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isk； who crouched against the wall； protuberant eyes glaring at the troll； hand drizzling red onto the stair。 But his grin had vanished。
〃Vad。。。 ？〃 Hengfisk's voice was a hollow croak。 He looked from side to side and up and down； as though he suddenly found himself somewhere unexpected。 The expression he turned at last on Binabik was full of confused horror。
〃Why are you attacking me？〃 Binabik rasped。 Blood was smeared on his chin and cheeks。 He could barely speak。 〃We were not having friendship 。。。 but 。。。〃 He broke off in a fit of coughing。
'Troll。。。 ？〃 Hengfisk's face； which moments before had been stretched in glee； had gone slack。 〃What。。。 ？ Ah； horrible； so horrible！〃
Astonished by the change； Binabik stared。
〃I cannot 。。。〃 The monk seemed overwhelmed with misery and bafflement。 His fingers twitched。 〃I cannot 。。。 oh； merciful God； troll； it is so cold。。。 ！〃
〃What has happened to you？〃 Binabik pulled himself a little nearer； keeping a watchful eye on the dagger； but though it lay only a short distance from Hengfisk's hand； the monk seemed oblivious。
〃I cannot tell。 I cannot speak it。〃 The monk began to weep。 'They have filled me。。。 with。。。 pushed me aside。。。 how could my God be so cruel？〃
'Tell me。 Is there some helping thing I can do？〃
The monk stared at him； and for a brief moment something like hope flickered in his bulging； red…rimmed eyes。 Then his back stiffened and his head jerked。 He screamed with pain。
〃Hengfisk！〃 Binabik threw his hands up as though to ward off whatever had stabbed at the monk。
Hengfisk jerked； arms extended straight out； limbs shaking。 〃Do not！。。〃 he shouted。 〃No！〃 For an instant he seemed to master himself； but his gaunt face； when he turned it back to Binabik； began to ripple and change as though serpents roiled beneath the flesh。 〃They are false； troll。〃 There was a terrible； deathly weight to his words。 〃False beyond believing。 But as cunning as Time itself。〃 He turned awkwardly and took a few staggering steps down the stairway； passing so close that Binabik could have reached out to touch him。 〃Go；〃 the monk breathed。
Unnerved even more than he had been by the attack； Binabik crawled forward and picked up his knife。 A sound behind him made him whirl。 Hengfisk； his lips skinned back in a grin once more； was lurching up the steps。 Binabik had time only to lift his arms before the monk fell upon him。 Hengfisk's stinking robe wrapped around them both like a shroud。 There was a brief struggle； then stillness。
Binabik crawled out from beneath the body of the monk。 After regaining his breath； he rolled Hengfisk over onto his back。 The hilt of his bone knife protruded from the monk's left eye。 Shuddering； the troll pulled the blade free and wiped it on the dark robe。 Hengfisk's last smile was frozen on his face。
Binabik picked up his fallen torch and stumbled back up the steps to the landing。 Miriamele had vanished； and the packs that had contained their food and water and other important articles were gone； too。 Binabik had nothing but his torch and his walking stick。
〃Princess！〃 he called。 The echoes caromed into the emptiness beyond the stairs。 〃Miriamele！〃
Except for the body of the monk； he was alone。
〃He must have gone mad。 Are you certain that is what he wants？〃
〃Yes； Prince Josua； I am certain。 I spoke to him myself。〃 Baron Seriddan lowered himself onto a stool； waving away his squire when the young man tried to take his cloak。 〃You know； if this is not a trick； we could hardly wish for a better offer。 Many men will die before we take the city walls； otherwise。 But it is strange。〃
〃It is not at all what I expected of Benigaris；〃 Josua admitted。 〃He demanded that it be Camaris？ Is he so tired
of life？〃
Baron Seriddan shrugged； then reached out to take the cup his squire brought him。
Isgrimnur； who had been watching silently； grunted。 He understood why the baron and Josua were puzzled。 Certainly Benigaris was losing…in the last month； the coalition assembled by Josua and the Nabbanai barons had pushed the duke's forces back until all that remained in Benigaris' control was the city itself。 But Nabban was the greatest city in Osten Ard； and its seaport made a true siege difficult。 Some of Josua's allies had provided their own house navies； but these were not enough to blockade the city and starve it into submission。 So why should the reigning Duke of Nabban offer such an odd bargain？ Still； Josua was taking the news as though it were he who would have to fight Camaris。
Isgrimnur shifted his aching body into a more fortable position。 〃It sounds mad； Josua…but what have we to lose？ It is Benigaris who is trusting our good faith； not the other way around。〃
〃But it's madness！〃 Josua said unhappily。 〃And all he wants if he wins is safe passage for himself and his family and servants？ Those are surrender terms…so why should he wish to fight for them？ It makes no sense。 It must be a trick。〃 The prince seemed to be hoping someone would agree with him。 〃This sort of thing has not been done in a hundred years！〃
Isgrimnur smiled。 〃Except by you； just a few short months ago in the grasslands。 Everyone knows that story； Josua。 They'll be telling it around the campfires for a long time。〃
The prince did not return his smile。 〃But I used a trick to force Fikolmij into that！ And he never dreamed that his champion might lose。 Even if Benigaris does not believe that this is truly his uncle； he must have heard what sort of warrior he is！ None of it makes sense！〃 He turned to the old knight； who had been sitting in the corner； still as a statue。 〃What do you think； Sir Camaris？〃
Camaris spread his broad hands palms upward before him。 〃It must end。 If this is how the ending will e； then I will play my part。 And Baron Seriddan speaks truly： we would be fools to throw away this chance out of suspicion。 We may save many lives。 For that alone； I would do whatever is needed。〃
Josua nodded。 〃I suppose so。 I still do not understand the why of it； but I suppose I must agree。 The people of Nabban do not deserve to suffer because their lord is a patricide。 And if we acplish this； we have a greater task before us…one for which we will need our army whole and strong。〃
Of course； Josua's down…mouthed； Isgrimnur realized。 He knows that we have horrors before us that may overshadow the slaughter in the Onestrine Pass so gravely that we think back on that battle as a day of sport。 Only Josua； of all of us in this room； survived the siege of Naglimund。 He's fought the White Foxes。 Of course he's grim。
Out loud； he said： 〃Then it's settled。 I just hope somebody will help me find a stool for my fat old backside so I can watch it happen。〃
Josua looked at him a little sourly。 〃It is not a tourney； Isgrimnur。 But you will be there…we all will。 That seems to be what Benigaris wants。〃
Rituals； Tiamak thought。 My people's must seem as odd to the drylanders as these to me。
He stood on the windy hillside； watching as Nabban's great city gates swung wide。 A small procession of horsemen emerged； the leader dressed in plate armor that gleamed even beneath the cloudy afternoon skies。 One of the other riders carried the huge blue and gold banner of the Kingfisher House。 But no horns blew。
Tiamak watched Benigaris and his party ride toward the place where the Wrannaman stood with Josua's pany。 As they waited； the wind grew stronger。 Tiamak felt it through his robe and shivered。
It is bitterly cold。 Too cold for this time of year； even near the ocean。
The riders stopped a few paces short of the prince and his followers。 Josua's soldiers lounged in scattered ranks about the bottom of the hillside； caught up in the moment and watching attentively。 Faces also peered from the windows and rooftops of outer Nabban and from the city walls。 A war had been abruptly halted so that this moment could take place。 Now all the participants stood waiting； like toys set up and then forgotten。 Josua stepped forward。 〃You have e； Benigaris。〃 The leading rider pushed up the visor of his helm。 〃I have； Josua。 In my way； I am an honorable man。 Just like you。〃
〃And you intend to abide by the terms you gave baron Seriddan？ Single bat？ And all you ask if you win is safe conduct for your family and retainers？〃
Benigaris flexed his shoulders impatiently。 〃You have my word。 I have yours。 Let us get on with this。 Where is。。。 the great man？〃
Josua looked at him with some distrust。 〃He is here。〃
As the prince spoke； the circle of people behind him parted and Camaris stepped forward。 The old knight wore chain mail。 His surcoat was without insignia； and he held the antique sea…dragon helmet under his arm。 Tiamak thought that Camaris looked even more unhappy than usual。
As he stared at the old man's face； Benigaris' sour smile curled the ends of his mustaches。 〃Ah。 I was right。 I told her。〃 He nodded toward the knight。 〃Greetings； Uncle。〃
Camaris said nothing。
Josua lifted his hand。 He seemed to be finding the scene increasingly distasteful。 〃So； then。 Let us get on with it。〃 He turned to the Duke of Nabban。 〃Varellan is here； and he has not been mistreated。 I promise that whatever happens； we will treat your sister and mother with kindness and honor。 〃
Benigaris stared at him for a long moment； his eyes cold as a lizard's。 〃My mother is dead。〃 He snapped his visor down； then turned his horse and rode a short way back up the hillside。
Josua wearily beckoned Camaris。 'Try not to kill him。〃
〃You know I can promise nothing；〃 the old knight said。 〃But I will grant him quarter if he asks。〃
The wind grew sterner。 Tiamak wished he had taken up drylander clothing more pletely： breeches and boots would be a decided improvement over the bare legs and sandals that his robe barely protected from the cold。 He shivered as he watched the two riders turn toward each other。
He Who Bends the Trees must have woken up angry； he thought； echoing something his father had often said。 The idea sent a deeper chill through him than had the wind。 But I do not think that it is the weatherlord of the Wran who sends this cold。 We have another enemy； one who has lain quiet for a long time…and there is no question that he can mand wind and storms。
Tiamak stared up at the hillside where Camaris and Benigaris faced each other across a distance that a man could walk in a few short moments。 They were only separated by a short span； and were bound close by ties of blood； but it was clear that an impassable gulf stretched between them。
And meanwhile the Storm King's wind blows； Tiamak thought。 As these two； uncle and nephew； dance some mad drylander ritual 。。。 just like Josua and Elias。。。。
The two riders abruptly spurred toward each other； but they were nothing but a blur to Tiamak。 A sickening notion had crept over him； black and frightening as any storm cloud。
We have been thinking all along that King Elias was the tool of Ineluki's vengeance。 And the two brothers have gone brawling from Naglimund to Sesuad'ra； biting and scratching at each other so that Prince Josua and the rest of us have had no chance to do anything but survive。 But what if Elias is as benighted about what the Storm King plans as we are？ What if his purpose in some vast plan is only to keep us occupied while that dark； undead thing pursues some pletely different end？
Despite the cold air on the hill； Tiamak felt beads of sweat cooling on his forehead。 If this was true； what could Ineluki be planning？ Aditu swore that he could never e back from the void into which his death spell had cast him…but perhaps there was some other revenge he schemed for that was far more terrible than simply ruling humankind through Elias and the Norns。 But what could it be？
Tiamak looked around for Strangyeard； anxious to share this worry with his fellow Scrollbearer； but the priest was hidden by the milling crowd。 The people around the Wrannaman were shouting excitedly at something。 It took the distracted Tiamak a moment to realize that one of the mounted men had unhorsed the other。 A brief stab of fear was all