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The silence stretched。 Tiamak waited； unsure whether he should say more。 He knew Isgrimnur far better than he had known the duke's tall son； whom he had met only once； in Likimeya's tent。
〃He was not the only one to die；〃 Isgrimnur said at last。 He rubbed at his nose。 〃And there are the living to be taken care of。〃 He picked up a stick and tossed it into the fire； then blinked at it with an intent fury。 Tears glinted on his eyelashes。 The silence grew again； swelling to almost frightening proportions before Isgrimnur broke it。 〃Ah； Tiamak； why wasn't it me？ His life was ahead。 I am old。 My life is over。〃
The Wrannaman shook his head。 He knew there was no answer to that question。 No one could plumb the reasoning of They Who Watch and Shape。 No one。
The duke dragged his sleeve across his eyes； then cleared his throat。 〃Enough。 Time for mourning will e。〃 He turned back to Tiamak； and the Wrannaman for the first time saw the truth of Isgrimnur's words： the duke was old； a man long past his prime。 Only his great vitality had masked it； and now； as though the struts had been kicked from beneath him； he sagged。 Tiamak felt anger that such a good man should suffer。
But everyone has suffered； he told himself。 Now is the time to gather strength； to try to understand and to decide what es next。
〃Tell me what happened； Tiamak。〃 The duke forced himself to sit upright； restoring a semblance of self…discipline he clearly needed。 〃Tell me what you saw。〃
〃Surely I have little to say that you 。 。 。〃 the Wrannaman began。
〃Just tell me。〃 Isgrimnur shifted his broken arm to a more fortable position。 〃We have a while before Strangyeard can e and join us； but I imagine you have spoken to him already。〃
Tiamak nodded。 〃When I was putting salve on his wounds。 Everyone has stories to tell； and none of them pleasant to hear。〃 He posed himself for a moment； then began。 〃I traveled with the Sithi for what seemed a long time before we found Josua。。。。〃
〃So you believe Josua was dead already？〃 The calmness of the duke's deep voice was belied by the unhappy nervousness of his free hand； which passed in and out of his beard； tugging and plucking。 His beard looked thinner and shabbier； as though he had pulled at it too often in recent days。
Tiamak nodded sadly。 〃He was struck very hard on the neck by the king's sword。 There was a terrible noise when it hit； a snapping； and then the blood。。。 。〃 The small man shuddered。 〃He could not have survived it。〃
Isgrimnur brooded for a moment； then shook his head。
〃Ah； well。 I thank Usires Aedon in His mercy that at least Josua did not suffer。 An unhappy man； though I loved him。 An unhappy ending。〃 He looked up at a shout in the distance； then turned his gaze back to the Wrannaman。 〃And you were then knocked senseless yourself。〃
〃I remember nothing after I heard the bell again。。。 until I awakened。 I was still in the place where the bells hung； but I did not know it at first。 All I could see was that I was surrounded by a whirlpool of fire and smoke and strange shadows。
〃I tried to climb to my feet； but my head was spinning and my legs would not work properly。 Someone caught at my arm and dragged at me until I could rise。 At first 1 thought I had gone mad； because no one was there。 Then I looked down and saw that it was Binabik who had helped me。
〃 'Hurry；' he told me； 'this place is falling into pieces。' He pulled at me again…I was dazed and did not entirely understand him。 Smoke was everywhere and the floor was pitching beneath my feet with loud grinding noises。 As I stood wavering； another shape appeared。 It was Miriamele； and she was dragging a body across the floor with great effort。 It took me a moment to see through the dust and ashes that it was the young man Simon。
〃 'I killed him；' Miriamele was saying over and over。 Tears were streaming down her face。 I did not understand why she thought she had killed Simon when I could see his fingers moving； his chest rising and falling。 Binabik hastened to help her and they pulled Simon across the floor toward the stairwell。 I followed them。 A moment later the tower shook again and a great chunk of stone fell down and shattered on the spot where I had stood。〃 Tiamak reached down and pointed at the cloth wrapped around his leg。 〃A piece flew free and cut me； but not badly。〃 He straightened up。
〃Miriamele wanted to go back for Josua； but the floor was shaking powerfully now； and more pieces of the ceiling and walls were crumbling。 Binabik was doubtful； and they began to argue。 My wits were ing back。 I told them that the king had broken Josua's neck； that I had seen it happen。 Miriamele was hard to understand…she seemed to be half…asleep； despite the tears…but she had begun to say something about Camaris when one of the bells broke loose and smashed down through the floor。 We could hear it clang as it struck on something below。 Smoke was everywhere。 I was coughing； and my eyes were as wet as Miriamele's。 I did not much care at the moment； but I felt sure that we would be burned or smashed to death； that I would never know what had happened to cause all this。
〃Binabik grabbed Miriamele's arm； pointing to the ceiling； shouting that there was no time。 Simon would be difficult enough to carry。 She fought him for a moment； but her heart was not in it。 The three of us picked Simon up as best we could…he was limp； it made him very difficult to carry…and we scuttled into the stairwell。
〃The smoke was not so thick down below the first turn。 The fire seemed to burn only in the bellchamber； although I heard Binabik say something that made it sound as if the whole tower had been in flames just instants before。 But even if it was easier to breathe； I was still certain we would not survive to reach the ground： the tower was pitching like a tree in a strong wind。 I have heard that in days long past one or two of the southernmost islands of Firannos Bay disappeared because the earth shook so hard that the sea swallowed them。 If that is true； their last moments must have felt like this。 We could barely keep on our feet in the narrow stairwell。 Several times 1 was thrown against one of the walls； and we were lucky we only dropped poor Simon twice。 Stone was shivering down and dust was everywhere； choking me as thoroughly as the smoke had。〃
Tiamak paused and pressed his fingers against his temples。 His head hurt。 Remembering the desperate flight down the stairs made it ache almost as badly as it had then。
〃We had gone down a little farther…it was fearfully difficult to make our way； and the very steps seemed to be breaking apart beneath our feet…when a figure appeared out of the dust below us。 It was smeared with ash and grime and blood； and its eyes stared。 At first I thought it some horrible demon that Pryrates had summoned； but Miriamele cried 'Cadrach！'； and I recognized him。 I was astonished； of course…I had no idea how he of all people had appeared in this place。 I could hardly hear him above the groaning and rumbling of the tower； but he said： 'I waited for you' to no one in particular； then turned and led us down the stairs。 I was angry and frightened； and I could not help wondering why he did not offer to help carry Simon； who was a terrible load for a young woman； a troll； and a small man like me to bear。 Simon was now beginning to move a little more； mumbling to himself and struggling weakly。 It made him even more difficult to carry。
〃Then there was a time I can hardly remember。 We went as fast as we could； but there seemed little chance we would escape before the tower collapsed pletely。 We were still very high up； maybe ten times a man's height。 As we passed one of the windows； 1 saw the tower's spire hanging crookedly； as if the whole tower bowed from the waist。 You notice strange things at such times； I suppose； and I saw that the bronze angel at the spire's tip had its arms extended as though it was poised to fly away； Suddenly the whole spire shivered； broke loose； and fell down out of sight。
〃There were cracks in the walls of the stairwell wide enough to put your arm into； Isgrimnur。 Through some of them I could see gray sky。
〃Then the tower shook again； so strongly that we fell down on the stairs。 It kept shaking； it was almost impossible to regain our feet； but we did at last。 When we had scrambled down a few more paces； the twisting of the staircase suddenly opened onto nothing。 The side of the tower wall had gone； fallen away outward： I could see it lying in great shards； spread out on the snow beneath； white on white。 A great chunk of the staircase had gone with it； so that there was a gap many paces across； and beneath lay a fall of twenty cubits onto darkness and broken stone。〃
Tiamak paused for a moment。 〃What happened next is strange。 Had I stayed in my swamp； I would not believe this tale from someone else。 But I have seen things that have changed what I believe is possible。〃
Isgrimnur nodded somberly。 〃As have I。 Go on； man。〃
〃We were stopped at the gap； staring hopelessly at the bits of rubble working loose from the ragged edge and tumbling down into shadows。〃
〃 'So here it ends；' Miriamele said。 I must say that she did not sound particularly upset。 She was fey； Isgrimnur。 She had worked as hard as any of us to stay alive； but she seemed to do it only to help the rest of us。
〃 'It is not over 。 。。' Cadrach said。 The monk sank to his knees beside the edge of the pit and spread his hands flat over the nothingness。 The tower was quivering itself apart； and it seemed to me that the man was praying… although I admit I could think of nothing better to do at that point。 As he did； he twisted his face like a man lifting a heavy load。 At last he looked over his shoulder to Miriamele。 'Now cross；' he said。 His voice was strained。
〃 'Cross？' She stared at him。 There was anger on her face； strong anger。 'What final trick of yours is this？'
〃 'You once said 。。。 only trust me again 。。。 when stars shone at midday；' the monk said softly。 Every word was an effort。 I could barely hear him； and 1 could not understand what he intended or what he was talking about。 'You saw them；' he said。 'They were there。'
〃She looked at him for what seemed like a dreadfully long time as the tower trembled。 Then she gently set Simon's shoulders down and took a step toward the pit。 I reached out to pull her back； but Binabik stopped me。 He had a strange look on his face。 So did she； for that matter。 So did Cadrach。
〃Miriamele closed her eyes； then stepped out from the edge。 I was certain that she would fall down and be killed； and I may have shouted something； but she walked out onto the solid air as though the stone steps were still there。 Isgrimnur； there was nothing beneath her feet！〃
〃I believe you；〃 the duke grunted。 〃I have been told Cadrach was once a mighty man。〃
〃She opened her eyes and did not look down； but turned to Binabik and me and beckoned us to bring Simon。 For the first time； there was something lively in her face again； but it was not happiness。 We wrestled Simon down…he was groaning by then； awakening…and she reached up and took his feet； then began to back away over the nothingness。 I could not believe what she was doing…what I was about to do！ I slitted my eyes so I could see only Miriamele moving carefully downward； and followed her。 Binabik was beside me； holding Simon's other shoulder。 He looked between his feet； but then looked up again very quickly。 Even a mountain…troll has some limits； it seems。
〃It took us a long time。 There were still things like steps beneath us； we could not see them； and we had no idea how far to either side they extended； so we went very carefully。 The tower was making deep moaning noises now； as though its roots were being plucked from the ground。 If I live a thousand years； Isgrimnur； I will never forget walking across nothingness and trying to stay on my feet as everything pitched and tipped！ He Who Always Steps on Sand was truly with us。 Truly。
〃At last we reached a place where there was real stone。 As I stepped onto it and let out my breath； I looked back。 Cadrach was on the far side still。 His face was gray as ashes and his sides were heaving。 He looked like a drownin