e southern seas。 The ruins of Kementari stand somewhere on Warinsten Island； birth…home of your king Prester John； but no one； I think； has seen them for years and years。 Also long unseen are Mezutu'a and Hikehikayo； both lost beneath Osten Ard's northwestern mountains。 The last； Nakkiga； now that my thought is upon it； you have already seen as well…or you have in a way 。 。〃
〃What does that mean？〃
〃Nakkiga was the city the Norns built long ago in the shadow of Stormspike； before they were retreating into the great ice mountain itself。 On the dream…road with Geloe and myself you visited it； but doubtless you overlooked its crumbling remains beside the mountain's immensity。 So in a way； then； you have visited Nakkiga also。〃
Simon shuddered； remembering a vision of the endless icy halls within Stormspike； of the ghost…white faces and burning eyes that shone in its depths。 〃That was as close as I ever want to be；〃 he said。 He squinted his eyes； staring at the sky。 The birds still circled lazily overhead。 〃Are those ravens？〃 he asked Binabik； pointing。 〃They've been staying just above our heads for some time。〃
The troll looked upward。 〃Ravens； yes； and large ones they are as well。〃 He grinned wickedly。 〃Perhaps they are waiting for us to fall down very dead； and so aid them in their searching for sustenance。 A pity it is to disappoint them； is it not？〃
Simon grunted。 〃Maybe they can tell I'm starving…that I won't last much longer。〃
Binabik nodded solemnly。 〃How thoughtless I am being。 Of course； Simon； it is indeed true that you have had no food since breaking your fast； and…Chukku's Stones！ You poor fellow！ That has been an hour ago！ You must be fast approaching the awful moment of finalness。〃 Finished with this bit of sarcasm； he began to rummage in his pack； steadying himself against Qantaqa's back with his other hand。 〃Perhaps I can discover for you some dried fish。〃
〃Thank you。〃 Simon tried to sound enthusiastic…after all； any food was better than no food。
As Binabik performed his laborious search； Simon looked up at the sky once more。 The swarm of black birds still hovered silently； wind…tossed beneath the somber clouds like tattered rags。
The raven strutted on the windowsill； feathers fluffed against the chill air。 Others of his kind； grown fat and insolent on gibbet…leavings； crowed raucously in the leafless branches beyond the window。 No other sounds drifted up from the silent； deserted courtyard。
Even as it preened its shiny black feathers； the raven kept a bright yellow eye cocked； when the goblet came flying toward it like a sling… stone； it had more than enough time to drop from the sill with a harsh cry； spreading its wings to flutter up and join its kin m the barren treetop。 The dented goblet rolled in an uneven circle on the stone floor before lurching to a halt A thin wisp of steam rose from the dark liquor that had splattered beneath the wmdowsill。
〃I hate their eyes；〃 King Elias said。 He reached for a fresh goblet； but used this one for its proper and intended purpose。 〃Those damned sneaking yellow eyes。〃 He wiped his lip。 〃I think they're spying on me。〃
〃Spying； Majesty？〃 Guthwulf said slowly。 He did not want to send Elias into one of his thunderstorm rages。 〃Why would birds spy？〃
The high king fixed him with a green stare； then a grin split his pale face。 〃Oh； Guthwulf； you are so innocent； so undefiled！〃 He chuckled harshly。 〃e； pull that chair closer。 It is good to speak with an honest man once more。〃
The Earl of Utanyeat did as his king bade him； sliding forward until less than an ell separated his stool from the yellowing mass of the Dragonbone Chair。 He kept his eyes averted from the black…scabbarded sword that hung at the High King's side。
〃I do not know what you mean by 'innocent；' Elias；〃 he said； inwardly cursing the stiffness he heard in his own voice。 〃God knows； we have both of us labored mightily in the Chapel of Sin in our time。 However； if you mean innocent of any treachery toward my king and friend； then I accept the name gladly。〃 He hoped he sounded more certain than he felt。 The very word 〃treachery〃 made his heart gallop these days； and the rotting fruit hanging from the distant gibbet was only one reason。
Elias seemed to sense none of Guthwulfs misgivings。 〃No； old friend； no I meant the word kindly。〃 He took another swig of the dark liquid。 〃There are so few I can trust these days。 I have a thousand； thousand enemies。〃 The king's face took on a brooding cast which only accentuated his pallor； the lines of weariness and strain。 〃Pryrates is gone to Nabban； as you know；〃 he said at last。 〃You may speak freely。〃
Guthwulf felt a sudden spark of hope。 〃Do you suspect Pryrates of treachery； sire？〃
The spark was quickly extinguished。
〃No； Guthwulf； you misunderstand me。 I meant that I know you are not fortable around the priest。 That is not surprising； I once found his pany difficult as well。 But I am a different man； now。 A different man。〃 The king laughed oddly； then raised his voice to a shout。 〃Hangfisk！ Bring me more…and be swift； damn you！〃
The king's new cupbearer appeared from the next room； a sloshing ewer in his pink hands。 Guthwulf watched him sourly。 Not only was he positive that this pop…eyed Brother Hengfisk was a spy for Pryrates； but there was something else gravely wrong with him as well。 The monk's face seemed forever fixed in an idiot grin； as though he were burning up inside with some splendid joke he could not share。 The Earl of Utanyeat had tried to speak to him once in the hallway； but Hengfisk had only stared at him unspeaking； his smile so wide it seemed his face might split in half。 With any other servitor but the king's cupbearer； Guthwulf would have struck him for such insolence； but he was uneasy about what Elias might take offense at these days。 Also； there was an unpleasant look to the half…witted monk； his skin slightly raw； as though the upper layer had burned and peeled away。 Guthwulf was in no hurry to touch him。
As Hengfisk poured the dark liquid into the king's goblet； a few smoking drops spattered onto the monk's hands； but the cupbearer did not flinch。 A moment later he scuttled out； still wearing his lunatic grin。 Guthwulf restrained a shudder。 Insanity！ What had the kingdom e to？
Elias had ignored the whole episode； his eyes fixed on something beyond the window。 〃Pryrates does have。。。 secrets；〃 he said at last； slowly； as though carefully considering each word。
The earl forced himself to pay attention。
〃But he has none from me；〃 the king continued； 〃…whether he realizes it or not。 One thing he thinks I do not know is that my brother Josua survived the fall of Naglimund。〃 He raised a hand to still Guthwulfs exclamation of surprise。 〃Another secret…that…is…no…secret he plans to do away with you。〃
〃Me？〃 Guthwulf was caught by surprise。 〃Pryrates plans to kill me？〃 The anger that welled within him had a core of sudden fear。
The king smiled； lips pulling back from his teeth like the grin of a cornered dog。 〃I do not know if he plans to kill you； Wolf； but he wishes you out of the way。 Pryrates thinks I place too much trust in you when he deserves all my attention。〃 He laughed； a harsh bark。
〃But 。。。 but Elias。。。〃 Guthwulf was caught off guard。 〃What will you do？〃
〃Me？〃 The king's gaze was unnervingly calm。 〃I will do nothing。 And neither will you。〃
〃What！？〃
Elias leaned back into his throne； so that for a moment his face vanished m the shadow beneath the great dragon's skull。 〃You may protect yourself； of course；〃 he said cheerfully。 〃I merely mean I cannot allow you to kill Pryrates…assuming you could； which isn't something I'm too certain of。 Quite frankly； old friend； at this moment he is more important to me than you are。〃
The king's words hung in the air； seeming so much the stuff of madness that for a moment Guthwulf felt sure he was dreaming。 As moments passed and the chill room did not waver into some other shape； he had to force himself to speak once more。
〃I don't understand。〃
〃Nor should you。 Not yet。〃 Elias leaned forward； his eyes bright as lamps burning behind thin green glass。 〃But some