； to handle it unnecessarily might spell its ruin。
But in any case； hope alone was not a fit diet for a knight…even an old one like the duke； with his best days behind him。 There was also duty。 Now that Naglimund was fallen and Isgrimnur's folk were all scattered God knew where； the only duty he had left was to Miriamele； and to Prince Josua who had sent him after her。 Indeed； he was grateful there was something left for him to do。
Isgrimnur stood in the hallway stroking his chin。 Praise Usires； the beard stubble was not too pronounced。 He had not been able to force himself to shave this morning。 The bowl of water had been nearly frozen； and even after several weeks of traveling as a monk he was still not reconciled to running a sharp blade over his face every day。 He had worn a beard since his first year as a man。 He mourned it now the way he would have a missing hand or foot。
The duke was trying to decide which direction might lead him back toward the mon room…and toward its blazing fire…when he felt a hand on his arm。 He turned quickly； startled and found himself sur… rounded by a trio of priests。 The one who had touched him。 an old man with a harelip； smiled。
〃Did 1 not see you in the room last night； brother？〃 he asked。 He spoke the Westerling tongue carefully； hampered by a strong Nabbanai accent。 〃You have just e from the north； no？ e and join us for the morning meal。 Are vou hungry？〃
Isgrimnur shrugged and nodded
〃Good。〃 The old man patted his arm。 〃I am Brother Septes。 These are Rovalles and Neylin； two others of my order；〃 He indicated the younger monks。 〃You will join us； yes？〃
〃Thank you。〃 Isgrimnur smiled uncertainly； wondering if there was some monkish etiquette known only to initiates。 〃God bless you；〃 he added。
〃And you；〃 Septes said； taking Isgrimnur's large arm with his thin fingers； leading him up the corridor。 The other two monks fell in behind； talking quietly。
〃Have you seen the Elysia Chapel yet？〃 the old man asked。 Isgrimnur shook his head。 〃I only arrived last night。 〃
〃It is beautiful。 Beautiful。 Our abbey is near Lake Myrme； to the east； but I try to e here once a year。 I always bring a few of the younger ones with me； to show them the glory that God has built for us here。〃
Isgrimnur nodded piously。 They walked on in silence for a while； their path joining that of other monks and priests who converged from criss…crossing hallways onto the main thoroughfare； blending together like shoals of drab fish； being drawn as though by a current toward the dining hall。
The mass migration slowed at the hall's wide doors。 As Isgrimnur and his new panions joined the pressing throng； Septes asked the duke a question。 Isgrimnur could not hear above the clamor of voices； so the old man stood on tiptoe to speak into his ear。
〃I said； how are things in the north？〃 Septes almost shouted。 〃We have heard terrible stories。 Famine； wolves； deadly blizzards。 〃
Isgrimnur nodded； frowning。 〃Things are very bad；〃 he called back。 As he spoke； he and the others were propelled through the door like a stopper from the neck of a bottle； and found themselves milling inside the dining hall entrance。 The roar of conversation seemed enough to shake the roofbeams。
〃I thought it was custom to have silence at mealtimes！〃 Isgrimnur shouted。 Septes' young followers； like the duke； stared goggle…eyed at the scores of tables that stretched end to end across the wide room。 There were some dozen or so rows； and each table in each row was crowded with the hunched backs of cassocked men； their tonsured heads a profu… sion of pink spots； like the fingernails of some hundred…handed ogre。 Each man seemed to be engaged in loud conversation with his neighbors； some waving their spoons for attention。 The sound was as vast as the ocean that surrounded Nabban。
Septes laughed； the sound subsumed in the greater roaring。 He stood on tiptoe again。 〃It is silent in our abbey at home and in many others…as no doubt it is in your Rimmersgard monasteries； yes？ But here at the Sancellan Aedonitis are those who are doing God's business they must speak and listen just like merchants。〃
〃Speculating on the price of souls？〃 Isgrimnur grinned sourly； but the old man did not hear him。
〃If you prefer silence；〃 Septes shouted； 〃you should go down to the archives。 The priests there are silent as the tomb and a whisper sounds like a thunderclap。 e！ Bread and soup can be got over there； where that door is； then you will tell me more about what happens in the north； yes？〃
Isgrimnur tried not to watch the old man eat； but it was difficult。 Because of his harelip； Septes dribbled soup constantly； and soon had a little river of it running down the front of his robe。
〃I am sorry；〃 the old man said at last； mumbling at a crust of bread； he did not seem to have many teeth； either。 〃I have not asked your name。 What are you called？〃
〃Isbeorn；〃 the duke said。 It was his father's name and fairly mon。
〃Ah； Isbeorn。 Well； I am Septes。。。 but I told you that； no？ Tell us more of what happens in the north。 That is another reason I e to Nabban…for news we do not get in the Lakelands。〃
Isgrimnur told him something of what had happened north of the Frostmarch； of the killing storms and evil times。 Choking down his bitterness； he told of Skali of Kaldskryke's usurpation of his own power in Elvritshalla and the devastation and kinslaymg that had resulted。
〃We had heard that Duke Isgrimnur was proved a traitor to the High King；〃 Septes said； mopping the last of the soup from his bowl with a rind of bread。 〃Travelers told us that Elias found out the duke was in league with the king's brother Josua to take the throne。 〃
〃That's a lie'〃 Isgrimnur said angrily； smacking his hand on the table so that young Neylin's bowl almost overtipped。 Heads turned on all sides。
Septes raised an eyebrow。 〃Forgive us；〃 he said； 〃for we only speak of rumors we have heard。 Perhaps we have touched on a painful subject。 Was Isgrimnur a patron of your order？〃
〃Duke Isgrimnur is an honest man；〃 the duke said； cursing himself for letting his temper get the best of him。 〃I hate to hear him slandered。〃
〃Of course；〃 Septes spoke as soothingly as he could while still being heard above the ruckus。 〃But we have heard other stories from the north as well； very frightening； yes？ Rovalles； tell him what the traveler told to you。〃
Young Rovalles started to speak； but broke into a fit of coughing as he choked on a crust。 Neylm the other acolyte； pounded him on the back until he got his breath； then continued pounding； perhaps a little overexcited at being in Nabban for the first time。
〃A man we meet when we are ing here；〃 Rovalles said when Neylin had been restrained； 〃he is from Hewenshire； or some place up in Erkynland。〃 The young monk did not speak Westerling as well as Septes； he had to stop and think carefully before choosing words。 〃He say that when Elias' siege cannot throw down Josua's castle； the High King raise up white demons from the earth； and by magic they kill everyone in the keep。 He swear it is so； that he sees it himself。 〃
Septcs； who had been dabbing at the front of his robe while Rovalles spoke； now leaned forward。 〃Like me； Isbeorn； you know how full of superstition people can be； yes？ If only this man told the story； I would call him madman and have done。 But many are speaking quietly here in the Sancellan； many who say Elias has trafficked with demons and evil spirits。〃 He touched Isgrimnur's hand with his bent fingers； the duke fought an urge to recoil。 〃You must have heard of the siege； even though you say you left the north before it ended。 What is the truth behind these stories？〃
Isgrimnur stared at the old monk for a moment； wondering if there was more to this question than met the eye。 At last he sighed。 This was a kindly old man with a harelip； nothing more。 These were frightening times…why should Septes not try to cadge information from someone who had e from the heartland of rumor？
〃I have heard little more than you；〃 he said at last； 〃but I can tell you that evil things are afoot…things that godly men would rather not know about； but damn m