to the other。 She could not understand why the earl had forced her to e sit with him in the brightly candlelit room。 She could not understand why she was not even slightly in love。
A soldier rapped at the doorway； then entered。
〃We've caught him； Lord；〃 the guardsman said。 His satisfaction at having redressed the earlier error of the monk's escape was plain in his voice。 Miriamele； seated across the table from Earl Aspitis； felt herself stiffen。
The guardsman stepped aside and two of his fellows brought Cadrach in； slumped between them。 The monk seemed to be having trouble keeping his head up。 Had they beaten him？ Miriamele felt a sickening pang of regret。 She had half…hoped that Cadrach would just vanish； so that she would never have to see him again。 It was easier to hate him when he was not around。
〃He's drunk； Lord Aspitis；〃 the guardsman said。 〃Stinking。 We found him in the Feathered Eel； down on the east dock。 He'd already bought a place out on a Perdruinese merchantman； but the fool got pissed and diced it away。〃
Cadrach looked up blearily； his face slack with despair。 Even from across the table； Miriamele could smell the stink of wine。 〃Was 'bout t'win it back； too。 Would've。〃 He shook his head。 〃Maybe not。 Luck's gone bad。 Water's rising 。。。〃
Aspitis rose and strode around the table。 He reached out a hand and grasped the monk's chin； pressing with his strong fingers until the flesh bulged between them。 He forced Cadrach's pink face upward until their eyes met。
The earl turned to Miriamele。 〃Has he tried to do this before； Lady Marya？〃
Miriamele nodded helplessly。 She wished she were somewhere else。 〃More or less。〃
Aspitis returned his attention to the monk。 〃What a strange man。 Why does he not just leave your father's service instead of sneaking away like a thief？〃 The earl turned to his squire。 〃And you are sure nothing is missing？〃
The squire shook his head。 〃Nothing； Lord。〃
Cadrach tried to pull his head free from Aspitis' restraining fingers。 〃Had m'own gold。 Stole nothing。 Need t'get away 。。。〃 His eyes fixed uncertainly on Miriamele； his voice took on a note of added desperation。 〃Dangerous 。 。 。 storm will get us。 Danger。〃
The Earl of Eadne let go of the monk's chin and wiped his fingers on the tablecloth。 〃Afraid of a storm？ I knew he was not a good sailor； but still 。 。 。 that is very strange。 If he were my liege man； his back would be flayed for this trick。 Still； the fellow shall certainly not be rewarded for deserting his innocent ward。 Neither shall he share a cabin with you any more； Lady Marya。〃 The earl's smile was stiffy； reassuring。 〃He may have gone mad； or have conceived some drunken fancy。 He says danger； but he is the dangerous one as I see it。 He will be confined on the Eadne Cloud until I return you to Nabban； and we shall then hand him over to Mother Church for discipline。〃
〃Confine him？〃 Miriamele asked。 〃That is not 。。。〃
〃I may not leave him loose to plague you or worry you； my lady。〃 The earl turned to his guardsmen。 〃The hold will do nicely for him。 Give him water and bread； but put the leg irons on him。〃
〃Oh； no'〃 Miriamele was genuinely horrified。 However much she despised the monk and his cowardly treachery； the thought of any living thing forced to wear a chain； trapped in a dark hold。。。
〃Please； my lady。〃 Aspitis' voice was soft but firm。 〃I must have order on my ship。 I gave you sanctuary； and this man with you。 He was your guardian。 He betrayed your trust。 I still am not sure he has not stolen something from me； or perhaps thinks to sell some intelligence of my mission here in Vimtta。 No； I am afraid you must leave such men's business to me； pretty Marya。〃 He waved his hand； Cadrach was led out； staggering between his escorts。
Miriamele felt her eyes blurring with tears。 They spilled over and she lurched suddenly from her chair。 〃Excuse me； Earl Aspuis；〃 she mumbled； feeling her way along the table toward the door。 〃I wish to lie down。〃
He caught her before she reached the handle； grasping her arm and pulling her smoothly around。 The heat of him was very close。 She averted her face； conscious of how foolish she must look； eyes red…rimmed and cheeks wet。 〃Please； my lord。 Let the monk go。〃
〃I know you must feel quite lost； pretty Marya；〃 Aspitis said softly。 〃Do not fear。 I promised that I would keep you safe。〃
She felt herself yielding； being pliant。 Her strength seemed to be draining away。 She was so tired of running and hiding。 She had only wanted someone to hold her； to make everything go away。。。
Miriamele shivered and pulled away。 〃No。 It is wrong。 Wrong！ If you do not let him go； I will not stay on this ship！〃 She pushed out through the door； stumbling blindly。
Aspitis caught her long before she reached the ladder to the deck。 The sea watcher Gan Itai was crooning quietly m the darkness above。
〃You are upset； Lady；〃 he said。 〃You must lie down； as you said yourself。〃
She struggled； but his grip was firm。 〃I demand that you release me！ I do not wish to stay here any longer。 I will go ashore and find my own passage from Vinitta。〃
〃No； my lady； you will not。〃
She gasped。 〃Let go of my arm。 You're hurting me。〃
Somewhere above； Gan Itai's song seemed to falter。
Aspitis leaned forward。 His face was very close to hers。 〃I think there are things that must be made clear between us。〃 He laughed shortly。 〃As a matter of fact； there is much for us to talk about…later。 You will go to your cabin now。 I will finish my supper and then e to you。〃
〃I won't go。〃
〃You will。〃
He said it with such quiet certainty that her angry reply caught in her throat as fear clutched her。 Aspitis pulled her close against him； then turned and forced her along the passageway。
The sea watcher's song had stopped。 Now it began again； rising and fading as Gan Itai murmured to the night and the quiet sea。
27
The Black Sledge
〃THEY are getting close；〃 Sludig gasped。 〃If your Farewell Stone is more than half a league from here； little man； we will have to turn and fight。〃
Shaking the water from his hood； Binabik leaned forward across Qantaqa's neck。 The wolfs tongue lolled and her sides heaved like a blacksmith's bellows。 They had been traveling without a stop since daybreak； fleeing through the storm…battered forest。
〃I wish I could be telling you that it is near； Sludig。 I do not know how much distance remains； but I fear it is most of a day's riding。〃 The troll stroked Qantaqa's sodden fur。 〃A brave run； old friend。〃 She ignored him； absorbed in drinking rainwater from the hollow stump of a tree。
〃The giants are hunting us；〃 Sludig said grimly。 〃They have developed a taste for man…meat。〃 He shook his head。 〃When we make our stand at last； some of them will regret that。〃
Binabik frowned。 〃I have too little size to be a satisfying morsel； so I will not waste their time by being caught。 That way； no one will be having regrets。〃
The Rimmersman steered his mount over to the stump。 Trembling with the cold； parched despite the pelting rain； the horse was heedless of the wolf a handsbreadth away。
As their steeds drank； a long rumbling howl lifted above the wind； blood…freezingly close。
〃Damn me！〃 Sludig spat； slapping his palm against his sword…hilt。 〃They are no farther behind us than they were an hour ago！ Do they run fast as horses？〃
〃Near to it it is seeming；〃 Binabik said。 〃I am thinking we should move deeper into the forest。 The thicker trees may slow them。〃
〃You thought getting off the flatlands would slow them； too；〃 Sludig said； reining his reluctant horse away from the hollow stump。
〃If we live； then you can be telling me all my incorrectness；〃 Binabik growled。 He took a tight grip on the thick fur that mantled Qantaqa's neck。 〃Now； unless you have been thinking of ways to fly； we should ride。〃
Another deep； coughing cry came down the wind。
Sludig's sword swished from side to side； clearing the brush as they pushed their way down the long； wooded slope。 〃My blade will be dull when I have greatest need；〃 he plained。
Binabik； who was leading the string of balking horses