〃Will you have something to eat； fair lady？〃 Aspitis asked。 When Miriamele nodded shyly； he dispatched two of his men…at…arms。 His other guardsmen unceremoniously removed a large family from one of the pitted tables。 Soon the original pair of soldiers returned with a crackling haunch of lamb； bread； onions； and a generous supply of wine。
A bowlful soon drove away much of Miriamele's chill； and she found that the morning's walk had given her a considerable appetite。 The noon bell had scarcely rung before her food was gone。 She readjusted her position on the seat； trying to avoid an unladylike belch。
〃Look；〃 she said； 〃they're starting the puppet play。 Can we watch？〃
〃Certainly。〃 Aspitis said； waving his hand generously。 〃Certainly。 You will forgive me if I do not e with you。 I have not finished my meal。 Besides； it looks like a Usires play。 You will not think me disrespectful if I say that； living in the lap of Mother Church； I see them frequently enough…in all varieties； from the grandest to the meanest。〃 He turned and signaled one of his men to acpany her。 〃It is not a good idea for a well…dressed gentle lady like yourself to go unprotected among the milling crowd。〃
〃I am done eating；〃 Cadrach said； standing。 〃I will e too； Lady Marya。〃 The monk fell in beside the earl's guardsman。
The play was in full swing。 The spectators； especially the children； shrieked with delight as the puppets capered and smacked each other with their slapping…sticks。 Miriamele； too； laughed as Usires tricked Crexis into bending over； then delivered a kick in the seat to the evil Imperator； but her smile soon faded。 Instead of his usual horns； Crexis wore what looked like a crown of antlers。 For some reason this filled her with unease。 There was also something panicky and desperate in Usires' high…pitched voice； and the puppet's painted； upturned eyes seemed unutterably sad。 She turned to find Cadrach looking at her somberly。
〃So we labor to build our little dams；〃 the monk said； barely audible above the shouting throng； 〃while the waters rise all around us。〃 He made the sign of the Tree above his gray vestments。
Before she could ask him what he meant； a rising howl from the crowd drew her attention back to the puppet stage。 Usires had been caught and hung wrongside…up on the Execution Tree； wooden head dangling。 As Crexis the Goat prodded the helpless savior； another puppet appeared； rising from the darkness。 This one was clothed all in orange and red tatters of cloth； as it swayed from side to side in an eerie dance； the rags swirled； as though the puppet were covered with licking flames。 Its head was a black； faceless knob； and it carried a small wooden sword the color of mud。
〃Here es the Fire Dancer to throw you down into the dark earth！〃 Crexis squealed。 The Imperator did a little dance of joy。
〃I do not live by the sword；〃 the puppet Usires said。 〃A sword cannot harm that which is God within me； that which is silence and peace。〃 Miriamele almost believed she could see its motionless lips mouthing the words。
〃You can be silent forever； then…and worship your God in pieces！〃 the Imperator shouted triumphantly as the faceless Fire Dancer began to hack with its sword。 The laughing； screaming crowd grew louder； a sound like hounds at the kill。 Miriamele felt dizzy； taken as though with a sudden fever。 Fear growing within her； she turned away from the stage。
Cadrach no longer stood beside her。
Miriamele turned to the guardsman on the other side。 The soldier； seeing her questioning look； whirled in search of the monk。 Cadrach was nowhere to be seen。
A search of the eating hall by Aspitis and his men turned up no trace of the Hernystirman。 The earl marched his party back to the Eadne Cloud through the windswept streets； his furious mood mirroring the angry skies。 He was silent all the long walk back to the ship。
Sinetris the fisherman looked the new arrival up and down。 The stranger was a full head taller than him； broad as a gate； and soaking wet from the rain that hammered on the ceiling of the boat stall。 Sinetris weighed the advantages and disadvantages of circling slowly around this newer until he could address the man from outside the tiny shelter。 The disadvantages of such a plan were clear： it was the kind of day today that made even the hardiest shiver by the fire and praise God for roofs。 Also； it was Sinetris' own stall； and it seemed terribly unfair that he should have to go outside so that this stranger could growl and champ and suck up all the air while the fisherman stood miserably in the storm。
The advantages； however； were equally clear。 If he were outside； Sinetris could run for his life when this panting madman finally became murderous。
〃I don't know what you're saying； Father。 There are no boats out today。 You see how it is。〃 Sinetris gestured out at the sheeting rain； flung almost sideways by the force of the wind。
The religious man stared at him furiously。 The gigantic monk； if that was indeed what he was； had gone quite red and mottled in the face； and his eyebrows twitched。 Strangely enough； Sinetris thought the monk seemed to be growing a beard： his whiskers were longer than even a week's razorless travel would cause。 To the best of the fisherman's knowl… edge； Aedonite monks did not wear beards。 Then； again； this one was some kind of barbarous northerner by his accent； a Rimmersman or some
such： Sinetris supposed that those born beyond the River Gleniwent would be capable of just about any eccentricity。 As he looked at the ragged whiskers and the chafed pmk skin gleaming beneath； his unwholesome opinion of the monk grew more pronounced。 This was definitely a man with whom to have as little to do as possible。
〃I don't think you understand me； fisherman；〃 the monk hissed； leaning forward and squinting in a truly frightening way。 〃I have e nearly through Hell itself to get this far。 I'm told that you are the only one who would take his boat out in such bad weather…and that the reason is because you overcharge。〃 A beefy hand closed on Sinetris' arm； occasioning a squeal of shock。 〃Splendid。 Cheat me； rob me； I don't care。 But I'm going downcoast to Kwanitupul and I'm tired of asking people to take me。 Do you understand？〃
〃B…but you could go overland！〃 Sinetris squeaked。 〃This is no weather to be on the water 。。。〃
〃And how long would it take to go overland from here？〃
〃A day！ Two； perhaps！ Not long！〃
The monk's grip on his arm tightened cruelly。 〃You lie； little man。 In this weather； through that marshy ground； it would take me a solid fortnight。 But you're rather hoping I'll try； though； aren't you？ Hoping I'll go away and sink into the mud somewhere？〃 An unpleasant smile flitted across the monk's broad face。
〃No； Father！ No！ I would never think so of a holy man！〃 1
〃That's strange； because your fellow fishermen tell me you've cheated everyone； monks and priests by the score among 'em！ Well； you shall live your chance to help a man of God…and you shall have your just and more than ample payment。〃
Sinetris burst into tears； impressing even himself。 〃But Eminence！ We truly dare not go out in such weather！〃 As he said it； he realized that for once he was telling the truth and not merely trying to raise his price。 This was weather that only a fool would brave。 His pleading took on a note of greater desperation。 〃We will drown…you； God's holiest priest； and poor Sinetris； hard…working husband and father to seven lovely children！〃
〃You have no children； and pity the woman who will ever be your wife。 I talked to your fishing…fellows； don't you remember？ You are the scum that even Perdruin the Mercenary has driven from her shores。 Now； name your price； damn you。 1 must get to Kwanitupul as soon as possible。〃
Sinetris sniffled a bit to give himself time to think。 The standard ferrying charge was one quinis； but with rough weather…and they certainly had that today； with no exaggeration…three or even four quinis would not be out of line。
〃Three gold Imperators。〃 He waited for the bellow of anger。 When none came； he thought for a delirious moment he might have made his summer'