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the forge fire burned with such incredible ferocity that it seemed a miracle to Simon the very stone of the cavern did not melt。 The crucibles； each containing a different metal； were moved by a collection of blackened chains and pulleys which were also connected to the wheel。 Yet another set of chains； so much larger than the links that moved the crucibles that they seemed made to shackle giants； extended upward from the wheel's hub and vanished into a darkened crevice in the forge chamber's roof。 Not even Stanhelm wanted to talk about where those went； but Simon gathered it had something to do with Pryrates。
In stolen moments； Stanhelm showed Simon the whole process； how the scrap was melted down to a glowing red liquid； then decanted from the crucibles and formed into sows； long cylindrical chunks of raw metal which； when cool； were carried away by sweating men to another part of the vast chamber where they would be shaped into whatever it was that Inch supplied to his king。 Armor and weapons； Simon guessed； since in all the great quantities of scrap； he had seen almost no articles of war that were not damaged beyond use。 It made sense that Elias wished to convert every unnecessary bit of metal into arrow heads and sword blades。
As the days passed； it became more and more clear to Simon that there was little chance he would escape from this place。 Stanhelm told him that only a few prisoners had escaped during the past year and all but one had quickly been dragged back。 None of the recaptured had lived long after returning。
And the one who escaped was Jeremias； Simon thought。 He only managed it because Inch was foolish enough to let him go upstairs on an errand。 I doubt I will get such a chance。
The feeling of being trapped was so powerful； the impulse to flee so intense； that at times Simon could hardly stand it。 He thought obsessively about being carried upward by the great water wheel chains to whatever dark place they went。 He dreamed of finding a tunnel leading out of the great chamber； as he had during his first escape from the Hayholt； but they were all filled in now； or led only to other parts of the forge。 Supplies from the outside came with Thrithings mercenary guards armed with spears and axes； and the arrival of anything was always supervised by Inch or one of his chieftains。 The only keys hung rattling on Inch's broad belt。
Time was growing short for his friends； for Josua's cause； and Simon was helpless。
And Pryrates has not left the castle； either。 So it is likely only a matter of time until he es back here。 What if he is not in such a hurry next time？ What if he recognizes me？
Whenever he seemed to be alone and unwatched； Simon hunted for anything that might help him to escape； but he found little that gave him any hope。 He pocketed a piece of scrap iron and took to sharpening it against the stone when he was supposed to be sleeping。 If Pryrates discovered him at last； he would do what damage he could。
Simon and Stanhelm were standing near the scrap pile； panting for breath。 The older man had cut himself on a jagged edge and his hand was bleeding badly。
〃Hold still。〃 Simon tore a piece from his ragged breeches for a bandage and began to wrap it around Stanhelm's wounded hand。 Exhausted； the older man wobbled from side to side like a ship in high winds。 〃Aedon！〃 Simon swore unhappily。 〃That's deep。〃
〃Can't go no more；〃 Stanhelm muttered。 Above the face mask； his eyes had finally taken on the lifeless glaze that marked the rest of the forge's laborers。 〃Can't go no more。〃
〃Just stand there；〃 Simon said； pulling me knot tight。 〃Rest。〃
Stanhelm shook his head hopelessly。 〃Can't。〃
〃Then don't。 Sit down。 I'll go find the dipper man； get you some water。〃
Something large and dark passed before the flames； blocking the light like a mountain obscuring a sunset。
〃Rest？〃 Inch lowered his head； peering first at Stanhelm； then at Simon。 〃You are not working。〃
〃He h…hurt his hand。〃 Avoiding the overseer's eyes； Simon stared instead at Inch's broad shoes； noting with numbed bemusement that one flat； blunt toe poked through on each。 〃He's bleeding。〃
〃Little men are always bleeding；〃 Inch said matter…of…factly。 〃Time to rest later。 Now there is work to do。〃
Stanhelm swayed a little； then abruptly sagged and sat down。 Inch stared at him； then stepped closer。
〃Get up。 Time to work。〃
Stanhelm only moaned softly； cradling his injured hand。
〃Get up。〃 Inch's voice was a deep rumble。 〃Now。〃
The seated man did not look at him。 Inch leaned down and smacked Stanhelm on the side of the head so hard that the forge worker's head snapped to one side and his body rocked。 Stanhelm began to cry。
〃Get up。〃
When this did not produce any better results； Inch lifted his thick fist high and struck Stanhelm again； this time knocking him into a splay…limbed sprawl。
Several of the other forge workers had stopped to stare； watching Stanhelm's punishment with the crushed calm of a flock of sheep who have seen one of their number taken by a wolf； and know that for a while at least they are safe。
Stanhelm lay silent； only barely moving。 Inch lifted his boot above the man's head。 〃Get up； you。〃
Simon's heart was racing。 The whole thing seemed to be happening too fast。 He knew he would be a fool to say anything…Stanhelm had clearly reached his breaking point and was as good as dead。 Why should Simon risk everything？
It's a mistake to care about people； he thought angrily。
〃Stop。〃 He knew it was his own voice； but it sounded unreal。 〃Let him be。〃
Inch's wide； scarred face swung around slowly； his one good eye blinking in the scorched flesh。 〃You don't talk；〃 he growled； then gave Stanhelm an offhand kick。
〃I said 。。。 let him be。〃
Inch turned away from his victim and Simon took a step backward； looking for someplace to run。 There was no turning back now； no escape from this confrontation。 Terror and long…suppressed rage battled inside him。 He yearned for his Qanuc knife； confiscated by the Norns。
〃e here。〃
Simon took another step backward。 〃e and get me； you great sack of guts。〃
Inch's ruined face screwed up in a snarl and he lunged forward。 Simon darted out of his reach and turned to run across the chamber。 The other workers gaped as the master of the forge lumbered after him。
Simon had hoped to tire the huge man； but had reckoned without his own weariness； the weeks of injury and deprivation。 Within a hundred strides he felt his strength ebbing； although Inch still plodded some distance behind him。 There was nowhere to hide； and there was no escape from the forge； better to turn and fight in the open； where he could best use whatever advantage of speed still remained to him。
He bent to pick up a large chunk of stone。 Inch； certain that he had Simon captured； but wary of the stone； moved steadily but slowly closer。
〃Doctor Inch is master here；〃 he rumbled。 'There is work to do。 You。。。 you have。。。〃 He growled； unable to find words to describe the magnitude of Simon's crimes。 He took another step forward。
Simon flung the stone at his head。 Inch dodged and it thumped heavily against his shoulder instead。 Simon found himself filling with a dark exhilaration； a rising fury that surged through him almost like joy。 This was the creature who had brought Pryrates to Morgenes' chamber！ This monstrosity had helped kill Simon's master！
〃Doctor Inch！〃 Simon shouted； laughing wildly as he bent for another stone。 〃Doctor？！ You are not fit to call yourself anything but Slug； but Filth； but HaIf…Wit！ Doctor！ Ha！〃 Simon flung the second stone； but Inch side…stepped and it clattered across the cavern floor。 The big man leaped forward with startling speed and hit Simon a glancing blow that knocked him off his feet。 Before he could regain his balance； a wide hand closed on his arm。 He was jerked upright； then flung headfirst across the stone floor。 Tumbling； he hit his head； then lay for a moment； dazed。 Inch's meaty hands closed on him again。 He was lifted up； then something struck his face so hard that