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Cadrach wiped at his eyes and nose with his dirty sleeve。 〃I told you of my capture by Pryrates；〃 he said to Miriamele。
〃You did。〃 And she in turn had told Binabik and others on Sesuad'ra； so she felt no need to retell the tale now。
〃I told you that after I had betrayed the booksellers； Pryrates threw me out； thinking I was dead。〃
She nodded。
'That was not true…or at least it did not happen then。〃 He took a breath。 〃He set me to spy on Morgenes and others I had known from my days as a Scrollbearer。〃
〃And you did it？〃
〃If you think I hesitated； my lady； you do not know how fiercely a drunkard and coward can cling to his life…or how terrified of Pryrates' anger I was。 You see； I knew him。 I knew that the injuries he had done to my flesh in his tower were nothing set against what he could do if he truly wished to make me suffer。〃
〃So you spied for him？！ Spied on Morgenes？〃
Cadrach shook his head。 〃I tried…by the Tree； how I tried！ But Morgenes was no fool。 He knew that I had fallen into dreadful straits； and that the red priest knew both of us from elder days。 He gave me food and a night's lodging； but he was suspicious。 He made sure there was nothing for me to find in either his chambers or his discourse that would be useful to someone like Pryrates。〃 Cadrach shook his head。 〃If anything； my efforts only taught Morgenes that he had less time than he had hoped。〃
〃So you failed？〃 Miriamele could not see where this was leading； but a deep dread was spreading through her。
〃Yes。 And I was terrified。 When I went back to Hjeldin's Tower； Pryrates was angry。 But he did not kill me； or do something worse； as I feared。 Instead he asked me more questions about Du Svardenvyrd。 I think by then he had already been touched by the Storm King and was beginning to bargain with him。〃 Cadrach's look turned contemptuous。 〃As if any mortal could successfully bargain with one such as that！ I doubt Pryrates has even yet realized what has e through the door he opened。〃
〃We will talk of what thing Pryrates has done later；〃 said Binabik。 〃You are telling us now of things you have been doing。〃
The monk stared at him。 〃They are less separate than you think；〃 he said at last。 〃Pryrates asked me many questions； but for one who had read Du Svardenvyrd…indeed； for one who knew Nisses' book so well that the memory of its words still haunts my thoughts daily…it was easy enough to see the direction behind his questions。 Somehow he had been reached by the Storm King； and now Pryrates was eager to know about the three Great Swords。〃
〃So Pryrates does know about the swords。〃 Miriamele took a shaky breath。 〃I suppose he was the one who took Bright…Nail from the mound； then。〃
Cadrach held up his hand。 〃Pryrates dealt with me harshly for failing with Morgenes。 Then he had me send a message to old Jarnauga in the north； asking for information about the Storm King。 I suspect that the alchemist was looking for ways to defend himself against his new and very dangerous friend。 He made me write it as he watched； then sent it himself with a sparrow he had filched from Morgenes。 He let me go free again。 He was sure I would not run away when he could so easily locate me。
〃But you did run away；〃 Miriamele said。 〃You told me so。
Cadrach nodded。 〃Eventually。 But not then。 My fear was too great。 But at the same time I knew that Jarnauga would not respond。 The Rimmersman and Morgenes were closer than Pryrates realized； and I had no doubt the doctor would have already written to tell Jarnauga about my unexpected visit。 In any case； Jarnauga had been living in Stormspike's shadow for years and would not have opened his mind to anyone he did not know for certain to be untouched by Ineluki's long hand。 So I knew that the imposture Pryrates had forced me to mit was useless； and that when the red priest discovered it； he would have no use left for me。 My only worth was as one who had read Nisses' book and as a former Scrotlbearer。 But I had answered all of his questions about the book； and now he would discover that the other Scrollbearers had stopped trusting me years before。。。。〃 He broke off； struggling again with powerful emotions。
〃Go on。〃 Miriamele spoke a little more gently than before。 Whatever he had done； he seemed to be genuinely suffering。
〃I was in terror…stark terror。 I knew that I had only a short time before Jarnauga's inevitably unhelpful reply。 I wanted desperately to flee； but Pryrates would know the moment I left Erchester； and by his use of the Art would also know where I had gone。 He had marked me in that high chamber of his tower。 He would find me anywhere。〃 Cadrach paused； struggling for self…control。 〃So I thought； and thought； and thought…but not； to my shame； of a way to escape Pryrates or thwart his plans。 No； in my besottedness and my fear； I thought only of ways that I could please this horrid master； that I could convince him to grant me my pathetic life。〃 He quivered； unable for a moment to continue。
〃I had thought much about his questions；〃 the monk finally resumed。 〃Especially about the three Great Swords。 It was clear that they had some marvelous power； and equally clear that they meant something to the Storm King。 What was not clear to anyone but me； I thought； was that the sword Minneyar； one of the three； was in fact Bright…Nail； the sword that had been buried with King John。〃
Miriamele gaped。 〃You knew？〃
〃Anyone who read the books of history that I had would have suspected it；〃 Cadrach replied； 〃I am convinced Morgenes knew； but hid it in his own book about your grandfather so that only those who knew what to look for would find it； thus keeping it from mon knowledge。〃 He had regained a little posure。 〃In any case； I read the same sources Doctor Morgenes did； and had long held that opinion； although I had never shared it with anyone。 And the more I thought about the marketplace gossip that claimed Elias would not handle his father's sword； that he had； against custom； buried it with his father； the more I felt sure that my guess was not just likely； but true。
〃So I decided that if what Du Svardenvyrd seemed to suggest was also true…that the only weapons the Storm King feared were the Three Great Swords…what more pleasing gift could 1 bring to Pryrates than one of the swords？ All three were thought to be lost。 Surely if I produced one； I reasoned； Pryrates would find me useful。〃
Miriamele gaped at the monk in disgust and astonishment。 〃You 。 。 。 you traitor！ Was it you who took the sword from my grandfather's barrow？ And gave it to Pryrates！？ God curse you if it was； Cadrach！〃
〃You may call curses on me all you like…and you will； with ample reason。 But wait until you hear the whole tale。〃
I was right to try and drown him in Emettin Bay。 I wish he had never been fished out。 She waved angrily for him to continue。
〃I went to Swertclif； of course；〃 he said。 〃But the burial ground was closely guarded by the king's soldiers。 It seemed that Elias meant to keep his father's grave safe。 I waited two nights for a moment when I might get at the barrow； but ho such moment came。 And then Pryrates sent for me。〃 He winced； remembering。 〃He had learned well from his studies。 His voice was in my head…you cannot imagine how that feels！ He forced me to e to him； e slinking like a disobedient child。。。。〃
〃Cadrach； there are Norns who are waiting outside this cavern；〃 Binabik interrupted。 〃So far your story is telling us little that will help us。〃
The monk stared at him coldly。 〃Nothing will help us。 That is what I am trying to explain…but I will not force you to listen。〃
〃You will tell us everything；〃 Miriamele declared； her rage lighting free。 〃We are fighting for our lives。 Speak！〃
〃Pryrates called me to him again。 As I knew he would； he told me that Jarnauga had sent only information of no worth； that it was clear the old Rimmersman did not trust me。 'You are useless to me； Padreic ec…Crannhyr；' the alchemist said。
〃 'What if I can tell you something that is very useful？' I asked。 No； that is not the right word。 I begged。 'If you will leave me my life； I will serve you faithfully。 There are still things I know that might help you！' He laughed when I said that…laughed！…and told me that if I could give him even a single piece of information that was truly valuable； he would indeed spare me。 So I told him that I knew the Great Swords were important to him； that all were lost； but that I knew where one of them was。
〃 'Do you think to tell me Sorrow is with the Norns of Stormspike？' he said scornfully。 'I know that already；' I shook my head…in fact； I had not known that myself； but I could guess how he had discovered it。 'That Thorn did not sink into the ocean with Camaris？' he continued。
〃I hurriedly told him what I had discovered…that Minneyar and Bright…Nail were one and the same； that one of the Great Swords was even now buried less than a league from where we sat。 In my eagerness to gain his favor； I even told him that I had tried to get it myself to bring it to him。〃
Miriamele scowled。 〃To think that I saw you as a friend； Cadrach…if you had even an idea of what this could mean to us all。。。 ！〃
The monk ignored her； grimly following her order to finish the tale。 〃And when I was done 。。。 he laughed again。 'Oh； this is very sad； Padreic；' he hooted。 'Is this your great work of spycraft？ Is this what you think will save you？ I have known what Bright…Nail truly is since before you first entered this tower。 And if you had moved it from its resting place； I would have plucked out your eyes and tongue with my own fingers。 It will lie there on old John's rotting breast until the proper time。 When the hour is right； the sword will e。 All the swords will e。' 〃
Miriamele's thoughts suddenly went staggering。 〃The sword will e？ He 。。。 he has known all along？ Pryrates 。。。 wanted it left there？〃 She turned helplessly to Binabik； but the little man seemed just as amazed as she。 〃I don't understand。 Elysia； Mother of Mercy； what are you telling us； Cadrach？〃
〃Pryrates knows all。〃 A certain black satisfaction crept into the monk's voice。 〃He knew what Bright…Nail was； where it lay…and he saw no need to disturb it。 I feel sure that everything your uncle and these 。。。〃 he gestured toward Binabik； 〃latter…day Scrollbearers plan is already known to him。 He is content to see it happen。〃
〃But how can that be？ How can Pryrates not fear the one power that can undo his master？〃 Miriamele was still astonished。 〃Binabik； what does this mean？〃
The troll had lost his posure。 He held up his trembling fingers； begging a moment to think。 〃It is much for considering。 Perhaps Pryrates has a plan of some treachery against the Storm King。 Perhaps he thinks to keep Ineluki's power restrained with the threatening of the swords' power。〃 He turned to Cadrach。 〃He was saying 'the swords will e'？ Those words？〃
The monk nodded。 〃He knows。 He wants Bright…Nail and the others brought here。〃
〃But no sense in this am I seeing；〃 said Binabik anxiously。 〃Why not then bring Prester John's blade in and hide it away until the time he waits is arrived？〃
Cadrach shrugged。 〃Who can know？ Pryrates has walked strange paths and learned hidden things。〃
As her shock lessened a little； Miriamele felt her rage at the monk return； battening on her fear。 〃How can you sit there so smugly？ If you did not betray me and all I care about； it was not for lack of trying。 I suppose he set you free then to spy some more？ Is that why you arranged to acpany me from Naglimund？ I thought you were just using me to further your own greed 。。 。〃 as she thought about it； despair seized her； 〃but 。。。 but you were working for Pryrates！〃 She turned away； unable to look at Cadrach any longer。
〃No； my lady！〃 Amazingly； he sounded hurt and upset。 〃No； he did not release me…and I did not serve him again。〃
〃If you expect me to believe that；〃 she said with cold hatred； 〃you are truly mad。〃
〃Is there more to your tale？〃 The tentative respect Binabik had earlier shown the monk had curdled into sour practicality。 〃Because we are still trapped here； still in danger that is most dreadful…alt