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〃Then speak to them；〃 Miriamele urged。 〃There is so little time！〃
Yis…fidri hesitated； then nodded。 The other dwarrows looked on； their strange faces fearful。
Miriamele crouched in blackness； her heart thudding。 She could see nothing at all； but apparently enough light was still bleeding from the crystal batons to allow the dwarrows to see： Miriamele could hear them padding back and forth across the cavern as unhesitatingly as she herself would walk through a lamplit room。
She reached out to touch the small but reassuring shape of Binabik crouched beside her。 〃I'm frightened；〃 she whispered。
〃As who is not？〃 She felt him pat her hand。
Miriamele had opened her mouth to say something else when a slight sensation of movement passed through the stone behind her。 At first she thought it was the strange shifting she had felt earlier； the thing that had so frightened Yis…hadra and the other dwarrows； but then a faint blue glow sprang up in the empty black where the door stood。 It was not like any light she had seen； for it illuminated nothing else； it was only a pulsing sky…blue streak hanging in the darkness。
〃They're ing；〃 she gurgled。 Her heart raced even more swiftly。 All her brave words now seemed foolish。 On the far side of Binabik； she heard Cadrach's harsh breathing grow louder。 She half…expected him to cry out； to try to shout a warning to the Norns。 She did not believe his claim that he had no Art that would help them against the Norns； nor even the strength left now to use those few skills he retained。
The blue line lengthened。 A warm wind pushed through the chamber； tangible as a slap to her heightened senses。 For the dozenth time since the dwarrows had darkened the cavern she tugged at the straps of her pack and wiped sweat from the handle of her dagger。 She also clutched Simon's White Arrow； if the Norns grabbed her； she would stab at them with both hands。 A shudder ran through her。 The Norns。 The White Foxes。 They were only moments away。。。。
Yis…fidri said something quiet but emphatic in the dwarrow tongue。 Yis…hadra replied in the same tone from somewhere across the cavern。 The sound of moving dwarrows ceased。 The chamber was silent as a grave。
The blue gleam grew in a rough oval until one end of the line met the other。 For a moment the heat became greater； then the glow faded。 Something scraped and then fell heavily。 A rush of cold air swept into the chamber； but if the door had opened； no light came through。
Curse them！ Despair swept over her。 They are too clever to e in with torches。 She clutched her knife tighter： she was shaking so violently she feared she might drop it。
Suddenly there was a booming rumble like thunder and a high…pitched shout that came from no human throat。 Miriamele's heart leaped。 The great stones the dwarrows had loosened above the cavern door were tumbling down…she could hear the Norns' high…pitched； angry wailing。 Another crash was followed by a scraping； grinding noise； then many voices were shouting； none of them in human languages。 After a moment Miriamele felt her eyes begin to sting。 She took a breath and felt it burn all the way down。
〃Up！〃 Binabik cried。 〃It is poison…smoke！〃
Miriamele struggled to her feet； lost in the dark and feeling as though her insides were on fire。 A powerful hand gripped her and led her stumbling through the blackness。 The cavern was raucous with strange cries and shrieks and the sound of smashing stone。
The next moments were blind madness。 She felt herself pulled through into chilly air； within moments she could breathe again； although she still could not see。 The hand that held her let go； and a moment later she caught her foot on something and crashed to the ground。
〃Binabik！〃 she shouted。 She tried to rise； but something had entangled her。 〃Where are you！？〃
Miriamele was seized again； but this time was lifted bodily and carried swiftly through the noisy darkness。 Something struck her a glancing blow。 For a moment whoever was carrying her stopped and put her down； there was a succession of strange noises； some of them grunts or gasps of pain； then a moment later she was snatched up again。
At last she touched down again on the hard stone。 The darkness was absolute。 〃Binabik？〃 she called。
There was a spark nearby； then a flash。 For a moment she saw the troll standing beside a cavern wall in the midst of darkness with his hand full of flame。 Then he flung whatever he held outward； and it scattered in a shower of sputtering sparks。 Tiny flames burned everywhere。 Frozen as if painted on a tapestry were Binabik； several dwarrows； and almost a dozen other shadowy figures； all scattered about a long； high…ceilinged cavern。 The stone door that had protected them lay in pieces behind her at the far end of this outer cavern。
She had scarcely an instant to marvel at the effect of the troll's fire…starting powder before a pale…faced shape raced toward her； long knife held high。 Miriamele lifted her own blade； but her ankles seemed bound somehow and she could not get her feet beneath her。 The knife lashed toward Miriamele's face； but the blade stopped abruptly a hand's length from her eyes。
The dwarrow that had caught the creature's arm jerked upward。 There was a sound of something snapping； a moment later the Norn was pitched headfirst across the chamber。
〃Go that way；〃 Yis…fidri gasped； pointing toward a dark hole at the near end of the cavern。 In the faint； flickering light he looked even more grotesque than the enemy he had dispatched： one of his arms hung limply； and the broken shaft of an arrow wagged in his shoulder。 The dwarrow flinched as another arrow shattered against the cavern wall beside him。
Miriamele reached down and disentangled her feet from what had held them…a Norn bow。 Its owner lay a few paces away； just inside the entrance to the dwarrow's hiding place； a thick shard of rock jutted from his crushed chest。
〃Move quickly； quickly；〃 said Yis…fidri。 〃We have surprised them； but there may be more ing。〃 His brisk tones could not hide his terror； his saucer eyes seemed to bulge。 One of the other dwarrows threw a stone at the Norn archer。 The motion was awkward； but the missile flew so swiftly that the white…faced immortal staggered backward before the dwarrow's arm had finished moving； then crumpled to the cavern floor。
〃Run！〃 Binabik called。 〃Before more archers are ing！〃
Miriamele rushed after him into the tunnel mouth； still clutching the bow。 She stooped on the run to pick up a few scattered Norn arrows。 She put Simon's arrow through her belt for safekeeping； and nocked one of the black arrows； as she did so； she looked back。 Yis…fidri and the other dwarrows were backing after her； keeping their frightened eyes fixed on the Norns。 These inched along behind them； staying out of the dwarrows' long reach； but obviously not intending to let them escape so easily。 Despite the carnage； the half…dozen bodies lying scattered in the outer chamber and the breached doorway； the Norns seemed as calm and unhurried as hunting insects。
Miriamele turned and hastened her pace。 Binabik had lit a torch； and she followed its light down the uneven tunnel。
〃They're still following！〃 she panted。
〃Run； then； until we find a better place for fighting；〃 the troll called back。 〃Where is the monk Cadrach？〃
〃Don't know；〃 Miriamele said。
And maybe it would be better for everyone if he died back there。 The thought felt cruel but just。 Better for everyone。
She raced along after the bobbing torch。
〃Josua is gone？〃 Isorn was stunned。 〃But how could he risk himself； even for Camaris？〃
Isgrimnur did not know how to answer his son's question。 He tugged fiercely at his beard； trying to think clearly。 〃Still； there it is；〃 he said。 He stared around the tent at the rest of the unhappy faces。 〃I have had soldiers hunting all through the caves for hours with no luck。 The Sithi are preparing to go after the two of them； and Tiamak will acpany them。 There is nothing more we can do about it。〃 He blew out； fluttering his mustache。 〃Yes； damn me； Josua has hamstrung us； but now more than ever we must make sure we distract Elias。 We can't waste tears。〃
Sludig peered out through the door flap。 〃It is nearly dawn； Duke Isgrimnur。 And snowing again。 The men know something strange has happened…they are growing restless。 We should decide what to do； my lord。〃
The duke nodded。 Inwardly he cursed the fate that had dropped Josua's mand into his lap。 〃We will do what we planned。 All that has changed from yesterday's council is that Josua is gone。 So we will need not one mimic； but two。〃
〃I am ready；〃 Isorn said。 〃I have Camaris' surcoat； and see；〃 he pulled his sword from its scabbard： blade and hilt were shiny black； 〃a little paint and it bees Thorn。〃 He caught Isgrimnur's disfited look。 〃Father； you agreed to this and nothing has changed。 Of all who can be trusted with the secret； only I am nearly tall enough to pass as Camaris。〃
The duke frowned。 〃It is so。 But because you pretend to be Camaris； don't believe you are Camaris： you need to stay alive and on your horse