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hening spit of rock。 The ice mounted higher； crawling up to his boots。。。
Simon jerked awake； shivering。 Thin dawn light filled the copse and the trees swayed to a chill breeze。 His cloak was curled in a hopeless tangle around his knees； leaving the rest of him uncovered。
He straightened the cloak and lay back。 Miriamete was still asleep beside him； her mouth partially open； her golden hair pushed out of shape。 He felt a wave of longing pass over and through him； and at the same time a sense of shame。 She was so defenseless； lying here in the wilderness； and he was her protector…what sort of knight was he； to have such feelings？ But he longed to pull her close to him； to warm her； to kiss her on that open mouth and feet her breath on his cheek。 Unfortable； he rolled over and faced the other direction。
The horses stood quietly where they had been tied； their harnesses wrapped around a low…hanging tree branch。 The sight of the saddlebags in the flat morning light suddenly filled him with a hollow kind of sadness。 Last night this had seemed a wild adventure。 Now； it seemed foolish。 Whatever Miriamele's reasons might be； they were not his own。 He owed many； many debts…to Prince Josua； who had lifted him up and knighted him； to Aditu； who had saved him； to Binabik； who had been a better friend than he deserved。 And there were also those who looked up to Simon as well； like Jeremias。 But he had deserted them all on a moment's whim。 And for what？ To force himself on Miriamele； who had some sad purpose of her own in leaving her uncle's camp。 He had left the few people who wanted him to tag along after someone who did not。
He squinted at his horse and felt his sadness deepen。 Homefinder。 That was a pretty name； wasn't it？ Simon had just run away from another home； and this time there was no good reason for it。
He sighed and sat up。 He was here and there was little to be done about it； at least right now。 He would try again to talk Miriamele into going back when she woke up。
Simon pulled his cloak about him and got to his feet。 He untied the horses； then stood at the edge of the copse and peered cautiously around before leading them down the hill to the river to drink。 When he brought them back； he tied them to a different tree where they could easily reach the long shoots of new…grown grass。 As he watched Homefinder and Miriamele's unnamed steed contentedly break their fast； he felt his mood lighten for the first time since awakening from his frightening dream。
He gathered up deadwood from around the copse； taking only what seemed dry enough to burn with little smoke； and set about making a small fire。 He was pleased to see that he had brought his flint and striking…steel； but wondered how long it would be until he discovered something he needed just as much but had forgotten in the hurry to leave camp。 He sat before the fire for a while； wanning his hands and watching Miriamele sleep。
A bit later； as he was looking through the saddlebags to see what there might be to eat； Miriamele began to toss in her sleep and cry out。
〃No！〃 she mumbled。 〃No； I won't。。。〃 She half…raised her arms； as though to fight something off。 After watching in consternation for a moment； Simon went and kneeled beside her； taking her hand。
〃Miriamele。 Princess。 Wake up。 You're having a bad dream。〃
She tugged against his grip； but strengthlessly。 At last her eyes opened。 She stared at him； and briefly seemed to see someone else； for she brought her free hand up as though to protect herself。 Then she recognized him and let the hand fall。 Her other hand remained clutched in his。
〃It was just a bad dream。〃 He squeezed her fingers gently； surprised and gratified by how much larger his hand was than hers。
〃I'm well；〃 she muttered at last； and drew herself up into a sitting position； pulling the cloak tightly about her shoulders。 She glared around at the clearing as though the presence of daylight was some silly prank of Simon's。 〃What time of day is it？〃
'The sun's not over the treetops yet。 Down there； I mean。 I walked down to the river。〃
She didn't reply； but clambered to her feet and walked unsteadily out of the copse。 Simon shrugged and went back to his search for something on which they could break their fast。
When Miriamele returned a short time later； he had turned up a lump of soft cheese and round loaf of bread； he had split the latter open and was toasting it on a stick over the small fire。 〃Good morning；〃 she said。 She looked tousled； but she had washed the dirt from her face and her expression was almost cheerful。 〃I'm sorry I was so cross。 I had a 。。。 a terrible dream。〃
He looked at her with interest； but she did not elaborate。 〃There's food here；〃 he said。
〃A fire； too。〃 She came and sat near； holding out her hands。 〃I hope the smoke doesn't show。〃
〃It doesn't。 I went out a little way and looked。〃
Simon gave Miriamele half the bread and a hunk of the cheese。 She ate greedily； then smiled with her mouth full。 After swallowing； she said： 〃I was hungry。 I was so worried last night that I didn't eat。〃
〃There's more if you want it。〃
She shook her head。 〃We have to save it。 I don't know how long we'll be traveling and we may have trouble getting more。〃 Miriamele looked up。 〃Can you shoot？ I brought a bow and a quiver of arrows。〃 She pointed to the unstrung bow hanging beside her saddle。
Simon shrugged。 〃I've shot one； but I'm no Mundwode。 I could probably hit a cow from a dozen paces or so。〃
Minamele giggled。 〃I was thinking of rabbits or squirrels or birds； Simon。 I don't think there will be many cows standing around。〃
He nodded sagely。 〃Then we'd better do as you say and save our food。〃
Miriamele sat back and placed her hands on her stomach。 〃As long as the fire's going 。。。〃 She stood and went to her saddlebags。 She brought out a pair of bowls and a small drawstring sack and returned to the fire； then placed two small stones in the embers to heat。 〃I brought some calamint tea。〃
〃You don't put salt and butter in it； do you？〃 Simon asked； remembering the Qanuc and their odd additions。
〃Elysia's mercy； no！〃 she said； laughing。 〃But I wish we had some honey。〃
While they drank the tea…Simon thought it a great improvement on Mintahoq aka…Miriamele talked about what they would do that day。 She did not want to resume riding until sundown； but there were other things to be acplished。
〃You can teach me something about swordplay； for one thing。〃
〃What？〃 Simon stared at her as though she had asked him to show her how to fly。
Miriamele gave him a scornful glance； then got up and walked to her saddlebag。 From the bottom she drew out a short sword in a tooled scabbard。 〃I had Freosel make it for me before we left。 He cut it down from a man's sword。〃 Her disdainful look gave way to a wry； strangely self…mocking grin。 〃I said I wanted it to protect my virtue when we marched on Nabban。〃 She looked hard at Simon。 〃So teach me。〃
〃You want me to show you'how to use a sword；〃 he said slowly。
〃Of course。 And in turn； I will show you how to use a bow。〃 She raised her chin slightly。 〃I can hit a cow at a great deal more than a few paces…not that I have；〃 she said hurriedly。 〃But old Sir Fluiren taught me how to shoot a bow when I was a little girl。 He thought it was amusing。〃
Simon was nonplussed。 〃So you are going to shoot squirrels for the dinner pot？〃
Her expression turned cool again。 〃I didn't bring the bow for hunting； Simon…the sword； either。 We are going somewhere dangerous。 A young woman traveling these days would be a fool to go unarmed。〃
Her calm explanation made him suddenly cold。 〃But you won't tell me where。〃
〃Tomorrow morning。 Now e…we're wasting time。〃 She picked up the sword and drew it from the scabbard； letting the leather slide to the wet ground。 Her eyes were bright； challenging。
Simon stared。 〃First； you don't treat your scabbard that way。〃 He picked it up and handed it to her。 〃Put the blade away； then buckle on the sword belt。〃
Miriamele scowled。 〃I already know how to buckle a belt。〃
〃First things first；〃 Simon said calmly。 〃Do you want to learn or not？〃
The morning passed； and Simon's irritation at having to teach swordsmanship to a girl passed with it。 Miriamele was fiercely eager to learn。 She asked question after question； many of which Simon had no answer to； no matter how much he wracked his memory for all the things Haestan； Siudig； and Camaris had tried to teach him。 It was hard to admit to her that he； a knight； did not know something； but after a few short but unpleasant exchanges he swallowed his pride and said frankly that he did not know why a sword's hilt only stuck out on two sides and not all around； it just did。 Miriamele seemed happier with that answer than she had been with his previous attempts at mystification； and the rest of the lesson passed more swiftly and pleasantly。
Miriamele was surprisingly strong for her size； although when Simon thought about what she had been through his surprise was less。 She was quick as