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ill holding the precious shard。 All he could think of was escaping from that terrible； empty black hood。 He wanted only to throw himself against the weight of his ropes until they burst； or gnaw them until he was free to run and run and run。。。。
The chanting of the Fire Dancers grew ragged； shouts of awe and terror intermixed with the ritualistic words。 Maefwaru stood before his congregation； waving his thick arms in horrified glee。
〃Veng'a Sutekh！〃 he shouted。 〃Duke of the Black Wind！ He is e to make the Master's Third House！〃
The great figure atop the bull stared down at him； then the hood turned slowly； surveying the hilltop。 Its invisible eyes passed across Simon like a freezing wind。
〃Oh； Usires on the T…T…Tree！〃 Miriamele moaned。 〃W…What is it？〃
Strangely； for a moment Simon's madness lessened； as though the fear had bee too great to sustain any longer。 He had never heard Miriamele so frightened； and her horrified voice pulled him back from the brink。 He realized that he still held the bit of crystal clutched between his stiffened fingers。
〃It is a bad 。。。 a bad thing；〃 he panted。 〃One of the Storm King's。。。〃 He caught at her wrist and began sawing away once more。 〃Oh； Miri； hold still。〃
She was gulping air。 〃I'll 。。。 try。。。。〃
The Norns had turned and were speaking to Maefwaru； who alone of his congregation seemed able to stand the sight of the bull and its rider： the rest of the Fire Dancers groveled in the tangled undergrowth； their chanting now entirely given way to sobs of almost ecstatic fear。 Maefwaru turned and gesticulated toward the tree where Simon and Miriamele were tied。
〃They're c…ing for us；〃 Simon stuttered。 As he spoke； the shard sliced through the last strands of Miriamele's ropes。 〃Cut mine； quick。〃
Miriamele half…turned； trying to use her fluttering cloak to hide what they were doing from their captors。 He could feel her vigorous movements as she dragged the edge of the crystal fragment back and forth across the thick hemp。 The Norns were making their way slowly across the hilltop toward them。
〃Oh； Aedon； they're ing！〃 Simon said。
〃I'm almost through！〃 she whispered。 He felt something gouge into his wrist； then Miriamele cursed。 〃I dropped it！〃
Simon hung his head。 So it was hopeless； then。 Beside him； he felt Miriamele hastily winding her own severed rope around her wrists once more so that it would appear she was still bound。
The Norns came on； their graceful walk and billowing robes making them almost seem to float over the rough ground。 Their faces were expressionless； their eyes black as the holes between stars。 They converged around the tree and Simon felt his arm caught in a cold； unbreakable grip。 One of the Norns severed the rope that had leashed the prisoners； then Simon and Miriamele were drawn stumbling across the hilltop toward the looming stone and the terrifying shape that had appeared from the red mist。
He felt his heart speeding as he neared the bull and its rider； racing faster with each step until he thought it would burst through the walls of his chest。 The Norns who held him were frighteningly alien； implacably hostile； but the fear they inspired was as nothing before the all…crushing terror of the Storm King's Red Hand。
The Norns flung him to the ground。 The bull's hooves； each wide as a barrel； were only a few cubits away。 He did not want to look； wanted only to keep his face pressed against the shielding vegetation； but something drew his head inexorably upward until he was staring at what seemed a shimmer of flame in the depths of the black hood。
〃We have e to raise the Third House；〃 the thing said。 Its stony voice rumbled both without and within Simon； shaking the ground and his bones as well。 〃What is。。。 this？〃
Maefwaru was so frightened and excited that his voice was a squeal。 〃I had a dream！ The Master wanted this one； great Veng'a Sutekh…I know that he did！〃
An invisible something abruptly grasped Simon's mind as a falcon's claws might seize a rabbit。 He felt his thoughts shaken and flung about with brutal abandon； so that he fell down onto his face； shrieking with pain and horror。 He only dimly heard the thing speak again。
〃We remember this little fly…but it is no longer wanted。 The Red Hand has other business now 。。。 and we need more blood before we are ready。 Add this one's life to that of the others upon the Wailing Stone。〃
Simon rolled over onto his back and stared up at the clouded； starless sky as the world reeled about him。
No longer wanted 。。。 The words spun crazily in his head。 Someone somewhere was calling his name。 No longer wanted 。。。
〃Simon！ Get up！〃
He dimly recognized Miriamele's voice； heard its shrill terror。 His head lolled。 There was a form approaching him； a pale smear in his blurry sight。 For an appalling moment he thought it might be the great bull； but his vision cleared。 Maefwaru was stalking toward him； the long knife held up so that it glinted in the bonfire's wavering light。
〃The Red Hand wants your blood；〃 the Fire Dancer chieftain said。 His eyes were pletely mad。 〃You will help to build the Third House。〃
Simon struggled to free himself from the tangling grasses and clamber up onto his knees。 Miriamele had thrown off her false bonds； and now flung herself toward Maefwaru。 One of the Norns caught at her arm and tugged her to his black…cloaked breast； pulling her as close as a lover would…but to Simon's surprise； the immortal did no more than hold her helpless； the Norn's black eyes were intent on Maefwaru； who had continued toward Simon without sparing an instant's attention to the girl。
Everything seemed to pause； even the fire seemed to slow in its fluttering。 The Red Hand； the Norns； Maefwaru's cowering followers； all stood or lay still； as if waiting。 The blocky Fire Dancer chieftain raised his knife higher。
Simon tugged furiously at his restraints； straining until he thought he could feel his muscles pulling free from his bones。 Miriamele had cut through part of the rope。
If only 。。。 if only 。。。
The rope snapped。 Simon's arms flew outward； and the coil slithered down his arm and dropped to the ground。 Blood dribbled down his wrists and hands where the shard had cut him； the ropes had scored him。
〃e； then；〃 he gasped； and lifted his hands before him。 〃e and get me。〃
Maefwaru laughed。 Beads of sweat stood out on his brow and bald scalp。 The thick muscles of his neck jumped as he pulled another knife from inside his robe。 For a moment Simon thought the Fire Dancer was going to throw it to him； to make it a fair fight； but Maefwaru had no such intentions。 A blade in each hand； he took another step toward Simon。 He stumbled； caught himself； then strode forward another pace。
A moment later Maefwaru straightened up； bringing his hands to his neck so suddenly that he gashed himself with his own knife。 His furious joy turned to puzzlement； then his legs folded beneath him and he toppled forward into the undergrowth。
Before Simon could make sense of what was happening； a shadowy form flew past him and struck the Norn who prisoned Miriamele； knocking the white…skinned thing to the ground。 The princess tumbled free。
〃Simon！〃 someone shouted。 〃Take the knife！〃
Dazed； Simon saw the long blade that still gleamed in Maefwaru's fist。 He dropped to a knee…the night air was suddenly full of strange noises； growls and shouts and a strange rumbling hum…and tugged it loose from the Fire Dancer's death…grip； then stood up。
Even as his two fellows hurried to his aid； the Norn who had held Miriamele was rolling on the ground with a gray； snarling something。 The princess had crawled away； now； as she saw Simon； she scrambled to her feet and ran toward him； tripping on clinging vines and leaf…hidden stones。
〃Here； e here！〃 someone shouted from the edge of the hilltop。 〃This is the way！〃
As Miriamele reached him； Simon grabbed her hand and ran toward the voice。 A pair of Fire Dancers leaped up to stop them； but Simon slashed one with Maefwaru's knife； opening a red wound through the white robe； Miriamele escaped the other； scratching at the man's pan…
icky face as she pulled free of his grasp。 The rumbling roar of the thing atop the bull…it was speaking； Simon realized； but now he could no longer understand it…grew until Simon's head hammered。
〃Over here！〃 A small figure had emerged from the trees at the edge of the hilltop。 The roiling bonfire painted the little man in flame…colored light。
〃Binabik！〃
〃Run to me；〃 the troll cried。 〃With swiftness； now！〃
Simon could not help taking a look back。 By the sacrificial stone； the great bull snorted and pawed at the ground； tearing great furrows in the damp earth。 Ineluki's servitor was glowing； red light leaking through the black robes； but it made no move to pursue Simon and Miriamele； as though reluctant to leave the circle of blood…drenched ground。 One of the Norns lay with its neck ragged and red； another was sprawled nearby； a victim of one of the troll's darts。 The third black…robed figure was struggling with whatever had torn out its fellow's throat。 But the Fire Dancers were finally gathering their wits； and as Simon watched； half a dozen of Maefwaru's followers turned to follow the escaping prisoners。 An arrow flew past Simon's ear and vanished into the trees。
〃Down here；〃 Binabik said； hopping nimbly ahead of them down the hill。 He gestured for Simon and Miriamele to move past him； then stopped and raised his hands to his mouth。 〃Qantaqa！〃 he shouted。 〃Qantaqa sosa！〃
As they plunged down the hillside into the trees； the confusing roar grew slightly less behind them。 Before they had taken a score of steps； two shapes loomed before them in the mist…two horses。
〃They are tied with looseness；〃 the troll called down to them。 〃Climb and ride！〃
〃Here； Binabik； ride with me；〃 Simon panted。
〃There is no need；〃 he replied。 Simon looked up to see a large gray shape appear on the foggy rise just above Binabik。 〃Brave Qantaqa！〃 Binabik grabbed the wolf's hackles and pulled himself up onto her back。
The noise of pursuit was rising again。 Simon fumbled with the reins； pulling them free at last。 Beside him； Miriamele dragged herself up by her saddle hom。 Simon struggled onto his horse's back…it was Homefinder！ After all the other mad things that had happened； Simon was so astonished to be reunited with his horse that he simply stopped thinking。 Qantaqa leaped past with Binabik on her back； loping rapidly down the hillside。 Simon clutched Homefinder's neck and dug in his heels； following the wolf's bobbing tail through the clutching branches； down into darker shadows。
The night had bee a sort of waking dream； a blur of twisted trees and damp murk； when Binabik finally； stopped； Simon was not sure how long they had been traveling。 They were still on the hill slope； but in deep trees； cut off from even a sight of the cloudy sky。 The darkness had bee so thick that they had been moving at a walk for some time； Simon and Miriamele straining to see Qantaqa's gray form though the wolf was only cubits ahead of them。
〃Here；〃 Binabik said quietly。 〃Here is shelter。〃
Simon dismounted and followed the sound of his voice； leading Homefinder by the reins。
〃Be keeping your head low；〃 the troll said。 There was an echo behind his words。
The damp； spongy ground gave way to something drier and more firmly packed。 The air was musty。
〃Now； stop where you are standing。〃 Binabik fell silent but for some rustling noises。 Long moments passed。 Simon stood and listened to his own heavy breathing。 His heart was still pounding； his skin still damp with cold sweat。 Could they really be safe？ And Binabik！ Where had he e from？ How had he arrived； so improbably； so fortunately？
There was a hiss and a flicker； then a blossom of flame rose at the end of a torch clutched in the troll's small hand。 The light revealed a long； low cavern； its farthest end out of sight around a bend in the rock。
〃Deeper in we are going；〃 he said。 〃But it would not be safe for trave