〃That is another thing for concern；〃 Binabik agreed grimly。 〃Another day or two days； then we will be three travelers only in the Waste。〃 He turned as a large gray shape appeared at his elbow； panting hugely。 Qancaqa nudged him impatiently with her broad nose。 〃Four travelers； if I may be pardoned；〃 he amended； but did not smile。
Simon felt himself empty as they started down Sikkihoq's last reaches； hollowed out； so that if he stood just right the wind might whistle through him。 Another friend was gone； and home was only a word。
9
Cold Weather and Curses
EVENING light was failing。 Prince Josua's tattered minions were tumbled all together beneath a tangle of willows and cypresses in a moss…carpeted gulley that had once been a riverbed。 A slender； muddy trickle ran along in the middle； all that remained of the watercourse。 Above them rose a hilly slope whose heights were hidden behind close…crowding trees。
They had hoped to be atop the rise when the sun went down； a defensive position superior to anything they could hope to find in this thick…shrouded valley； but twilight was now imminent and the pany's progress had slowed to a crawl。
Either they had guessed correctly； Deornoth reflected； and the Norns were indeed trying to herd them rather than kill them； or else they had been very lucky。 Arrows had flown in biting swarms throughout the day。 Several had found targets； but none of the wounds had been mortal Einskaldir had been struck on his helmet； causing a gash above his eye that wept blood all the long afternoon。 The back of Isorn's neck had been slashed by another arrow； and Lady Vorzheva had received a long； bloody weal on her forearm。
Surprisingly； Vorzheva had seemed almost unaffected by her injury； binding it with a strip of her tattered skirt and plodding on without a word of plaint。 Deornoth had been impressed by this show of courage； but had also wondered if it might not be an indication of dangerous and despairing unconcern。 She and Prince Josua were pointedly not speaking with each other。 Vorzheva's face turned grim whenever the prince was near。
Josua； Father Strangyeard； and Duchess Gutrun had so far escaped damage。 Ever since their fleeing troop had reached the gulley and had taken advantage of its scanty protection to fall down exhausted； they had all been busily engaged in binding of wounds。 At the moment； the priest was tending to Towser； who had fallen sick during the march； the other pair were looking after Sangfugol's injuries。
Even if the Norns do not mean to kill us； they obviously intend to stop us； Deornoth thought； rubbing his aching leg。 Perhaps they no longer care whether we have one of the Great Swords； or perhaps their spies told them we do not。 But why don't they simply kill us； then？ Do they wish to capture Josua？ Trying to understand the Norns was dizzying。 What should we do； in any case？ Is it better to be shot to pieces and then captured； or to turn and fight to the death？
But did they even have a choice？ The Norns were mere shadows in the forest。 As long as they had arrows to shoot； the white…faced pursuers could do as they wished。 What could Josua's folk do to force them to fight？
Fog was forming rapidly on the damp ground； turning the trees and stones indistinct； as though Josua's people were trapped in some between…world that straddled life and death。 An owl flitted silently overhead like a gray ghost。
Deornoth struggled to his feet and went to help Strangyeard。 The prince came to join them； watching as the priest swabbed Towser's feverish brow with his kerchief。
〃It is a pity。。。〃 Strangyeard said without looking up。 〃A pity； I mean； that the fog is everywhere； but we still have so little clean water Even the ground is wet； but it does us no good。〃
〃If tonight is as damp and cold as the last；〃 Deornoth said； grasping Towser's hand as the old man fretfully clutched at the kerchief； 〃we will be able to wring out our clothes and fill the Kynslagh 〃
〃We must not spend the night here；〃 Josua said。 〃We must get to high ground。 〃
Deornoth looked at him carefully。 The prince was showing no signs of his earlier lassitude…in fact； Josua's eyes were bright。 He seemed to be ing back to life just as all around him were dying。 〃But how； my prince？' Deornoth asked。 〃How can we hope to drag our bleeding bodies up that hill？ We do not even know how high it is。〃
Josua nodded； but said： 〃Nevertheless； we must climb it before dark。 What little ability to resist that we retain will be useless if they can e down on us from above。〃
His fierce face daubed with dried blood； Einskaldir came and crouched beside them。 〃If only they would e within reach。〃 He dandled his axe and laughed sourly。 〃If we show ourselves； they pick us to pieces。 They see better in dark than us。 〃
〃We must go up the slope all in a herd；〃 the prince said； 〃…huddled up like frightened cattle。 Those on the outside will wrap their legs and arms in whatever thick clothing we have。 That way； if they fear to make a fatal shot； they will be perhaps less likely to let fly into a crowd； where the missed wounding in the front may take a life in the rear。〃
Einskaldir grunted。 〃So we make us an unmissable target…cannot shoot one without shooting more。 Madness！〃
Josua turned on him sharply。 〃You are not answerable for the lives of this pany； Einskaldir。 I am！ If you would fight your own way； then go！ If you would remain with us； then be silent and do as I say。〃
Several among the pany who had been talking fell silent； waiting。 The Rimmersman stared at Josua for a moment； his eyes blank； his bearded jaw twitching。 Then he smiled in grim admiration。
〃Hola…yes； Prince Josua；〃 was all Einskaldir said。
The prince put a hand on Deornoth's shoulder。 〃We can do nothing else； even when hope is gone； but struggle on 。 。 。〃
〃There is still hope； if you will hear it。〃
Deornoth turned； expecting to find Duchess Gutrun standing by…for it had seemed an older's woman's voice； deep and a little hoarse…but Gutrun was tending the harper Sangfugol and was too far away to have been the source。
〃Who speaks？〃 Josua said； staring away from his panions； out into the forest。 He drew his slender sword from its scabbard。 Those around him fell silent； sensing his alarm。 〃I said； who speaks？〃
〃I do；〃 the voice replied in a matter…of…fact way。 The accent was that of one not native to the Westerling speech。 〃I did not want to catch you unaware。 There is hope； i said。 I e as a friend。〃
〃Norn tricks！〃 Einskaldir snarled； hefting his axe as he tilted his head to locate the source of the voice。
Josua raised his hand to hold him back and called： 〃If you are a friend； then why do you not e forward？〃
〃Because I have not finished changing and I do not want to frighten you。 Your friends are my friends…Morgenes of the Hayholt； Binabik of Yiqanuc。〃
Deornoth felt the hair stirring on his neck at the invisible being's words。 To hear those names here； in the middle of unknown Aldheorte！ 〃Who are you？〃 he cried。
There was a rustling in the shadowed undergrowth。 A strangely…shaped figure stepped toward them through the rising fog。 No； Deornoth realized； there were two figures； one large and one small。
〃In this part of the world；〃 the taller one said； with what sounded like a touch of amusement in her harsh voice； 〃I am known as Geloe。〃
〃Valada Geloe！〃 Josua breathed。 〃The wise woman。 Binabik spoke of you。〃
〃Some say wise； some say witch；〃 she answered。 〃Binabik is small but polite。 Such things we may talk about later； however。 Now it grows dark。〃
She was not tall or particularly large； but there was something in her posture that spoke of strength。 Her short…cropped hair was mostly gray； her nose prominent and sharp； with a downward curve。 Geloe's most arresting feature was her eyes： wide and heavy…lidded； they caught the dying sun with a peculiar yellow gleam； reminding Deornoth of nothing so much as a hawk or owl。 So striking were they that it was some time before he noticed the young girl whose hand she held。
This one was small； perhaps eight or nine years； and pale of face。 Her eyes； although an unexcep