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Camaris said nothing。
Josua lifted his hand。 He seemed to be finding the scene increasingly distasteful。 〃So； then。 Let us get on with it。〃 He turned to the Duke of Nabban。 〃Varellan is here； and he has not been mistreated。 I promise that whatever happens； we will treat your sister and mother with kindness and honor。 〃
Benigaris stared at him for a long moment； his eyes cold as a lizard's。 〃My mother is dead。〃 He snapped his visor down； then turned his horse and rode a short way back up the hillside。
Josua wearily beckoned Camaris。 'Try not to kill him。〃
〃You know I can promise nothing；〃 the old knight said。 〃But I will grant him quarter if he asks。〃
The wind grew sterner。 Tiamak wished he had taken up drylander clothing more pletely： breeches and boots would be a decided improvement over the bare legs and sandals that his robe barely protected from the cold。 He shivered as he watched the two riders turn toward each other。
He Who Bends the Trees must have woken up angry； he thought； echoing something his father had often said。 The idea sent a deeper chill through him than had the wind。 But I do not think that it is the weatherlord of the Wran who sends this cold。 We have another enemy； one who has lain quiet for a long time…and there is no question that he can mand wind and storms。
Tiamak stared up at the hillside where Camaris and Benigaris faced each other across a distance that a man could walk in a few short moments。 They were only separated by a short span； and were bound close by ties of blood； but it was clear that an impassable gulf stretched between them。
And meanwhile the Storm King's wind blows； Tiamak thought。 As these two； uncle and nephew； dance some mad drylander ritual 。。。 just like Josua and Elias。。。。
The two riders abruptly spurred toward each other； but they were nothing but a blur to Tiamak。 A sickening notion had crept over him； black and frightening as any storm cloud。
We have been thinking all along that King Elias was the tool of Ineluki's vengeance。 And the two brothers have gone brawling from Naglimund to Sesuad'ra； biting and scratching at each other so that Prince Josua and the rest of us have had no chance to do anything but survive。 But what if Elias is as benighted about what the Storm King plans as we are？ What if his purpose in some vast plan is only to keep us occupied while that dark； undead thing pursues some pletely different end？
Despite the cold air on the hill； Tiamak felt beads of sweat cooling on his forehead。 If this was true； what could Ineluki be planning？ Aditu swore that he could never e back from the void into which his death spell had cast him…but perhaps there was some other revenge he schemed for that was far more terrible than simply ruling humankind through Elias and the Norns。 But what could it be？
Tiamak looked around for Strangyeard； anxious to share this worry with his fellow Scrollbearer； but the priest was hidden by the milling crowd。 The people around the Wrannaman were shouting excitedly at something。 It took the distracted Tiamak a moment to realize that one of the mounted men had unhorsed the other。 A brief stab of fear was allayed when he saw that it was gleaming…armored Benigaris who had fallen。
A murmur ran through the crowd when Camaris dismounted。 Two boys ran forward to lead the horses away。
Tiamak put aside his suspicions for the moment and squeezed between Hotvig and Sludig； who were standing just behind the prince。 The Rimmersman looked down in annoyance； but when he saw Tiamak he grinned。 〃Knocked him rump over plume！ The old man is giving Benigaris a stern lesson！〃
Tiamak winced。 He could never understand his panions' pleasure at such things。 This 〃lesson〃 might end in death for one of the two men who were now circling each other； shields up and longswords at the ready。 Black Thorn looked like a stripe of emptiest night。
At first it seemed the bat would not last long。 Benigaris was an able fighter； shorter than Camaris but stocky and broad…shouldered； he swung the heavy blade as easily as a smaller man might have brandished Josua's Naidel； and was well…trained in the use of his shield。 But to Tiamak； Camaris seemed another kind of creature entirely； graceful as a river otter； swift as a striking serpent。 In his hands； Thorn was a plicated black blur； a web of glinting darkness。 Although he knew nothing good of Benigaris； Tiamak could not help feeling sorry for him。 Surely this whole ridiculous battle would be over in a few moments。
The sooner Benigaris gives up； Tiamak thought； the sooner we can get out of this wind。
But Benigaris； it rapidly became clear； had other plans。 After looking almost helpless through the first score of strokes； Nabban's duke suddenly took the battle to Camaris； crashing blow after blow on the old knight's shield and deflecting those that his opponent returned。 Camaris was forced back； and Tiamak could feel the worry that ran through Josua's party like a whisper。
He is an old man； after all。 Older than my father's father was when he died。 And perhaps he has even less heart for this battle than for others。
Benigaris rained strokes against Camaris' shield； trying to push home his advantage as the old knight gave ground； the duke was grunting so loudly that everyone on the hillside could hear him above the clang of iron。 Even Tiamak； with almost no knowledge of drylander swordplay； wondered how long he could keep up such an attack。
But he doesn't necessarily have to last a long time； Tiamak realized。 Just until he beats down Camaris' guard and finds an opening。 He is gambling。
For a moment Benigaris' gamble appeared to have paid。 One of his hammering blows caught Camaris with his shield too low； skimmed off its upper edge and struck the old knight on the side of the helmet； staggering him。 The crowd made a hungry sound。 Camaris regained his footing and lifted his shield as though it had bee almost impossibly heavy。 Benigaris waded in。
Tiamak was not quite sure what happened next。 One moment the old knight was in a crouch； shield raised in what looked like helplessness against Benigaris' battering sword； the next； he had somehow caught Benigaris' shield with his own and knocked it upward； so that for a moment it hung in the air like a blue and gold coin。 When it fell to the earth； Thorn's black point was at the duke's gorget。
〃Do you yield； Benigaris？〃 The voice of Camaris was clear； but there was a hint of a weary tremor。
In answer； Benigaris knocked Thorn aside with a mailed fist； then thrust his own blade at Camaris' unprotected belly。 The old man seemed to contort as the sword touched his mail…clad midsection。 For an instant Tiamak thought he might have been skewered； but instead Camaris whirled all the way around。 Benigaris' sword slid past him； and as Camaris finished his circular turn Thorn came with him in a flat； deadly arc。 The black blade crunched into Benigaris' armor just below his ribs。 The duke was driven to one knee； he wobbled for an instant； then collapsed。 Camaris pulled Thorn free of the rent in the breast plate and a freshet of blood followed it。
Beside Tiamak； Sludig and Hotvig were cheering hoarsely。 Josua did not seem so happy。
〃Merciful Aedon。〃 He turned to look at his two captains with more than a little anger； but his eye lit on the Wrannaman。 〃At least we can thank God Camaris was not killed。 Let us go to him； and see what we can do for Benigaris。 Did you bring your herbs； Tiamak？〃
The marsh man nodded。 He and the prince began to push their way forward through the knot of people that was quickly forming around the two batants。
When they reached the center of the crowd； Josua put a hand on Camaris' shoulder。 〃Are you well？〃
The old man nodded。 He appeared exhausted。 His hair hung down his forehead in sweaty twists。
Josua turned to the fallen Benigaris。 Someone had removed the duke's helmet。 He was pale as a Norn and there was a froth of blood on his lips。 〃Lie still； Benigaris。 Let this man look at your wound。〃
The duke turned his bleary eyes on Tiamak。 〃A marsh man！〃 he wheezed。 〃You are a strange one； Josua。〃 The Wrannaman kneeled down beside him and began looking for the catch…buckles on the breastplate； but Benigaris struck his hands away。 〃Leave me alone； damn you。 Let me die without having some savage paw at me。〃
Josua's mouth tightened； but he motioned Tiamak to step back。 〃As you wish。 But perhaps there is something that can be done for you。。。。〃
Benigaris barked a laugh。 A bubble of bloody spittle caught in his mustache。 〃Let me die； Josua。 That is what is left for me。 You can have 。。。〃 he coughed more red froth； 〃。。。you can have everything else。〃
〃Why did you do it？〃 Josua asked。 〃You must have known you could not win。〃
Benigaris mustered a grin。 〃But I frightened you all； didn't I？〃 His face contorted； but he regained control。 〃In any case； I took what was left to me 。。。 just as my mother did。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 Josua stared at the dying duke as though he had never seen anything quite like him。
〃My mother realized 。。。 with help from me 。。。 that her game