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ement； Miriamele's mind went wandering again。
Simon is gone； and I never had a chance to 。。。 to really talk to him。 Did I love him？ It would never have e to anything…how could he care for me after I told him about Aspitis？ But perhaps we could have been friends。 But did I love him？
She looked down at her booted feet； climbing； climbing； the stairs passing beneath her like a slow waterfall。
It's useless to wonder 。。。 but I suppose I did。 Thinking this； she felt something vast and unformed struggling inside her； grief that threatened to turn into madness。 She fought it down； afraid of its strength。 Oh； God； is this all there is to life？ To have something precious and to realize it only after it's too late？
She almost stumbled over Binabik； who had stopped abruptly on the step above her； his head nearly even with hers。 The troll lifted a hand to his mouth； warning her to be silent。
They had just mounted past a landing where several archways led outward from the staircase； and at first Miriamele thought the quiet noise must e from one of them； but Binabik pointed up the stairwell。 His meaning was clear： someone else was on the stairs。
Miriamele's contemplative mood evaporated。 Who could be walking these dead halls？ Simon？ That seemed too much to hope。 But who else would be roaming the shadow…world？ The restless dead？
Even as they backed down toward the landing； Binabik fumbled his walking…stick into two pieces； pulling free the section that held a knife blade。 Miriamele felt for her own knife as the sound of footfalls grew louder。 Binabik shrugged off his pack and dropped it quietly to the stone floor near Miriamele's feet。
A shape came down the darkened stairwell； moving slowly and confidently into the torchlight。 Miriamele felt her heart pressing against her ribs。 It was a man； one she had not seen before。 In the depths of his hood； his eyes bulged as though with surprise or fright； but his teeth were bared in a bizarre grin。
A moment passed before Binabik gasped in recognition。 〃Hangfish！〃
〃You know him？〃 Her voice sounded shrill to her； the quaver of a frightened little girl。
The troll held the knife before him as a priest might a holy Tree。 〃What do you want； Rimmersman？〃 he demanded。 〃Are you lost？〃
The smiling man did not reply； but stretched his arms wide and took another step downward。 There was something terribly but indefinably wrong about him。
〃Get away； you！〃 she cried。 Involuntarily； she took another step backward toward one of the arched doorways。 〃Binabik； who is he？〃
〃I know who he was；〃 the troll said； still brandishing the knife。 〃But I am thinking he has bee something else。。。〃
Before Binabik had finished speaking； the pop…eyed man moved； scuttling down the stairs with shocking speed。 In an eye…blink he had closed with the troll； grabbing the wrist of Binabik's knife hand and wrapping his other arm around the little man。 After a moment's struggle； the two tumbled to the floor and rolled off the landing to the steps below。 Binabik's torch flew free andbounced down the stairs ahead of them。 The troll gasped and grunted with pain； but the other was silent。
Miriamele had scarcely an instant to stare open…mouthed before several large hands snaked out of the shadowy archway and folded around her； seizing her wrists and clutching at her waist； the fingers rough but somehow tentative where they touched her skin。 Her own torch was knocked to the ground。 Before she had finished drawing breath to shout her alarm； something was pulled down over her head； shutting out the light。 A sweet odor filled her nose and she felt herself slipping away； half…formed questions dissolving； everything fading。
〃Why will you not e and sit beside me？〃 said Nessalanta； like a spoiled child denied a treat。 〃I have not spoken to you for days。〃
Benigaris turned from the railing of the rooftop garden。 Below him； the first fires of evening had been lit。 Great Nabban twinkled in the lavender twilight。 〃I have been occupied。 Mother。 Perhaps it has escaped your attention that we are at war。〃
〃We have been at war before；〃 she said airily。 〃Merciful God； such things never change； Benigaris。 You wanted to rule。 You must grow up and accept the burdens that e with it。〃
〃Grow up； is it？〃 Benigaris turned from the railing with his fists clenched tight。 〃It is you who are the child； Mother。 Do you not see what is happening？ A week ago we lost the Onestrine Pass。 Today I have been told that Aspitis Preves has taken to his heels and Eadne Province has fallen！ We are losing this war； damn you！ If I had gone myself instead of sending that idiot brother of mine 。。。〃
〃You are not to say a word against Varellan；〃 Nessalanta snapped。 〃Is it his fault that your legion was full of superstitious peasants who believe in ghosts？〃
Benigaris stared at her for a long moment； there was no love in his gaze。 〃It is Camaris；〃 he said quietly。
〃What？〃
〃It is Camaris out there； Mother。 You can say anything you wish； but I have heard the reports from the men who； have been on the battlefield。 If it is not him； then it is one of our ancestors' old war gods returned to earth。〃
〃Camaris is dead；〃 she sniffed。
〃Did he elude some trap you set for him？〃 Benigaris moved a few steps closer。 〃Is that how my father became duke of Nabban in the first place…because you arranged to have Camaris killed？ If so； it appears you failed。 Perhaps for once you chose the wrong tool。〃
Nessalanta's face contorted in fury。 〃There are no tools in this country strong enough for my will。 Don't I know that！〃 She stared at her son。 'They are all weak； all dull…edged。 Blessed Ransomer； if only I had been born a man…then none of this would have happened！ We would not be bowing to any northern king on a chair of bones。〃
〃Spare me your dreams of glory； Mother。 What did you arrange for Camaris？ Whatever it was； he seems to have survived it。〃
〃I did nothing to Camaris。〃 The dowager duchess rearranged her skirts； recovering a little of her calm。 〃I admit that I was not unhappy when he fell into the ocean…for a strong man； he was the weakest of all。 Quite unsuitable to rule。 But I had nothing to do with it。〃
〃I almost believe you； Mother。 Almost。〃 Benigaris smiled thinly。 He turned to find one of his courtiers standing in the doorway； looking out with poorly…hidden apprehension。 〃Yes？ What do you want？〃
〃There 。。。 there are many folk asking for you； my lord。 You said you wished to be told 。。。〃
〃Yes； yes。 Who is waiting？〃
〃The Niskie； for one； my lord。 He is still outside the audience chamber。〃
〃Have I not enough to occupy me？ Why won't he take the hint and go？ What does the damned sea…watcher want； anyway？〃
The courtier shook his head。 The long feather in his cap swayed before his face； fluttered by the evening breeze。 〃He will not speak to any but you； Duke Benigaris。〃
〃Then he will sit there until he dries out and lies gasping on the floor。 I have no time to listen to Niskie chatter。〃 He turned to look out over the lights of the city。 〃And who else？〃
〃Another messenger from Count Streawe； Lord。〃
〃Ah；〃 Benigaris pulled at his mustache。 〃As expected。 I think we will let that wine sit in the cask a little longer。 Who else？〃
〃The astrologer Xannasavin； Lord。〃
〃So he has arrived at last。 Very grieved； I'm sure； to keep his duke waiting。〃 Benigaris nodded slowly。 〃Send him up。〃
〃Xannasavin is here？〃 Nessalanta smiled。 〃I'm sure he has wonderful things to tell us。 You'll see； Benigaris。 He'll bring us good news。〃
〃No doubt。〃
Xannasavin appeared within moments。 As though to take attention away from his own lean height； the astrologer carefully lowered himself to his knees。
〃My lord； Duke Benigaris； and my lady； Duchess Nessalanta。 A thousand； thousand pardons。 I came as soon as I received your summons。〃
〃e and sit beside me； Xannasavin；〃 said the duchess。 〃We have seen too little of you lately。〃
Benigaris leaned against the railing。 〃My mother is right…you have been much absent from the palace。〃
The astrologe