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stood up。 〃So； that is the telling。 Now； if we are going carefully； I think we can leave this place today。 We will stay away from the road until Hasu Vale is being safely behind。〃
〃And the Fire Dancers won't find us？〃 Miriamele asked。
〃After the last night's doings； I am doubting that there are many left； or that they are wishing to do much of anything but hide。 I am thinking that the Storm King's servant gave them as much fright as it gave to you。〃 He bent to begin picking up。 〃And now their chieftain is dead。〃
〃That was one of your black…tipped darts；〃 Simon said； remembering Maefwaru's puzzled expression as he clutched at his throat。
〃It was。〃
〃I'm not sorry。〃 Simon went to tie up his bedroll。 〃Not sorry at all。 So you're really going to e with us。〃
Binabik thumped his chest with the heel of his hand。 〃I am not believing what you do is wise or good。 But I cannot be letting you go off when I might be able to help you survive。〃 He frowned； pondering。 〃I wish there was some way for sending a message back to the others。〃
Simon remembered the trolls in Josua's camp； and especially Sisqi； the loved one Binabik must have left behind to e here。 The magnitude of the little man's sacrifice struck him and he was suddenly ashamed。 Binabik was right： Simon and Miriamele were behaving like wayward children。 But one look at the princess convinced him that she could no more be talked out of this than the waves could be argued out of crashing onto the beach…and he could not imagine himself leaving her to face her fate alone。 Like Binabik； he was trapped。 He sighed and picked up the bedroll。
Either Binabik was a good guide or the Fire Dancers had； in fact； given up looking for them。 They saw nothing living during their afternoon's journey through the damp； thick…forested hills of Hasu Vale except for a few jays and a single black squirrel。 The woods were densely crowded with trees and ground plants； and every trunk was blanketed in spongy moss； but the land still seemed strangely inactive； as though everything that lived there slept or waited silently for the intruders to pass。
An hour after sunset they made camp beneath a rocky overhang； but the acmodations were far less pleasant than the dry and secret cave。 When the rains came and water ran streaming down the hillside； Simon and the others were forced to huddle as far back under the overhang as they could。 The horses； appearing none too pleased； were tethered at the front where they were intermittently lashed by rain。 Simon hoped that since horses often stood in fields during bad weather； they would not suffer too badly； but he felt obscurely guilty。 Surely Homefinder； a knight's panion； deserved better treatment？
After she hunted； Qantaqa came and curled herself against all three of them as they huddled in a row； making up with the warmth she provided for the strong smell of damp wolf that filled the shelter。 They fell asleep at last； then awakened at dawn； stiff and sore。 Binabik did not want to light a fire in such an exposed place； so they ate a little dried meat and some berries the troll gathered； then set out again。
It was a difficult day's traveling； the hillsides and dales slippery with mud and wet moss； the rain blowing up in sudden squalls that lashed them with water and slapped branches into their faces； when the rain ceased； the mist crept back in； hiding treacherous pitfalls。 Their progress was achingly slow。 Still； Simon was impressed that his trollish friend could find a Way at all with no sun visible and the road far away and out of sight。
Sometime after noon Binabik led them along the hillside past the outskirts of the town of Hasu Vale itself。 It was difficult to make out much more through the close…knit trees than the shapes of some rough houses； and…when the mist was momentarily cleared by a stiff wind…the snaking course of the road； a dark streak some furlongs away。 But the town seemed just as muted and lifeless as the forest： nothing but gray mists rose around the smoke holes of the cottages； and there was no sign of people or animals。
〃Where has everyone gone？〃 Miriamele asked。 〃I have been here。 It was a lively place。〃
〃Those Fire Dancers；〃 Simon said grimly。 〃They've scared everyone away。〃
〃Or perhaps it is the things with which the Fire Dancers have been making celebration on the hilltops at night；〃 Binabik pointed out。 〃It is not necessary； I am thinking； to see those things； as you two were seeing； to know that something is wrong。 It is a feeling in the air。〃
Simon nodded。 Binabik was right。 This entire area felt much like Thisterborg； the haunted hill between the forest and Erchester； the place where the Anger Stones stood 。。。 the place where the Norns had given Sorrow to King Elias。。。。
He did not like thinking about that horrible night； but for some reason the memory suddenly seemed important。 Something was pulling at him； scattered thoughts that wanted to be fit together。 The Norns。 The Red Hand。 Thisterborg。。。。
〃What's that？〃 Miriamele cried in alarm。 Simon jumped。 Homefinder startled beneath him and slipped a little in the mud before finding her footing。
A dark shape had appeared in the mist before them； gesticulating wildly。 Binabik leaned forward against Qantaqa's neck and squinted。 After a long； tense moment； he smiled。 〃It is nothing。 A rag caught by the wind。 Someone's lost shin； I am thinking。〃
Simon squinted； too。 The troll was correct。 It was a tattered bit of clothing wrapped around a tree； the sleeves fluttering in the wind like pennants。
Miriamele made the sign of the Tree； relieved。
They rode on。 The town vanished into the thick greenery behind them as quickly and pletely as if the wet； silent woods had swallowed it。
They camped that evening in a sheltered gully at the base of the valley's western slope。 Binabik seemed preoccupied； Simon and Miriamele were both quiet。 They ate an unsatisfying meal and made some small talk； then everyone took refuge in the darkness and the need to sleep。
Simon again felt the awkward distance that existed now between himself and Miriamele。 He still did not quite know what to feel about the things she had told him。 She was no maiden； and it was by her own choice。 That was painful enough； but the way she had told him； the manner in which she had lashed out at him as though to punish； was even more infuriatingly confusing。 Why was she so kind to him sometimes； so hateful at others？ He would have liked to believe that she was playing the e…hither； go…away games that young court women were taught to play with men； but he knew her too well： Miriamele was not one for that kind of frippery。 The only solution that he could find to this puzzle was that she truly wanted him for a friend； but was afraid that Simon wanted more。
I do want more； he thought miserably。 Even if I won't ever have it。
He did not fall asleep for a long time； but instead lay listening to the water pattering through the leaves to the forest floor。 Huddled beneath his cloak； he probed at his unhappiness as he might at a wound； trying to find out how much pain came with it。
By the middle of the next afternoon they climbed out of the valley； leaving Hasu Vale behind。 The forest still stretched out at their right hands like a great green blanket； vanishing only at the horizon。 Before them was the hilly grass country that lay between the Old Forest Road and the headlands at Swertclif。
Simon could not help wishing that this journey with Binabik and Miriamele could be more like the first heady days they had traveled together after leaving Geloe's lake house； so many months ago。 The troll had been full of songs and silliness during that journey； even the princess…pretending then to be the servant girl Marya…had seemed excited and happy to be alive。 Now the three of them went forward like soldiers marching toward a battle they did not expect to win； each immersed in private thoughts and fears。
The empty； rolling country north of the Kynslagh did not inspire much cheer in any case。 It was fully as dreary and lifeless as Hasu Vale； equa