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y be telling me。〃 The bones made a soft clicking noise as he gentled them in his hands then tipped them out onto the stone。 He squinted。
〃The Shadowed Path。〃 The troll grinned sourly。 〃That is not the first time I have been seeing that。〃 He rolled them out again。 〃The Black Crevice。〃 Binabik shook his head。 〃Still we are having that； as well。〃 He shook the bones for a final time and spilled them before him。 〃Chukku's Stones！〃 His voice was unsteady。
〃Is Chukku's Stones a bad throw？〃 Simon asked。
〃It is a cursing word；〃 Binabik informed him。 〃I was using it because I have never been seeing this pattern of bones。〃 He leaned closer to the pile of yellowed objects。 〃A little like Wingless Bird；〃 he said。 〃But not。〃 He lifted one of the bones； which was delicately perched on two of its fellows； then took a deep breath。 〃Could this be Mountains Dancing？〃 He looked up at Simon； eyes bright； but not in a way Simon liked。 〃I have never been seeing it； and have not known anyone who was seeing it。 But I think I was hearing of it once； when Ookekuk my master talked to a wise old woman from Chugik Mountain。〃
Simon shrugged helplessly。 〃What does it mean？〃
〃Changing。 Things changing。 Large things。〃 Binabik sighed。 〃If it is indeed Mountains Dancing。 If I had my scrolls； I could perhaps be discovering with sureness。〃 He swept up the bones and dropped them back into their pouch； he seemed more than a little frightened。 〃It is a throw that has only been appearing a few times ever since the Singing Men of Yiqanuc have written their lives and learning on hides。〃
〃And what happened？〃
Binabik put the pouch away。 〃Let me wait before more talking； Simon。 I must be thinking on this。〃
Simon had never taken the troll's bone oracles too seriously…they had always seemed as general and unhelpful as a fortune…reader from a traveling fair…but he was shaken now by Binabik's obvious uneasiness。
Before he could press the troll for more information； Miriamele returned to the fire and sat down。 〃I'm not going back；〃 she said without preamble。 Binabik； like Simon； was taken by surprise。
〃I am not understanding your meaning。 Princess Miriamele。〃
〃Yes； you do。 My uncle sent you to bring me back。 I'm not going。〃 Her face was as hard and determined as Simon had ever seen it。 Now he understood her preoccupation。 He also felt more than a little anger。 Why was she always so stubborn； so cross？ It almost seemed she enjoyed pushing people away from her with words。
Binabik spread his palms in the air。 〃I could not make you do anything that was not your wanting； Miriamele…and I would not try such doing。〃 His brown eyes were full of concern； 〃But； yes； your uncle and many others worry for you。 They worry about your safeness； and they worry about what you plan。 I will ask you to be ing back 。。。 but making I cannot do。〃
Miriamele looked slightly relieved； but her jaw was still set。 〃I'm sorry； Binabik； if you have traveled so far for nothing； but I am not returning。 I have something to do。〃
〃She wants to tell her father that this whole war is a mistake；〃 Simon muttered sullenly。
Miriamele gave him a look of disgust。 〃That's not why I'm going； Simon。 I told you the reason。〃 She haltingly explained to Binabik her ideas about what might have led Elias to the clutches of the Storm King。
〃I am thinking you may indeed have discovered his mistake；〃 Binabik said when she had finished。 〃It is close to some of my own supposing…but that does not mean that there is any likeliness you will be succeeding。〃 He frowned。 〃If your father has been brought close to the Storm King's power； whether by the trickiness of Pryrates or something else； he may be like a man who drinks too much kangkang…telling him that his family is starving and his sheep are wandering away may not be heard。〃 He laid a hand on Miriamele's arm。 She flinched； but did not pull away。 〃Also…and this is a hard thing for my heart to be saying…it is perhaps true that your father the king cannot anymore survive without the Storm King。 The sword Sorrow is a thing of great power； a strong； strong thing。 Perhaps if it is taken from him； he will go sliding into madness。〃
Miriamele's eyes welled with tears； but her expression remained grim。 〃I am not trying to take the sword from him； Binabik。 Only to tell him that things have gone too far。 My father…my real father…would not have wanted so much harm to e from his love for my mother。 Everything that has happened since must be the work of others。〃
Binabik raised his hands again； this time in resignation。
〃If you have guessed the reasons for his madness； for this war； for his pact with the Storm King。 And if he can be hearing you。 But as I told you； I cannot stop your journey。 I can only acpany you to help keep you from harm。〃
〃You're going to e with us？〃 Simon asked。 He was very pleased and strangely relieved to think that someone else would share what felt like a heavy burden。
The troll nodded； but his smile was long gone。 〃Unless' you are to be returning with me to Josua； Simon？ That might be reason for not going on。〃
〃I have to stay with Miriamele；〃 he pronounced firmly。 〃I gave my oath as a knight。〃
〃Even though I didn't ask for it；〃 said Miriamele。
Simon felt a moment's angry pain； but remembered the Canon of Knighthood and mastered himself。 〃Even though you didn't ask for it；〃 he repeated； glowering at her。 Despite the terrible times they had shared； she seemed determined to hurt him。 〃I still have my duty。 And；〃 he said to Binabik； 〃if Miriamele is going to the Hayholt； I'm going to Swertclif。 Bright…Nail is there； and Josua needs it。 But I can't think of any way to get into the castle to get Sorrow；〃 he added reflectively。
Binabik sat back and let loose a weary sigh。 〃So Miriamele is going to the Hayholt to plead with her father for stopping the war； and you are going there to be rescuing one of the Great Swords； just your single knightly self？〃 He leaned forward suddenly and dragged the stirring stick through me mixture simmering in the pot。 〃Are you hearing how like younglings you sound？ I was thinking you were both wiser after your many dangers and almost…dyings than to take such things on yourselves。〃
〃I'm a knight；〃 said Simon。 〃I'm not a child any more； Binabik。〃
〃That is just meaning that the damage you can be doing is greater；〃 the troll said； but his tone was almost conciliatory； as though he knew he could not win the argument。 〃e； let us be eating。 This is still a happy meeting； even if the times are those of unhappiness。〃
Simon was relieved to have the argument end。 〃Yes； let's eat。 And you still haven't told us how you found us。〃
Binabik gave the stew another stir； 〃That and other news when you have been eating your food；〃 was all he said。
When the sound of contented chewing had slowed a little； Binabik licked his fingers and took a deep breath。 〃Now that your stomachs at least are full； and we are safe； there is grim news that needs telling。〃
As Simon and Miriamele sat in growing horror； the troll described the Norns' attack on the camp and its aftermath。
〃Geloe dead？〃 Simon felt as though the earth was eroding beneath him； soon there would be nowhere safe left to stand。 〃Curse them！ They are demons！ I should have been there！ A knight of the prince！。。〃
〃It is perhaps true you should both have been there；〃 Binabik said gently； 〃or at least that you two should not have left。 But you could have done nothing； Simon。 Everything was happening with great suddenness and silence； and only one target there was。〃
Simon shook his head； furious with himself。
〃And Leieth。〃 Miriamele nibbed away tears。 〃That poor child…she has had nothing but pain。〃
After they had sat in mournful silence for a while； Binabik spoke again。 〃Let me now be speaking of a less sad thing…how I was finding you。 In truth； there is not a great deal for telling。 Qantaqa it was who did the most of the tracking。 She has a cunning nose。 My only fear would be that we would fall too far behind…horses are traveling faster than wolves over long distances…and that the smells would grow too old。 But our luck held。
〃I was following you into the edge of Aldheorte Forest； and there things grew muddled for some time。 I had the most worry that we would lose you in that place； since it was slow going； and then it was raining； too。 But clever Qantaqa managed to keep your trail。〃
〃Was it you； then？〃 Simon asked suddenly。 〃Were you the one who was skulking around our camp in the forest？〃
The troll looked puzzled。 〃I am not thinking it was。 When did this thing happen？〃
Simon described the mysterious lurker who had approached the camp and then retreated into darkness。
Binabik shook his head。 〃It was not me。 I would not have been talking to myself； although perhaps I might have been saying words to Qantaqa。 But I am promising you；〃 he drew himself up proudly； 〃Qanuc do not make so much noise。 Especially in the forest at night。 Very concerned with not being a meal for something large； we Qanuc are。〃 He paused。 〃And the time is wrong； also。 We would have been a day or two days at least behind you then。 No； it was doubtless one of the things you were guessing； a bandit or a forest cotsman。〃 Still； he considered for a few moments before continuing with his tale。
〃In any manner； Qantaqa and I followed you。 We were forced to make our hunting secret…I had no wish for riding Qantaqa into a large town like Stanshire…so I could only have hope that you were ing out of these places again。 We wandered about on the outskirts of the large settlements trying to find your track。 Several times I thought that I had made it too difficult for Qantaqa's scenting； but always she found you again。〃 He scratched his head； contemplating。 〃I suppose that if you had not emerged； I would have then been forced to go searching for you。 I am glad I did not need to do that thing…I would have had to leave Qantaqa out in the wildlands； and I would have myself been an easy target for Fire Dancers or frightened villagers who had never been seeing a troll。〃 He smiled slyly。 〃The people of Stanshire and Falshire have still not seen a troll。〃
〃When did you find us？〃
〃If you think on it； Simon； you will be guessing very easily。 I had no reason to hide from you； so I would have been greeting you as soon as I came upon you…unless some reason there was not to。〃
Simon considered。 〃Because we were with someone you didn't know？〃
The troll nodded； satisfied。 〃Exactly。 A young man and woman may be traveling in Erkynland and speaking to strangers without too much attention。 A troll may not。〃
〃So it must have been when we were with that man and woman…the Fire Dancers。 We met other people； but we were alone each time afterward。〃
〃Yes。 I came upon you here in Hasu Vale…I had been making camp in this very cave the night before…and followed you and that pair up into the hills。 Qantaqa and I were watching all from the trees。 We saw the Fire Dancers。〃 He frowned。 〃They have bee numerous and unafraid…by spying on other travelers along the road and listening to their gossip I was learning that。 So I saw what these Fire Dancers did； and when they were taking you to the hilltop； I freed your horses and followed。〃 He grinned； pleased with his own cleverness。
〃Thank you； Binabik；〃 Miriamele said。 Some of her earlier frosty manner had disappeared。 〃I haven't said that yet。〃
He smiled and shrugged。 〃We all are doing what we can when we are able。 As I was once before telling Simon； we three have saved each other's lives enough times that the tallying is no longer important。〃 As he picked up a hank of moss and began to scrub his bowl； Qantaqa strode silently into the cavern。 Her fur was wet； she shook herself； sending a fine spray of droplets everywhere。
〃Ah。〃 Binabik placed the bowl on the floor before the wolf。 〃You may be performing this task； then。〃 As Qantaqa's pink tongue scoured out the last bits of stew； the troll stood up。 〃So； that is the telling。 Now； if we are going carefully； I think we can leave this place