ears and quickly moved to the other side
of the tree； so that the prince could not see her face。
Josua looked puzzled。 〃What do you mean？ Show your shame to whom？〃
〃To my people； you fool！〃 Vorzheva cried。 Her voice echoed dully through the copse。 〃To my people！〃
〃To the Thrithings…people 。。。〃Josua said slowly。 〃Of course。〃
She came around the tree like an angry spirit； eyes bright。 〃I will not go。 You take your little kingdom and walk where you will； but I will not return to my homeland in shame； like … like this！〃 She gestured furi… ously at her raggedness。
Josua smiled sourly。 〃This is foolish。 Look at me； the son of High King Prester John！ I am a scarecrow！ What does it matter？ I doubt we shall see any of your people； but even if we did； what does it matter？ Are you so stiff…necked that you would rather die in the forest than have a few of your wagon…folk see you in tatters？〃
〃Yes！〃 she shouted。 〃Yes！ You think I am a fool！ You are right！ I left my home for you and fled my father's lands。 Should I e back to them like a whipped dog？ 1 would die a thousand times before that！ Everything else has been taken from me； would you see me crawl； too？〃 She dropped to the ground； her white knees sinking into the loam。 〃Then I will beg you。 Do not go to the High Thrithings。 Or if you do； leave me enough food to live for a while and I will walk to this place through the forest。〃
〃This is madness of the worst sort；〃Josua growled。 〃Did you not hear what Geloe said？ If the Sithi do not kill you as a trespasser； the Norns will catch you and do worse。〃
〃Then kill me。〃 She reached up to snatch at Naidel； sheathed on Josua's belt。 〃I will die before I go back to the Thrithings。〃
Josua grabbed her wrist and pulled her upright。 She squirmed in his grip； kicking at his shins with feet clad m muddy； threadbare slippers。 〃You are a child；〃 he said angrily； then leaned away as her free hand struck at his face。 〃A child with claws。〃 He pulled her around so her back was to him； then pushed her stumbling ahead of him until they reached a fallen tree。 He sat； pulling her down with him so that she was caught m his lap； his arms wrapped around hers； pinioning them at her side。
〃If you will act like a willful girl； I will treat you like one；〃 he said through clenched teeth。 He swayed backward； avoiding the flailing sweep of her head as she struggled。
〃I hate you！〃 she panted。
〃At this moment； I hate you； too；〃 he said； squeezing harder； 〃…but that may pass。〃
At last her writhing slowed until she sagged in his arms； exhausted。 〃You are stronger；〃 she moaned； 〃but you must sleep sometime。 Then I will kill you and kill myself。〃
Josua； too； was breathing heavily。 Vorzheva was not a weak woman and the prince having but one hand did not make the struggle any easier for him。 〃There are too few of us left for any killing；〃 he muttered。 〃But I will sit here and hold you until it is time to walk again； if necessary。 We will go to this Sesuad'ra； and we will all reach there alive if I have any power to make it so。〃
Vorzheva again tried to pull free； but gave up quickly when it became obvious Josua had not relaxed his grip。 She sat quietly for some time； her breathing gradually slowing； the trembling of her limbs abating。
The shadows grew longer。 A lone cricket； anticipating the evening； began its creaking recitation。 〃If you only loved me；〃 she said at last； staring out at the darkening forest； 〃I would not need to kill anyone。〃
〃I am tired of talking； Lady；〃 the prince said。
Princess Miriamele and her pair of religious panions left the Coast Road in late morning； riding down into the meis Valley； the gateway to the city of Nabban。 As they followed the steep switchbacks down the face of the hill； Miriamele found it hard to watch the road beneath her horse's hooves。 It had been a long time since she had seen the real face of Nabban； her mother's homeland； and the temptation to gawk was very strong。 Here the farmlands began to give way to the sprawl of the once…imperial city。 The valley floor was crowded with settlements and towns； even the steep meian hills were encrusted with houses of whitewashed stone that jutted from the hillsides like teeth。
The smoke of countless fires rose up from the valley floor； a grayish cloud hanging overhead like an awning。 Most days； Miriamele knew； the winds from the sea swept the blue sky clear； but today the breezes were absent。
〃So many people；〃 she marveled。 〃And more in the city itself。〃
〃But in some ways；〃 Father Dinivan remarked； 〃that means little。 Erchester is less than a fifth this size； but the Hayholt there is the capital of the known world。 Nabban's glory is only a memory…except for Mother Church； of course。 Nabban is her city now。〃
〃Is it not interesting； then； how those who slew our Lord Usires now clasp Him to their bosom？〃 Cadrach said； a little farther down the trail。
〃One always makes more friends after one is dead。〃
〃I do not understand your meaning； Cadrach；〃 Dinivan said； his homely face solemn； 〃but it sounds like bitterness rather than insight。〃
〃Does it？〃 said Cadrach。 〃I speak of the usefulness of heroes who are not present to speak for themselves。〃 He scowled。 〃Lord love me； I wish I had some wine。〃 He turned away from Dinivan's questioning glance； offering no further remarks。
The plumes of smoke reminded Miriamele of something。 〃How many of those Fire Dancers we saw in Teligure are there？ Are they in every town？〃
Dinivan shook his head。 〃There are some few that e from every town； I would guess； but they join together and travel from place to place； preaching their vile message。 It is not their numbers that should frighten you； but the despair they carry with them like a plague。 For every one who joins and follows them to the next town； there are a dozen more who take the message into their secret hearts； losing faith in God。〃
〃People believe in what they see；〃 Cadrach said； eyes suddenly intent on Dinivan。 〃They hear the Storm King's message and see what the Storm King's hand can inspire。 They wait for God to strike down the heretics。 But God does nothing。〃
〃That is a lie； Padreic；〃 Dinivan said hotly。 〃Or Cadrach； or whatever name you now choose。 For choosing is what matters。 God allows each man or woman to choose。 He does not pel love。〃 The monk snorted as if in disgust； but continued to stare at the priest。
〃That He certainly does not。〃
In a strange way； Miriamele thought； Cadrach seemed to be pleading with Dinivan； as though trying to show the lector's secretary something that Dinivan would not recognize。
〃God wishes 。 。 。〃 the priest began。
〃But if God does not cajole； and does not force； and does not respond to challenges from the Storm King or anyone else。〃 Cadrach interrupted； his voice hoarse with suppressed emotion； 〃why； why do you find it surprising that people think there is no God； or that He is helpless？〃
Dinivan stared for a moment； then shook his head angrily。 〃That is why Mother Church exists。 To give out God's word； so that people may decide。〃
〃People believe what they see；〃 Cadrach replied sadly； then dropped back into silent thought as they plodded slowly down toward the valley floor。
At midday they reached the crowded Anitullean Road。 Streams of people moved in each direction； eddying around wagons going to and from market。 Miriamele and her panions attracted little attention。 By sundown they had covered a great distance up the valley。
They stopped for the evening in Bellidan； one of the score of towns that had grown together along the road until it was nearly impossible to tell where one left off and the next began。 They slept at the local priory； where Dinivan's lectoral signet ring and exalted status made them the center of a great deal of interest。 Miriamele slipped off early to the small cell provided for her； not wanting to take the chance of her disguise being promised。 Dinivan explained to the monks that his panion was ill； then brought her a satisfying meal of barley soup and bread。 When she blew out the candle to sleep； the image of the Fire Dancer was again before her eyes； the