so ago； people traveled this way around the great forest when they came north from the Thrithings； so there may have been a few inns； too。〃
〃In days more than a century gone；〃 Binabik intoned； 〃this part of the world was being much traveled。 We Qanuc…some of us； that is to say…traveled farther south in summer； sometimes to the edges of the lowlander countries。 Also； the Sithi themselves were everywhere in their wandering。 It is only in these late and sad days that all this land has bee empty of voices。〃
〃It does seem empty now；〃 Simon said 〃It seems like no one could live here anymore。〃
They followed the winding course of the road through the short afternoon。 The trees were gradually being thicker here at the forest's edge； in spots growing so closely about the road that it seemed as if the panions had already entered Aldheorte； whether they wished to or not。 At last they came to another standing stone； this one leaning for…lornly by the roadside； with no crossing or other possible landmark m sight。 Sludig dismounted to take a closer look。
〃There are runes on it； but faint and weathered。〃 He peeled back some of the fiozen moss。 〃I think they say that Grinsaby is nearby。〃 He looked up； smiling in his frosty beard。 〃Someplace with a roof or two； perhaps； even if nothing else。 That would be a nice change。〃 His step a little springier； the Rimmersman vaulted back into his saddle。 Simon； too； was heartened。 Even a deserted town would be a vast improvement over the fortless waste。
The words of Binabik's song came back to him。 You have slipped into cold shadows 。。。 He felt a moment's pang of loneliness。 Perhaps the town would not be deserted； after all。 Maybe there would be an inn with a fire； and food 。 。 。
As Simon yearned for the forts of civilization； the sun vanished for good behind the forest。 The wind rose and the early northern twilight came down upon them。
There was still light in the sky； but the snowy landscape had turned blue and gray； soaking up shadow like a rag dipped m ink。 Simon and his panions were nearly ready to stop and make camp； and were discussing the subject in loud voices over the monotonous wind when they came upon the first outbuildings of Grinsaby。
As if to disappoint even Sludig's modest hopes； the roofs of these abandoned cottages had collapsed under the weight of snow。 The pad… docks and gardens were also long untended； knee…deep in swirling white。 Simon had seen so many emptied towns m his northern sojourn that it was hard to believe that the Frostmarch and the Waste had once been inhabited； that people had led their lives here just as they did in the green fields of Erkynland。 He ached for his own home； for familiar places and familiar weather。 Or had winter already crawled over the entire land？
They rode on。 Soon Grinsaby's deserted houses began to appear m greater profusion on either side of the road Binabik had named the White Way。 Some still bore traces of their once…residents…a rusted axe with a rotted handle standing in a chopping block before a snow…buried front door； an upright broom sticking out of the roadside drifts like a flag or the tail of a frozen animal…but most of the dwellings were as empty and desolate as skulls。
〃Where do we stop？〃 Sludig called。 〃I think we may not find a roof after all。〃
〃We may not； so let us be looking for good walls；〃 Binabik replied。 He was about to say more when Simon tugged at his arm。
〃Look！ It is a troll！ Sludig was right！〃 Simon pointed off to the side of the road； where a short figure stood motionless but for its wind…flung cloak。 The last rays of sunlight had found a thin spot m the forest fringe behind Grinsaby； throwing the stranger into relief。
〃Be looking yourself；〃 Binabik said grumpily； but his eyes were fixed warily on the stranger。 〃It is no troll。〃 The figure beside the road was very small； wearing a thin hooded cloak。 Bare； bluish skin showed where the breeches…legs failed to meet the top of his boots。
〃It's a little boy。〃 After amending his earlier identification； Simon steered Homefinder toward the edge of the road。 His two panions followed。 〃He must be freezing to death！〃
As they rode toward him； the child looked up； snow flecking his dark brows and lashes。 He stared at the approaching trio； then turned and began to run。
〃Stop；〃 Simon called； 〃we won't hurt you！〃
〃Hatad； kunde！〃 Sludig shouted。 The retreating form stopped and turned； staring。 Sludig rode a few ells closer； then climbed down from his horse and walked forward slowly。 〃Vjer sommen marroven； kunde；〃 he said； extending a hand。 The boy stared at him suspiciously； but made no further move toward flight。 The child seemed to be no more than seven or eight years old and thin as the handle of a butter churn； judging by the bits of him showing。 His hands were full of acorns。
〃I'm cold；〃 the boy said in fair Westerling。
Sludig looked surprised； but smiled and nodded。 〃e on； then； lad。〃 He gently took the acorns and poured them into his cloak pocket； then gathered up the unresisting child in his strong arms。 〃It's all right； then。 We'll help you。〃 The Rimmersman placed the dark…haired stranger on the front of his saddle； wrapping his cloak around him so that the boy's head seemed to grow from Sludig's now…broad belly。 〃Can we find a place to make camp now； troll？〃 he growled。
Binabik nodded。 〃Of course。〃
He urged Qantaqa ahead。 The boy watched the wolf with wide but unworried eyes as Simon and Sludig spurred after。 Snow was rapidly filling in the hollow where the boy had stood。
As they rode on through the empty town； Sludig brought out his skin of kangkang and let the newer have a short drink。 The boy coughed； but otherwise seemed unsurprised by the bitter Qanuc liquor。 Simon decided he might be older than first appearance made him seem： there was a precision to his movements that made him seem less like a child。 Some of his apparent youth； Simon guessed； might be due to his large eyes and slender frame。
〃What's your name； lad？〃 Sludig asked at last。
The boy looked him over calmly。 〃Vren；〃 he said at last； the word fluidly and oddly accented。 He tugged at the drinking skin； but Sludig shook his head and put it back in his saddle bag。
〃 'Friend？〃 Simon asked； puzzled。
〃 'Vren；' I am thinking he said；〃 Binabik replied。 〃It is a Hyrkanian name； and I am thinking he might be a Hyrka。〃
〃Look at that black hair；〃 Sludig said。 〃The color of his skin； too。 He is a Hyrka； or I am no Rimmersman。 But what is he doing alone in the snow？〃
The Hyrkas； Simon knew； were a footloose people accounted good with horses and skilled in games at which other people lost money。 He had seen many at the great market in Erchester。 〃Do the Hyrkas live out here； in the White Waste？〃
Sludig frowned。 〃I've never heard of such…but I have seen many things of late I would have never believed in Elvritshalla。 I thought they lived mainly in the cities and on the grasslands with the Thrithings…folk。〃
Binabik reached up and patted the boy with a small hand。 〃So have I been taught； although there are some who also are living beyond the Waste； in the empty steppe…lands to the east。〃
After they had ridden farther； Sludig dismounted again to search for signs of habitation。 He returned； shaking his head； and went to Vren。 The child's brown eyes gazed unflinchingly back at him。 〃Where do you live？〃 the Rimmersman asked。
〃With Skodi；〃 was the reply。
〃Is that near？〃 Binabik asked。 The boy shrugged。 〃Where are your parents？〃 The gesture was repeated。
The troll turned to his panions。 〃Perhaps Skodi is the name of his mother。 Or it might be a name of some other town name near to Grinsaby…village。 It is also being possible he has strayed from a caravan of wagons…although these roads； I have sureness； are not much used at the best of times。 How could he survive long in fearful winter days like these。。。〃 He shrugged a movement oddly similar to the child's。
〃Will he stay with us？' Simon asked。 Sludig made an exasperated noise but said nothing。 Simon turned on the Rimmersman angrily。 〃We can't leave him here to die！〃
Binabik waved a placating finger。 〃No； do not