ix horses looked back； whinnying nervously。 The cavern floor was piled high with dried grass。
〃Good that is；〃 Binabik said； ing up beside him。 〃I had been fearing they might have run away； or the food might not have been of sufficiency。〃
〃Are they ours？〃 Simon asked； approaching slowly。 The nearest horse fluttered its lips and danced back a step； Simon held out his hand for it to smell。 〃I think they are。〃
〃Of course；〃 Binabik chuckled。 〃We Qanuc are not horse…murderers。 My folk put them here for safety when we were all taken up…mountain。 We also keep this place for our rams when they are birthing and the weather is cold。 From now on； Simon…friend； you need be walking no more。〃
After stroking the nearest horse； which submitted grudgingly but did not pull away； Simon saw the gray and black spotted mare he had ridden from Naglimund。 He moved toward her； wishing he had something to give her。
〃Simon；〃 Binabik called； 〃catch！〃
He turned in time to receive something small and hard； which crumbled slightly as he clutched it in his palm。
〃Salt；〃 Binabik said。 〃I brought it from Mintahoq。 I have brought one lump for each。 The rams have a great fondness for salt and I am guessing your horses will； too。〃
Simon offered it to the gray…and…black。 She took it； her mouth tickling his hand。 He stroked her powerful neck； feeling it tremble beneath his fingers。 〃I don't remember her name；〃 he whispered sadly。 〃Haestan told me； but I forgot。〃
Binabik shrugged and began distributing the salt among the other horses。
〃It's good to see you again；〃 Simon told the mare。 〃I'll give you a new name。 How about 'Homefinder'？〃
Names did not seem to be very important to her。 She flicked her tail and nosed Simon's pockets for more salt。
When Simon and Binabik got back to the fire the kangkang was flowing vigorously and the trolls were singing； rocking back and forth before the flames。 As they approached； Sisqi detached herself from the group and came to take Binabik's hand； silently laying her hooded head upon his shoulder。 From a distance the trolls sounded as though they were having a hilarious time of it； but as Simon drew nearer the expressions on their faces told differently。
〃Why do they look so sad； Binabik？〃
〃We are having a saying on Mintahoq；〃 the little man explained； 〃…'Mourning is for home。' When we are losing one of our folk on the trail we bury them in that place； but we save our tears until we are safe in our caves once more。 Nine of our folk died on Sikkihoq。〃
〃But you said 'mourn at home。' These people are not home yet。〃
Binabik shook his head； then answered a quiet question from Sisqi before returning his attention to Simon。 〃These hunters and herders are making ready for the ing of the rest of Yiqanuc's folk。 The word is even now flying from one mountain to another： the highlands are not a place of safety and spring is not ing。〃 The little man smiled wearily。 〃They are home； Simon…friend。〃
Binabik patted Simon's hand； then he and Sisqi veered off toward the fire to join the chorus。 The blaze was fed and the flames leaped higher； so that all the lake valley seemed to glow with orange light。 The mourning songs of the Qanuc echoed out across the still waters； carrying even above the bitter voice of the wind and the rush of the falls。
Simon went off in search of Sludig。 He found the Rimmersman bundled in his cloak a short distance from the fire； sitting on a rock with a skin full of kangkang between his knees。 Simon sat down beside him and took a long swallow from the offered wineskin； sucking cold air afterward。 He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and handed it back。
〃Have I told you of the Skipphavven； Simon？〃 Sludig asked； staring at the fire and the swaying trolls。 〃You have not seen beauty until you have seen the maidens who gather mistletoe from the mast of Sotfengsel； Elvrit's buried ship。〃 He took a drink and passed it to Simon。 〃Ah； sweet God； I hope Skali of Kaldskryke at least has enough Rimmersman pride to tend to the graves of the longships at the Skipphavven。 May he rot in hell。〃
Simon took two more long pulls on the wineskin； hiding the faces he made from Sludig。 The kangkang tasted awful； but it warmed him。 〃Skali is the one who took Duke Isgrimnur's land？〃 he asked。
Sludig looked over； a little blearily。 He had been working at the skin for some time。 〃He is。 Black…hearted； treacherous son of a wolf…bitch and a carrion crow。 May he rot in Hell。 It is blood feud now。〃 The Rimmersman pulled meditatively at his beard and turned his gaze upward to the stars。 〃It is blood feud all over the world； these days。〃
Simon looked up with him and saw an advancing line of dark clouds out of the northwest obscuring the stars along the horizon。 For a moment he thought he could see the Storm King's dark hand reaching out； blotting light and warmth。 He trembled； pulling his cloak tighter； but the cold did not go away。 He reached for the skin again。 Sludig was still staring upward。
〃We are very small；〃 Simon said between swallows。 The kangkang seemed to be flowing in his veins like blood。
〃So are the stars； kunde…manne；〃 Sludig murmured。 〃But they each one burn as bright as they can。 Have another drink。〃
Later…in truth； Simon was not sure exactly how much time had passed； or what had bee of Sludig…he found himself seated on a log beside the fire； Sisqi on one side of him； the bearded herder Shenneq on the other。 They were all holding hands。 Simon reminded himself to be gentle with the small； rough palms folded in his own。 All around him the trolls swayed and he swayed with them。 They sang； and although he did not understand the words of their song； he added his voice to theirs； listening to the brave roar they all made beneath the night sky； feeling his heart beating in his chest like a drum。
〃Do we really have to go today？〃 Simon asked； struggling to hold the saddle in place while Sludig tightened the belly…strap。 The single torch did not throw much light in the darkened cave that served as a stable。 Beyond the wall of spruces dawn was unfolding。
〃It is seeming a good thought to me；〃 Binabik said； voice muffled； his head hidden by a leather flap as he inspected the saddlebags。 〃Chukku's Stones！ Why am I not waiting until we are outside in the light？ Like hunting white weasels in deep snow； this is。〃
〃I would have liked a day to rest；〃 Simon said。 In fact； he was not feeling too badly； considering all the Qanuc liquor he had drunk the night before； but for a faint hammering m his temples and a certain weakness in his joints； he was doing fairly well。
〃As would I。 As also； no doubt； would Sludig 。。。〃 the troll replied。 〃Ah！ Kikkaksut！ There is something sharp in here！〃
〃Hold that damned thing！〃 Sludig growled as the saddle jerked free of Simon's grasp。 The horse nickered in irritation and jogged a step to the side before Simon grasped the saddle again。
〃But； you are seeing；〃 Binabik continued； 〃we have no knowledge how long it will take to cross the Waste。 If winter is spreading； the sooner this is done will make the better for us。 There are others； too； who may be carrying word of us to ears that are not friendly。 We are not knowing who survived Urmsheim from the huntsman's troop。 They saw Thorn； I am thinking。〃 He patted the sword； which was now wrapped in hides and strapped to the back of Simon's saddle。
The mention of Ingen Jegger made Simon's stomach…already uneasy after a morning meal of dried fish…twist。 He did not like to think of the terrible Queen's Huntsman in his snarling…muzzled helm； who had pursued them like an avenging ghost。
Please； God； Simon thought； let him be dead on the dragon…mountain。 We don't need any more enemies； especially one like him。
〃I suppose you're right；〃 he said heavily。 〃But I don't like it。〃
〃What was it that Haestan used to say？〃 Sludig asked； straightening up。 〃 'Now you know what it is like to be a soldier'？〃
〃That's what he used to say。〃 Simon smiled sadly。
Sisqinanamook and her folk gathered around as Simon and his panions brought out their saddled mounts。 The Qanuc men and women seemed torn between the ceremon