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had seemed quite offhand and uncaring about it。 Miriamele secretly thought it likely that the muddy footmarks were their own； since they had tramped about a great deal while searching for firewood。 Other than that； Simon had conversed with her only about whether it was time to stop and eat and rest the horses； and to issue curt thanks when she had given him food or shared the water skin。 It would not be a pleasant night； she felt sure。
They were in the deeps of the valley when Simon abruptly stopped； pulling back on Homefinder's reins so that the mare paced nervously from side to side for a long moment after she halted。
'There's somebody on the road ahead；〃 he said quietly。 〃There。 Just through the trees。〃 He pointed to a spot where the path hooked to one side and passed out of sight。 〃Do you see them？〃
Miriamele squinted。 The early twilight had turned the road before them into a dim streak of gray。 If something was moving beyond the trees； she could not see it from her angle； 〃We're getting near the town。〃
〃e； then；〃 he said。 〃It's probably just someone on their way home； but we haven't seen anyone else all day。〃 He eased Homefinder ahead。
As they rounded the bend they came upon two figures hunching along in the middle of the road； both of them carrying buckets。 When the noise of Simon and Miriamele's horses reached the pair； they flinched and looked over their shoulders as guiltily as thieves surprised。 Miriamele felt sure that they were just as startled as Simon to find other travelers on the road。
The pair moved to the verge of the road as the riders approached。 From what Miriamele could see of their dark； hooded cloaks； they were probably local people； hill…folk。 Simon lifted his hand to his brow in salute。
〃God give you good day；〃 he said。
The nearest of the pair looked up at him and cautiously raised his own hand to return the greeting； but stopped abruptly； staring。
〃By the Tree！〃 Simon reined up。 〃You're the ones from the tavern in Falshire。〃
What is he doing？ Miriamele wondered fearfully。 Are they Fire Dancers？ Ride on； Simon； you idiot！
He turned toward her。 〃Miriamele。 Look here。〃
Unexpectedly； the two hooded folk dropped to their knees。 〃You saved our lives；〃 a woman's voice said。
Miriamele pulled up and stared。 It was the woman and man that the Fire Dancers had threatened。
〃That's true；〃 the man said。 His voice was unsteady。 〃May Usires bless you； good knight。〃
〃Please； get up。〃 Simon was clearly pleased yet embarrassed。 〃I'm sure someone else would have helped you if we hadn't。〃
The woman stood； unmindful of the mud on the knees of her long skirt。 〃None seemed in a hurry to help；〃 she said。 'That's the way。 Those who are good are given the pain。〃
The man darted a glance at her。 'That's enough； wife。 These folk don't need your tellin' what's wrong with the world。〃
She looked back at him with poorly…hidden defiance。 〃It's a shame； that's all。 A shame the world works thus。〃
The man turned his attention back to Simon and Miriamele。 He was middle…aged； with a face reddened and wrinkled by years of harsh sun。 〃My wife has her ideas； mind； but the bottom of it's true enough。 You saved our lives； that you did。〃 He forced a smile。 He seemed nervous； having his life saved must have been almost as frightening as not having it saved。 〃Have you a place to stay for tonight？ My wife's Gullaighri and I am Roelstan； and we would be pleased to offer you what shelter we have。〃
〃We cannot stop yet；〃 Miriamele said； unsettled by the thought of staying with strangers。
Simon looked at her。 〃You have been ill；〃 he said。
〃I can ride farther。〃
〃Yes； you probably can； but why turn down a roof over our heads； even for one night？〃 He turned to look at the man and woman； then moved his horse closer to Miriamele。 〃It may be the last chance to get out of the wind and rain；〃 he murmured； 〃the last until。。。〃 He broke off； unwilling even to whisper any hint of their destination。
Miriamele was certainly weary。 She hesitated a moment longer； then nodded her head。
〃Good；〃 said Simon； then turned to the man and woman。 〃We would be glad of shelter。〃 He did not offer their own names to these strangers； Miriamele silently approved of that at least。
〃But we have nothing worthy of such good folk； husband。〃 Gullaighn had a face that might have been kindly； but fear and hard times had made the skin slack； the eyes sorrowful。 〃It is no favor to bring them to our rude place。〃
〃Be quiet； woman；〃 her husband said。 〃We will do what we can。〃
She appeared to have more to say； but instead closed her mouth in a grim line。
〃It's settled； then；〃 he said。 〃e。 It is not much farther。〃
After a moment's consideration； Simon and Miriamele dismounted so that they could walk beside their hosts。 〃Do you live here in Hasu Vale？〃 asked Simon。
Roelstan laughed shortly。 〃For a short time only。 We lived once in Falshire。〃
Miriamele hesitated before speaking。 〃And。。。 and were you Fire Dancers？〃
'To our sorrow。〃
〃They are a powerful evil。〃 Gullaighn's voice was thick with emotion。 〃You should have nothing to do with them； my lady； nor anything they've touched。〃
〃Why were those men after you？〃 Simon reflexively fingered the hilt of his sword。
〃Because we left；〃 Roelstan said。 〃We could stand it no longer。 They are mad； but like dogs； even in their madness they can do harm。〃
〃But it is not so easy to escape them；〃 said Gullaighn。 〃They are fierce and they do not let go。 And they are everywhere。〃 She lowered her voice。 〃Everywhere！〃
〃By the Ransomer； woman；〃 Roelstan growled； 〃what are you trying to do？ You have seen this knight wield a sword。 He has naught to fear from them。〃
Simon walked a little straighten Miriamele smiled； but a look at Gullaighn's anxious face made the smile fade。 Could she be right？ Might there be more Fire Dancers about？ Perhaps by tomorrow it would be time to leave the main road again and travel more secretively。
As if echoing her thoughts； Roelstan stopped and waved at a track climbing up from the Old Forest Road； winding away into the wooded hillside。 〃We have made our place up there；〃 he said。 〃It is no good to be too close to the road； where the smoke of a fire might bring visitors less wele than you two。〃
They followed Roelstan and Gullaighn up the narrow path。 After the first few turnings the road had disappeared behind them； hidden beneath a blanket of treetops。 It was a long and steep climb through the close…leaning trees； and the dark cloaks of their guides became harder and harder to follow as twilight came on。 Just as Miriamele began to think that they would see the moon before they saw a place to stop； Roelstan halted and pulled back the thick branch of a pine tree that had hung across their path。
〃Here it is；〃 he said。
Miriamele led her horse through after Simon； and found herself in a wide clearing on the hillside。 In the center was a house made of split timbers； plain but surprisingly large。 Smoke twined from a hole in the roof。
Miriamele was taken aback。 She turned to Gullaighn； suddenly full of misgivings。 〃Who else lives here？〃
The woman gave no answer。
Miriamele saw movement in the doorway of the house。 A moment later； a man emerged onto the dark hardpacked earth before the door。 He was short and thicknecked； clothed in a white robe。
〃We meet again；〃 said Maefwaru。 〃Our visit in the tavern was too short。〃
Miriamele heard Simon curse； then the scrape of his sword leaving the scabbard。 He pulled at her bridle to turn her horse around。
〃Don't；〃 Maefwaru said。 He whistled。 A half…dozen more white…robed figures stepped from the shadows around the edge of the clearing。 In the twilight； they seemed ghosts bom from the secretive trees。 Several of them had drawn their bows。
〃Roelstan； you and your woman move away。〃 The bald man sounded almost pleasant。 〃You have done what you were sent to do。〃
〃Curse you； Maefwaru！〃 Gullaighn cried。 〃On the Day of Weighing…Out； you will eat your own guts for sausages！〃
Maefwaru laughed； a deep nimble。 〃Is that so？ Move； woman； before I have someone put an arrow in you。〃
As her husband dragged her away； Gullaighn turned to Miriamele with eyes full of tears。 〃Forgive us； my lady。 They caught us again。 They made us！〃
Miriamele's heart was cold as a stone。
〃What do you want with us； you coward？〃 Simon demanded。
Maefwaru laughed again； wheezing a little。 〃It is not what we want of you； young master。 It is what the Storm King wants of you。 And we will find out tonight； when we give you to Him。〃 He waved to the other white…robed figures。 〃Bind them。 There is much to do before midnight。〃
As the first of the Fire Dancers seized his arms； Simon turned to Miriamele； his face full of anger and desperation。 She knew that he wished to fight； to make them kill him instead of simply surrendering； but was afraid to for her sake。
Miriamele could give him nothing。 She had nothing left inside of her but stifling dread。
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