preternaturally empty。 A crowd stood half a dozen deep around the town square； whispering and laughing。 Although the final glimmers of afternoon still warmed the horizon； the torches had been lit in their sconces all around the square； throwing quivering shadows into the dark places between houses and illuminating the white robes of the Fire Dancers； who swayed and shouted in the middle of the mons。
〃There must be a hundred of them or more！〃 Miriamele said in surprise。 Dinivan wore a scowling； worried face。 Some in the watching crowd were shouting derisively or throwing stones and refuse at the capering dancers； but others stared intently； even fearfully； as if at some animal upon which they feared to turn their backs。
〃Too late for repentance'〃 one of the robed ones screeched； bounding away from his fellows to bob up and down like a jumping jack before the front row of spectators。 The crowd eddied away from him as if fearful of some contagion。 Too late；〃 he shouted。 His face； that of a young man with his first beard； split in a grin of glee。 〃Too late！ The dreams told us！ The master's ing！〃
Another of the white…clad figures climbed onto a stone in the center of the mons； waving to silence fellow dancers。 The watchers murmured as this one threw back a capacious hood； revealing the yellow…haired head of a woman。 She would have been very pretty； but for her staring eyes； white…rimmed in the torchlight； and her huge； ghastly smile。
〃The fire is ing！〃 she cried。 The other dancers capered and shouted； then quieted。 A few in the surrounding crowd called out insults； but quickly fell silent as she turned her burning eyes upon them。 〃Do not fear you will be left out；〃 she said； and in the sudden quiet her voice carried clearly。 〃The fires are ing for everyone…the fires and the ice that will bring the Great Change。 The master will spare no one who has not prepared for him。〃
〃You blaspheme against our true Ransomer； demon…lover！〃 Dinivan abruptly shouted； standing in his stirrups。 His voice was powerful。 〃You tell these people lies！〃
A few in the crowd repeated his words and their murmuring began to grow。 The woman in white turned and made a sign to some of the robed ones near her。 Several had been kneeling at the stone below her feet； as if in prayer； one of them now rose and walked across the courtyard as she stood staring imperiously outward； her mad eyes fixed on the lowering twilit sky。 He returned a moment later with a torch from one of the sconces； which she took and raised above her head。
〃What is Usires Aedon；〃 she screamed； 〃but a little wooden man on a little wooden tree？ What are any of the kings and queens of men but apes raised far above their station？ The master will throw down all that stands before him and his majesty shall rise above all the oceans and lands of Osten Ard！ The Storm King es！ He brings with him ice to freeze the heart； deafening thunder…and cleansing fire！〃
She threw the brand down at her feet。 A fierce sheet of flame leaped up around the rock。 Some of the other dancers shrieked as their robes caught fire。 The crowd pushed back with a shout of surprise as a wall of heat pushed out at them。
〃Elysia； Mother of God！〃 Dinivan's voice was full of horror。 〃So it shall be！〃 the woman shouted； even as the flames ran up her robe into her hair； crowning her with fire and smoke。 She was still smiling； a lost； damned smile。 〃He speaks in dreams！ Doom is ing！〃 The blaze mounted； obscuring her；