e with your kind？〃
Simon wiped his mouth； grimacing。 〃But it's salty！〃 He took a sniff of the bowl and made another face。
The Sitha nodded and sipped again。 〃They put salt in it； yes…and butter as well。〃
〃Butter！〃
〃Marvelous are the ways of all Mezumiiru's grandchildren；〃 Jiriki intoned solemnly； 〃。 。 。 endless is their variety。〃
Simon set the bowl down in disgust。 〃Butter。 Usires help me； what a miserable adventure。〃
Jiriki calmly finished his tea。 The mention of Mezumiiru reminded Simon again of his troll friend； who one night in the forest had sung a song about the Moon…woman。 His mood turned sour once more。
〃But what are we going to do for Binabik？〃 Simon asked。 〃Anything？〃
Jiriki lifted calm； catlike eyes。 〃We will have a chance to speak on his behalf tomorrow。 I have not yet discovered his crime。 Few Qanuc speak any language but their own…your panion is a rare troll indeed…and I am not very acplished in theirs。 Neither do they like to share their thoughts with outsiders。〃
〃What's happening tomorrow？〃 Simon asked； sinking back into his bed again。 His head was pounding。 Why should he still feel so weak？
〃There is a 。。。 court； I suppose。 Where the Qanuc rulers hear and
decide。〃
〃And we are going to speak for Binabik？〃
〃No； Seoman； not as such；〃 Jiriki said gently。 For a moment a strange look flitted across his spare features。 〃We are going because you met the Dragon of the Mountain 。 。 。 and lived。 The lords of the Qanuc wish to see you。 I do not doubt that your friend's crimes will also be addressed； there before the whole of his people。 Now take rest； for you will have need of it。〃
Jiriki stood and stretched his slender limbs； moving his head in his disconcertingly alien way； amber eyes fixed on nothing。 Simon felt a shudder travel the length of his own body； followed by a powerful weariness。
The dragon！ he thought groggily； halfway between wonderment and horror。 He had seen a dragon！ He； Simon the scullion； despised muckabout and mooncalf； had swung a sword at a dragon and lived…even after its scalding blood had splashed him！ Like in a story！
He looked at blackly gleaming Thorn； which lay partly covered against the wall； wailing like a beautiful； deadly serpent。 Even Jiriki seemed unwilling to handle it； or even discuss it； the Sitha had calmly deflected all of Simon's questions as to what magic might run like blood through Camaris' strange sword。 Simon's chilled fingers crept up his jaw to the still painful scar running down his face。 How had a mere scullion like himself ever dared to lift such a potent thing？
Closing his eyes； he felt the huge and uncaring world spin ever so slowly beneath him。 He heard Jiriki pad across the cave toward the doorway； and a faint swish as the Sitha slid past the flap and out； then sleep tugged him down。
Simon dreamed。 The face of the small； dark…haired girl swam before him once more。 It was a child's face； but the solemn eyes were old and deep as a well in a deserted churchyard。 She seemed to want to tell him something。 Her mouth worked soundlessly； but as she slipped away through the murky waters of sleep； he thought for a moment he heard her voice。
He awoke the next morning to find Haestan standing over him。 The guardsman's teeth were bared in a grim smile and his beard sparkled with melting snow。
〃Time y'were up； Simon…lad。 Many doin's this day； many doin's。〃
It took some time； but even though he felt quite feeble； he managed to dress himself。 Haestan helped him with his boots； which he had not worn since waking up in Yiqanuc。 They seemed stiff as wood on his feet； and the fabric of his garments scraped against his strangely sensitive skin； but he felt better for being up and dressed。 He walked gingerly across the length of the cave a few times； beginning to feel like a two…legged animal once more。
〃Where's Jiriki？〃 Simon asked as he pulled his cloak around his shoulders。
〃That one's gone ahead。 But ha' no worry 'bout goin' t' meetin'。 I
could carry ye； stickly thing that y'are。〃
〃I was carried here；〃 Simon said； and heard an unexpected coldness creeping into his voice； 〃but that doesn't mean I'll have to be carried always。〃
The husky Erkynlander chortled； taking no offense。 〃I'm as happy if y'walk； lad。 These trolls make paths narrow enough； I've no great wish t'carry anyone。〃
Simon had to wait a moment just inside the cave…mouth to adjust to the glare leaking through the raised door…flap。 When he stepped outside； the reflective brilliance of the snow； even on an overcast morning； was almost too much for him。 They stood on a wide stone porch that extended almost twenty cubits out from the cave。 It stretched away to the right and left on either side； running along the face of the mountain。 Simon could see the smoking mouths of other caves all along its length； until it bent back out of sight around the curve of Mintahoq's belly。 There were similar wide trackways on the slope above； row upon row up the mountain's face。 Ladders dangled down from higher caves； and where the irregularities of the slope made the joining of the paths impossible； many of the different porches were connected across empty space by swaying bridges that seemed made of little more than leather thongs。 Even as Simon stared； he saw the tiny； fur…coated shapes of Qanuc children skittering across these slender spans； gamboling blithely as squirrels； though a fall would mean certain death。 It made Simon's stomach churn to watch them； so he swung around to face outward once more。
Before him lay the great valley of Yiqanuc； beyond； Mintahoq's stonyneighbors loomed out of the misted depths； towering up into the gray； snow…ftecked sky。 Tiny black holes dotted the far peaks； minuscule shapes； barely discernible across the dark valley； bustled along the twining paths between them。
Three trolls； slouching in wrought…hide saddles； came riding down the track on their shaggy rams。 Simon stepped forward out of their way； moving slowly across the porch until he was within a few feet of the edge。
Looking down； he felt a momentary surge of the vertigo he had felt on Urmsheim。 The mountain's base； bewhiskered here and there by twisted evergreens； fell away below； crisscrossed by more ladder…hung porches like the one on which he stood。 He noticed a sudden silence and turned to look for Haestan。
The three ram…riders had stopped in the middle of the wide pathway； gazing at Simon in slack…mouthed wonderment。 The guardsman； nearly hidden in the shadow of the cave…mouth on their far side； gave him a mocking salute over the heads of the trolls。
Two of the riders had sparse beards on their chins。 All wore necklaces of thick ivory beads over their heavy coats and carried ornately carved spears with hooked bottoms； like shepherd's crooks； which they used to guide their spiral…homed steeds。 They were all largef than Binabik： Simon's few days in Yiqanuc had taught him that Binabik was one of the smallest adults of his people。 These trolls also seemed more primitive and dangerous than his friend； well…armed and fierce…faced； threatening despite their small stature。
Simon stared at the trolls。 The trolls stared at Simon。
〃They've alt heard of ye； Simon；〃 Haestan boomed； the three riders looked up； startled by his loud voice； 〃…but no one's hardly seen ye yet。〃
The trolls looked the tall guardsman up and down in alarm； then ducked at their mounts and rode on hurriedly； disappearing around the mountain face。 〃Gave them some gossip；〃 Haestan chuckled。
〃Binabik told me about his home；〃 Simon said； 〃but it was hard to understand what he was saying。 Things are never quite what you think they're going to be； are they？〃
〃Only th' good Lord Usires knows all answers；〃 Haestan nodded。
〃Now； if y'would see y'r small friend； we'd best move on。 Walk careful now…and not so close t'edge； there。〃
They made their way slowly down the looping path； which alternately narrowed and widened as it traversed the mountainside。 The sun was high overhead； but hidden in a nest of soot…colored clouds； and a biting wind swooped along Mintahoq's face。 The mountaintop above was whi