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is view。
As he gaped； a shadowy figure appeared in the the mist at the pool's center； a shape exaggerated by the gray fog and directionless light。 It was tall and billow…cloaked； with horns 。。。 antlers 。。。 growing from its head。
The figure bowed…not in reverence； it seemed； but in despair。
Jingizu。
The voice rolled through Simon's mind； mournful yet angry； powerful and cold as ice that cracked and split stone。 The mist swirled and eddied。 Simon felt his own thoughts swept away before it。
Jingizu。 So much sorrow。
For a moment； Simon's spirit flickered like a candle in a storm wind。 He was being extinguished by the force of the thing that hovered in the mists。 He tried to scream； but could not； he was being eaten by its terrible emptiness。 He felt himself dwindling； fading； vanishing。。。。
The light shifted again； then abruptly died。 The pool became a wide black oval once more； and the only light was the dim yellow glow of his guttering torch。
For some moments； Simon lay gasping for air like a fish dragged into a boat。 He was afraid to move； to make a sound； terrified the shadowy thing would return。
Merciful Aedon； give me rest。 The words of the old prayer came up unbidden。 In Your Arms will I sleep； upon Your bosom 。。。
He no longer had the slightest urge to cross over to the dreamside； to join the ghosts of this place。 Of all the things he had seen and felt since tumbling down into the ground； this place seemed the strangest； the most terrifyingly powerful。 Water or no water； he could not stay。 And soon his light would be gone； and the darkness would swallow him。
Quivering； he kneeled at the bottom of the stairwell and drank his fill once more。 Cursing the lack of a water skin； he dragged on his breeches and boots； then dunked his shirt into the pool。 It would stay wet for a while and he could squeeze out water when he needed it。 He picked up the torch and began searching for a way out。 His ankle had stiffened； but for the moment the pain was unimportant。 He had to leave this place。
The pool； which a moment before had been a fount of terrifying visions； was now only a silent circle of black。
15
A Meandering of Ink
Miriamele was as delicate with the bandages as she could be； and Binabik said not a word； but she could tell that the pain of his blistered hands was fierce。
'There。〃 She tied a careful knot。 〃Now just let them alone for a while。 I'll get us something to eat。〃
〃All that digging； and with nothing for result；〃 the troll said mournfully。 He examined his cloth…wrapped paws。 〃Dirt and more dirt and more dirt。〃
〃At least those 。。。 things didn't e back。〃 The sun had dropped behind the western horizon； Miriamele was finding it difficult to see into the depths of the pack。 She sat down and smoothed her cloak across her lap； then dumped out the contents。 'Those diggers。〃
〃I am almost wishing that they had； Miriamele。 I would have been getting some pleasure in killing more of them。 Like Qantaqa； I would be growling as their blood came out。〃
Miriamele shook her head； disturbed by Binabik's uncharacteristic savagery； but also worried by her own hollowness。 She felt no such anger…there was almost nothing inside her at all。 〃If he 。。。 survived； then he will find a way to e back to us again。〃 The ghost of a smile crept across her face。 〃He's stronger than I ever thought he might be； Binabik。〃
〃I remember when I was first meeting him in the forest；〃 the little man said。 〃Like a hatchling； like the young of a bird； he looked to me； his hair pointing up and every other way。 I was thinking then； 'Here is one who would be quickly dying if I had not found him。' He seemed to me as helpless as the most wobbling…legged of lambs gone stray from the herd。 But he has surprised me many times since then； many times。〃 The troll fluted a sigh。 〃If there was something beneath his falling beside more dirt and boghanik； then I am thinking he will find a way out。〃
〃Of course he will。〃 Miriamele stared at the array of wrapped bundles in her lap。 Her eyes were misty； and she had forgotten what she was looking for。 〃Of course he will。〃
〃So we will go on； and trust in the luck that has kept him well for so long a time in all the moments of terrible peril。〃 Binabik spoke as though afraid he would be contradicted。
〃Yes。 Certainly。〃 Miriamele brought her hands to her face； kneading her temples as though that might make her scattered thoughts more manageable。 〃And I will say a prayer for Elysia the Mother of God to look after him。〃
But many prayers are said every day； she thought。 And only a few are answered。 Curse you； Simon； why did you go away？
Simon was almost a stronger presence lost than he had been while still with them。 Miriamele； despite the deep affection she felt for Binabik； found it difficult to sit with him over the thin stew she had made for their supper； that they should be alive and eating seemed an insult to their absent friend。 Still； they were both grateful for the bit of meat…a squirrel that Qantaqa had brought back。 Miriamele wondered whether the wolf had done her own hunting first or felt she should bring a prize to her master before pursuing her own needs； but Binabik professed not to know。
〃She only brings me such things on occasion； and usually when I am sad or hurt。〃 He showed a tiny flash of teeth。 〃This time I am both things； I suppose。〃
〃Bless her for it anyway；〃 Miriamele said； and meant it。 〃Our larder is nearly bare。〃
〃I am hoping 。。。〃 the troll began； then abruptly fell silent。 Miriamele was quite sure that he was thinking about Simon； who even if he survived would be somewhere beneath the ground without food。 Neither of them spoke more until the meal was finished。
〃So now what is the thing to be doing？〃 Binabik asked gently。 〃I do not wish to seem 。。。〃
〃I am still going to find my father。 Nothing has changed that。〃
Binabik looked at her but did not speak。 〃But you do not have to e with me。〃 Disliking the sound of her voice； she added： 〃It might be better if you don't。 Maybe if Simon finds his way out he will e to this place。 Someone should wait for him。 And anyway； this is not your duty； Binabik。 He's my father； but he's your enemy。〃
The troll shook his head。 〃When we e to the place at which no back…turning can happen； then I will decide。 This is not seeming a safe spot to me for waiting。〃 He looked briefly over to the distant Hayholt； in the evening light the castle was only a blackness that contained no stars。 〃But perhaps I could stay hidden somewhere with Qantaqa and e at certain times to look。〃 He made an open…handed gesture。 〃Still； it is too soon for such thinking。 I do not even know what plan you have made for your castle entrance。〃 He turned and waved toward the invisible keep。 〃You may have some way for persuading your father the king； but you would not be taken to him if you present yourself at the gate； I am thinking。 And if Pryrates is receiving you； he may decide it is of more convenience for you to be dead and not interfere with his plans for your father。 You would bee vanished。〃
Miriamele twitched involuntarily。 〃I am not stupid； Binabik； no matter what my uncle and others may think。 I have some ideas of my own。〃
Binabik spread his palms。 〃I do not think you are anything like being stupid； Miriamele。 I am not knowing anyone who thinks that。〃
〃Perhaps。〃 She got to her feet and walked across the damp grass toward her pack。 Rain was ing down in a light mist。 After rummaging in the bag； she found the bundle she had sought and carried it back to the small fire。 〃I spent a long time on Sesuad'ra making these。〃
Binabik unrolled the bundle； then slowly smiled。 〃Ah。〃
〃And I copied them onto hides as well；〃 she said with more than a little pride； 〃because I knew they would last that way。 I saw those scrolls you and Sis 。。。 Sis 。。。〃
〃Sisqinanamook；〃 Binabik said； frowning over the skins。 〃Or 'Sisqi' is easier for lowlander tongues。〃 His face went blank for a moment； then his features resumed life and he looked up at Miriamele。 〃So you copied the maps that Count Eolair was bringing。〃
〃I did。 He said that they were of the old dwarrow tunnels。 Simon came out of the castle through them； so I thought that might be a way to get back in without being caught。〃
〃It is not all being tunnels。〃 Binabik stared at the meandering lines drawn on the skins。 〃The old Sithi castle is beneath the Hayholt； and it was of great largeness。〃 He squinted。 〃These are not easy for reading； these maps。〃
〃I wasn't sure what any of it meant； so I copied it all； even the little drawings and marks on the side；〃 Miriamele said humbly。 〃I only know that these are the right maps because I asked Father Strangyeard。〃 She felt a sudden bite of fear。 〃They are the right maps； aren't they？〃
Binabik nodded slowly； black hair bouncing against his forehead。 〃They are looking like maps of this place； indeed…see； there is what you call the Kynslagh。〃 He pointed to a large curving crescent at the edge of the topmost map。 〃And this must be Swertclif which lies beneath us even now。〃
Miriamele leaned forward to look； following Binabik's small finger with eager attention。 A moment later； she felt a wash of intense sadness。 〃If that's where we are； the spot where Simon fell through has no tunnels。〃
〃Perhaps。〃 Binabik sounded genuinely unsure； 〃But all maps and charts are being made at particular times； Miriamele。 Just as likely it is that other tunnels have been made since the drawing of this thing。〃
〃Elysia； Mother of Mercy； I hope that's true。〃
〃So where was Simon emerging from his tunnels？〃 Binabik asked。 〃I seem to have a memory that it was。。。〃
〃In the lien…yard； just on the other side of the wall from Erchester；〃 Miriamele finished for him。 〃I saw him there； but he ran away when I called to him。 He thought I was a ghost。〃
〃There are many tunnelings that seem to emerge around that place。 But these were made long before Erchester and the rest were being built。 I am doubting these landmarks still remain。〃 He looked up as Qantaqa returned from her hunting； her shaggy pelt pearled with rain。
〃I think I know more or less where he must have e up；〃 Miriamele said。 〃We can look； anyway。〃
〃That we will do。〃 Binabik stretched。 〃Now； one more night we will be sleeping in this place。 Then down to the horses。〃
〃I hope they've had enough to eat。 We didn't expect to leave them this long。〃
〃I can be promising you that if they were finishing the grass； the next thing they chewed through would be the leather traces that held them。 The horses will not suffer for want of finding food； but we may not be finding the horses。〃
Miriamele shrugged。 〃As you are always saying； there's nothing we can do about it until we get there。〃
〃I say it because it has a great truthfulness；〃 Binabik replied gravely。
Rachel the Dragon knew what she would find； but her resignation did not make it less of a blow。 For the eighth day in a row； the food and water she had put out were untouched。
Offering a sad prayer for patience to Saint Rhiappa； Rachel gathered up those things that would not keep and put them in her sack。 She would eat the small apple and the bit of hardening bread tonight。 She replaced the neglected offerings with fresh ones； then lifted the lid on the bowl of water to make sure it was still clean and drinkable。
She frowned。 Where was that poor man Guthwulf？ She hated to think of him wandering blind in the darkness； unable to find his way back to the regular meals that she had been providing him。 She was half…tempted to go and look for him…had in fact roamed a little wider than normal in the last few days…but knew that it would be inviting trouble。 The farther down into these tunnels she went； the greater the chance that she would fall and hit her head； or tumble into a hole。 Then she would be helpless。 She might worry about blind Guthwulf； but no one at all was worrying about old Rachel。
These thoughts made her frown deepen。 Just as such things might happen to h