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he had caused。 〃And I am sorry if I made anyone frightened。〃
〃That is enough；〃 Gutrun said。 〃This is upsetting Vorzheva。〃
〃I am not upset；〃 said the new mother mildly。 She； too； had recovered some of her good humor。 Isgrimnur wondered if things like this happened among her wagon…folk。 〃But I am now tired。〃
〃Let us get you back to bed； Isgrimnur。〃 Josua darted a last worried glance at his wife。 〃We will think on this later； I suppose Aditu's 。。。 words 。。。 should be written down…although if they are true； I do not know that I wish to know the future。 Perhaps they are better forgotten。〃
〃Please forgive me；〃 Aditu said to him。 〃Someone wanted those words spoken。 And I do not think they portend ill。 Your children seem fated for great things。〃
〃I am not sure that any such portent could be good；〃 Josua replied。 〃I； for one； have had quite enough of great things。〃 He moved to Isgrimnur's side and helped the duke to rise。
When they were in the corridor again； Isgrimnur asked： 〃Do you think that was a true prophesy？〃
Josua shook his head。 〃I have been living with dreams and omens too long to say it could not be； but as with all such things； it no doubt has its tricks and twists。〃 He sighed。 〃Mother of Mercy； old friend； it seems that even my children will not be free of the mysteries that plague us。〃
Isgrimnur could think of nothing to say to fort the prince。 Instead； he changed the subject。 〃So Varellan has surrendered。 I wish I had been there to see the end of the battle。 And is Camaris well？ And Hotvig and the rest？〃
〃Both wounded； but not seriously。 We are in surprisingly good strength； thanks to…Seriddan and the other Nabbanai barons。〃
〃So we march on to the city itself。 Where do you think Benigaris will try to draw his line？〃
Bent beneath Isgrimnur's broad arm； the prince shrugged。 〃I do not know。 But he will draw it； never fear…and we may not e out of that battle so luckily； I do not like to think about fighting house to house down the peninsula。〃
〃We will get the lay of the land； Josua； then decide。〃 As they reached his bedside； Isgrimnur found himself looking forward to getting into bed as eagerly as a young man might anticipate a day free from chores。
You're turning soft； he told himself。 But at this moment； he did not care。 It would be good to lay his aching bones down。
'The children are splendid； Josua。〃 He adjusted himself on the pallet。 〃Do not fret on Aditu's words。〃
〃I always fret；〃 the prince said； smiling weakly。 〃Just as you always bluster。〃
〃Are we really so set in our habits？〃 Isgrimnur yawned to cover a grimace at the fierce aching of his ribs and back。 'Then maybe it is time for the young ones to push us aside。〃
〃We must leave them a better world than this one if we can。 We have made a terrible muck of the one we were given。〃 He took Isgrimnur's hand for a moment。 〃Sleep now； old friend。〃
Isgrimnur watched the prince walk out； happy to see that some of the bounce still remained in his step。
I hope you get the chance to see those two children grow。 And that they get to do it in that better world you spoke of。
He leaned back and closed his eyes； waiting for the wele embrace of sleep。
18
The Shadow King
Simon's entire life had shrunk to me length of two arms； his and the king's。 The room was dark。 Elias held him in a cold…fingered grip as unbreakable as any manacle。
〃Speak。〃 The voice was acpanied by a puff of vapor like dragon…spume； although Simon's own breath was invisible。 〃Who are you？〃
Simon struggled for words； but could make no sound。 This was a nightmare； a terrible dream from which he could not awaken。
〃Speak； damn you。 Who are you？〃 The faint gleam of the king's eyes narrowed； almost vanishing into the shadows that hid his face。
〃N…n…nobody；〃 Simon stammered。 〃I 。。。 I'm n…nobody…。。。〃
〃Are you？〃 There was note of sour amusement。 〃And what brings you here？〃
Simon's head was empty of thoughts or excuses。 〃Nothing。〃
〃You are nobody 。。。 and your business is nothing。〃 Elias laughed quietly； a sound like parchment being torn。 〃Then you certainly belong in this place； with all the other nameless ones。〃 He tugged Simon a step closer。 〃Let me look at you。〃
Simon was forced in turn to look directly at the king。 It was hard to see him clearly in the faint light； but Simon thought he did not look quite human。 There was a sheen to his pale arm； faint as the glow of swamp water； and although the chamber was dank and very cold； all of Elias' skin that Simon could see was beaded with moisture。 Still； for all his fevered look； the king's arm was knotted with muscle and his grip was like stone。
A shadowy something lay against the king's leg； long and black。 A sheath。 Simon could feel the thing that was in it； the sensation as faint yet unmistakable as a voice calling from far away。 Its song reached deep into the secret part of his thoughts 。。。 but he knew he could not let it fascinate him。 His real danger was far more immediate。
〃Young； I see；〃 Elias said slowly。 〃And fair…skinned。 What are you； one of Pryrates' Black Rimmersmen？ Or Thrithings…folk？〃
Simon shook his head but said nothing。
〃It is all the same to me；〃 Elias murmured。 〃Whatever tools Pryrates chooses for his work； it is all the same to me。〃 He squinted at Simon's face。 〃Ah； I see you flinch。 Of course I know why you are here。〃 He laughed harshly。 〃That damned priest has his spies everywhere…why would he not have one in his own tower； where he keeps secrets that he will not show even to his master； the king？〃
Elias' clutch loosened for a moment。 Simon's heart sped again in anticipation that he might be able to make a try for freedom； but the king was only settling himself in a different position； before Simon could do more than think about escape； the claw lightened again。
But it's something to watch for； Simon told himself； struggling to keep hope from dying。 Oh； if he does； I pray I can get the door downstairs open again！
A sudden tug on his arm dragged Simon to his knees。
〃Down； boy； where I can see you without stretching my neck。 Your king is tired and his bones ache。〃 There was a moment of silence。 〃Strange。 You do not have the face of a Rimmersman or Thrithings…rider。 You look more like one of my Erkynlandish peasants。 That red hair！ But they say that the grasslanders were of Erkynland once； long ago。。。〃
The sense of being in a dream returned。 How could the king see the color of his hair in this darkness？ Simon struggled to make his breathing even； to keep his fear down。 He had faced a dragon…a real dragon； not a human one like this…and he had also survived in the black dreadfulness of the tunnels。 He must keep his wits about him and watch for any opportunity。
〃Once all of Erkynland…all of the lands of Osten Ard…were like the grasslands；〃 Elias hissed。 〃Nothing but petty tribes squabbling over pastureland； horse…stealing savages。〃 He took a deep breath and let it out slowly； the odor was strangely like metal。 〃It took a strong hand to change that。 It takes a strong hand to build a kingdom。 Do you not think that the hill…folk of Nabban cried and wailed when the Imperator's guardsmen first came？ But their children were thankful； and their children's children would have had it no other way。。。。〃
Simon could make no sense of the king's rambling； but felt a fluttering of hope as the deep voice trailed off and silence fell。 After waiting for a score of rapid heartbeats； Simon pulled as gently as he could； but his arm was still held。 The king's eyes were hooded and his chin appeared to have sunk onto his chest。 But he was not sleeping。
〃And look what my father built；〃 Elias said abruptly。 His eyes opened wide； as though he could see beyond the shadowed room and its disturbing furniture。 〃An empire such as the old Nabbanai masters only dreamed about。 He carved it out with his sword； then protected it from jealous men and vengeful immortals。 Aedon be praised； but he was a man…a man！〃 The king's fingers tightened on Simon's wrist until it felt as though the bones were grinding together。 Simon let out a gasp of pain。 〃And he gave it to me to tend； just the way one of your peasant ancestors passed his son a small patch of land and a raddled cow。 My father gave me the world！ But that was not enough…no； it was not enough that I hold his kingdom； that I keep its borders strong； that I protect it from those who would take it away again。 No； that is only part of ruling。 Only part。 And it is not enough。〃
Elias seemed pletely lost now； droning away as if to an old friend。 Simon wondered if he was drunk； but there was no liquor on his breath； only that strange leaden smell。 Simon's sense of being trapped rose again； choking him。 Would he be kept here by the mad king until Pryrates returned？ Or would Elias tire of talking and administer king's justice himself to the captured spy？
〃This is what your master Pryrates will never under… stand；〃 Elias continued。 〃Loyalty。 Loyalty to a person； or loyalty to a cause。 Do you think he cares what happens