The Crystals of Mida

17 Renth—and the devise is sought

I sat upon the red silk seat, awaiting the pot of gruel to be placed before me. Two feyd had passed from the departure of the female Lodda, two feyd in which I had not been allowed from my room. I cared little that I was kept so, and spoke no word to Ceralt when he came. The hunter had many times fetched a herbal mixture to be applied to my back, and had seemed quite distressed that I would not lie upon the platform called bed. Time and again had he placed me thereupon, and time and again had I removed myself to the cloth by the fire, where I might more easily watch the dance of the flames. The gruel had been brought to me also by Ceralt, yet was there a young female about, one who tended to the hunter’s dwelling. No word had she addressed to me when in my room, and no word had I addressed to her. The pain of the beating had gone from me, yet the pain of emptiness remained, and no word did I wish to address to anyone.

Upon the third fey, Ceralt had come to take me from the room, and had led me to the place of red silk seats and square platform. Many and varied were the foods piled thereon, and a bloody chunk of nilno, as well. I sat upon the red silk seat as Ceralt had placed me, and awaited the pot of gruel that would be put before me.

“Now,” said Ceralt heartily as he took his own seat. “See what we have here, Jalav! Hot bread, spicy pemma roots, wrettan eggs—and nilno! Which of those do you wish to have first?”

I awaited the gruel and said nothing,

“See the wrettan eggs,” said Ceralt, turning my face with his hand. “Almost were two hunters lost in the fetching of them. Clear to the top of a tree did we climb, risking life and limb, only to find that the wrettan had chosen to nest in the tree beside ours. Down we climbed once more, and up the proper tree, only to be set upon by the she-wrettan, returning to the nest! With much difficulty were the eggs at last secured, and carefully did we bring them, only to nearly drop them just at the gates! After such a perilous quest, surely you cannot refuse them?”

The hunter’s eyes were entreatingly upon me, yet did I remove my face from his hand and say nothing.

“Jalav, you are merely a pale shadow!” Ceralt cried, turning my face to him again. “You say not a word, eat the gruel without protest, and grow thinner with each passing hin! The pain of seeing you so is beyond bearing! What may I do?”

There was nothing any might do, for who may speak with Mida of one from whom she had turned? Though my face was held tightly by Ceralt, my eyes dropped with sightlessness.

“Very well,” said Ceralt with great sadness. “Sooner would I see you gone from me than dead beside me. You may have your life sign, your freedom, and a kan. I shall see you to the gates and release you.”

Where once such words would have filled me with joy, then they brought only a very great pain. Where was I to be released to, with Mida’s face turned from me? My failure was clear, my condemnation certain.

“Do you hear my words?” asked Ceralt with a shake to my face. “I have said I shall release you!” Naught save silence greeted him, therefore was I released again, and Ceralt leaned farther back in his seat. “By Sigurr’s pointed ears, she hears not,” said he in a mutter. “This must be seen to.” He raised himself from the seat and departed the room, yet was he to return quite soon. He then seated himself once more and stared upon me, and so did we remain for nearly a hin. I had found the light of Mida to be high when first I had entered the room, and now it receded toward darkness. The silence was broken by the arrival of Telion, who entered followed by the female bearing a red-silk seat upon which he might sit. The seat was placed at the square side to the right of mine, and the female wordlessly departed as Telion sat wearily in the seat and reached for a wrettan egg. I saw that he, too, wore a life sign, and knew it for Larid’s.

“My apologies for not having come sooner,” said Telion as he cracked the egg, “I was in the midst of a battle, and could not, on the moment, depart.”

“A battle?” asked Ceralt with a frown. “I knew nothing of a battle.”

“Would that I could say the same,” sighed Telion, reaching now for some grains of salt to put upon the wrettan egg. “This fey was to be when my little flame would give over her bit of cloth for the gown of a civilized woman. The gown was a lovely blue, to match her eyes, and I had vowed that this fey would I see it upon her.” Again he sighed, then tasted well of the egg. “The little flame liked not the gown, the blue, nor the concept,” said he about a mouthful. “Roundly was I reviled for suggesting the color of the Hitta for a Hosta warrior, above the foolishness of so great and heavy a thing as a slavewoman covering. The gown was thrown about my head to accompany the abuse, and Larid now sits as Jalav does—save that Larid smarts quite a bit from a hiding. It has been my sincere hope that you have had some success with Jalav that I might emulate.”

“I truly begin to believe that never shall there be success to be had with Jalav,” muttered Ceralt, he being slid low within his seat, his legs out straight before him. “Would you care to speak with her?”

Telion’s brows raised somewhat, and he turned to me. “Of what am I to speak with you, Jalav?” he asked.

I gazed upon the life sign of Larid and said nothing.

“You see,” said Ceralt as Telion’s brows lowered and knotted into a frown. “She has been so since the departure of that blood-kin to Sigurr whom I so foolishly engaged to instruct her. The harpy used a rod upon her, and she only lay there beneath the blows.”

“Have you asked what disturbs her?” said Telion, peering more closely at me.

“As she will not speak,” said Ceralt with some annoyance, “perhaps you would care to suggest how I might do that. She does nothing but eat the gruel given, her, and stare upon the fire in her room!”

“She eats the gruel,” Telion echoed thoughtfully. “I like not the implications of that, yet perhaps it may aid us. Have you renth?”

“Certainly I have renth!” snapped Ceralt, straightening in his seat. “Do you think to find the answer in a flagon?”

“Not in one flagon,” said Telion, resting his arms upon the platform as he gazed directly upon Ceralt. “In many flagons—which we three shall share.”

Ceralt grinned and struck the platform with a fist. “An excellent suggestion!” He nodded as Telion grinned, “Perhaps, one might even say, inspired! Inala! Fetch three flagons, and a large pitcher of renth!”

The city female called Inala entered as bidden, bearing the renth and three tall pots. Ceralt and Telion seemed most pleased with the prospect of imbibing renth, for they rubbed their hands in anticipation, and eagerly poured the renth, then shared it. I, too, was given a pot they had filled, and as I cared nothing for what occurred about me, I drank the renth as Ceralt insisted. Again and again were the pots refilled, and as the hind passed, the males did, from time to time, attempt to speak with me—in vain. As I had not fed, I felt some slight warmth from the renth, yet the thin, weakly stuff did nothing else to lighten the burden of my life. By the coming of darkness, the female Inala had renewed the larger supply of renth a number of times, and the hunter and warrior seemed quite taken with it. Much difficulty had they in pouring, and much renth adorned the top of the cleared platform in pools. Finally had Ceralt most carefully filled his pot to the very top, and then passed the renth to Telion before placing both hands upon the pot, raising it slowly, and bringing it to himself in a manner most shaky. Telion sat, the renth unnoticed in his hand, and his eyes followed each of Ceralt’s movements with fascination. In truth, I, too, felt curious as to what he was about, for his lips reached for the gently swinging renth, yet was it carried again and again, beyond their reach. With mouth ajar did he pursue the renth, and it was found to be continuously ahead of him. Telion made a sound of mournful commiseration, and then was his hand firmly before the pot, returning it in the direction of Ceralt. As a rushing river, swollen full with the growth of flood, returns to its bed and banks, so did the renth return to Ceralt, covering him with half its presence, yet was he then able to fasten his lips upon the pot and drink. Telion nodded happily, then he partook of the renth in his hand, disdaining the use of his own pot. I had but recently finished the renth given me, and it seemed I was not to be given more.

Ceralt replaced his pot upon the platform, dabbed gently at his lips with a cloth while seemingly unaware of the renth which soaked the whole of his covering, and then peered with difficulty upon Telion. “Has she spoken with you as yet?” he whispered rather loudly to Telion.

Telion took the renth from his mouth, expelled air sharply, then shook his head. “No,” said he in the same manner of whisper. “Perhaps she is now too taken with renth to speak.”

Ceralt blinked for a moment, then nodded once. “I shall see,” said he most soberly, and his eyes attempted my direction. “Jalav,” said he with a ghastly smile, “are you taken with renth?”

“No,” said I, reflecting that it had been many kalod since even brewed renth had had the ability to best me. It has been said that my capacity for drink is Mida given, and perhaps this is so. Some few of my warriors do also possess the ability, yet truly few are they.

“She is not taken with renth,” said Ceralt to Telion in the previous whisper. “Refill her flagon, and we may yet coax her to speech.”

With a nod, Telion reached toward my pot with the renth, a similar ghastly smile upon his face. He poured quite carefully, spilling no more than a swallow, and then said, “Drink of the renth, Jalav. It shall do well for you.”

“I do not feel the desire for more,” said I, making no attempt to touch the pot, and then Telion gave me a stern look.

“You shall drink the renth as you are bidden!” said he, placing his arm in a wide pool of spilled renth. The stern look then turned sickly as he slowly inspected his dripping arm, yet he said in a mutter, “You must speak to us, therefore must you drink the renth. Should you fail to obey me, I shall take my leather to you as long ago promised.”

“Never!” shouted Ceralt, jumping to his feet so rapidly that his seat flew away backward from him. “Never shall I allow her to be beaten again! Any who wish to beat her must first take my life! Draw your weapon, Telion!”

“I have no weapon,” said Telion in distraction, seeking about himself for some manner of cloth to wipe his still dripping arm. “You are merely a hunter, Ceralt, and know not even when a warrior is disarmed. Remain with your spear and bow, and do not attempt the use of a warrior’s weapons.”

“Do you insinuate I know naught of a sword?” Ceralt demanded indignantly. “I am able to wield a sword as well as any warrior!”

“Hah!” shouted Telion, forgetful of his arm as he attempted to follow Ceralt’s swaying movement with his head. “The hunter has not been born who is able to equal the meanest of warriors! The renth has obviously strengthened your selfimage, and weakened your wits!”

“Weakened my wits!” echoed Ceralt, his eyes wide and disbelieving, anger growing within him. “For words such as those, you must pay with your blood!”

Telion’s head had continued to follow Ceralt’s movement as the hunter swayed to and fro, to and fro, and the male warrior seemed to pale somewhat from his efforts. “Do not speak that word now,” he said to Ceralt in a very low voice.

“Word?” shouted Ceralt angrily. “What word?”

“The last word,” responded Telion, swallowing heavily, sweat beaded upon his forehead.

Ceralt frowned a moment, then asked, “Do you refer to the word ‘blood’?”

Upon hearing the forbidden word, Telion paled further, clapped his hand to his mouth, staggered to his feet, and hastened stumbling from the room. Ceralt frowned upon the abrupt departure, then muttered, “I fail to see the significance in the word blood. It is merely—” No further did he speak, for he seemed preoccupied with thought, then he, too, paled, and placed a shaking hand to his forehead. “Why must the room sway so?” he demanded weakly of the air, then he, too, made an abrupt departure. I watched him gone, then raised the final pot of renth and drained it slowly.

“Is it permitted that I now see to the spillage?” asked the female Inala from the entrance to the room.

I nodded my head without looking toward her, for I had a matter to think upon which had confused me. She moved silently to the platform and began to clean it, then she raised her head to grin at me.

“They are both in the midst of emptying themselves,” said she with much amusement. “To see the city’s chief hunter, and the High Seat’s warrior advisor engaged so, is not usual. And it is surprising that you do not seem to share their urge.”

“The renth lies heavy within me,” I sighed, “yet do I feel naught save the need for sleep—though there is much doubt that sleep shall come.”

The female lost her grin, and ceased in the midst of her cleaning. “You appear disturbed,” said she quite softly. “I, too, am slave, yet would I offer what aid I may. Would you care to share whatever disturbs you?”

“The hunter, Ceralt, disturbs me,” I said, my hand rubbing my eyes. “I have many times said that I have no understanding of males, and it seems that of Ceralt I have even less understanding.” I hesitated briefly, then added, “Nor do I understand why I am speaking to you, a stranger, in such a manner.”

“Each of us must have one with whom they may speak,” said she, and I raised my eyes to see the seriousness within hers. She was no larger than other city slavewomen, and now was I able to note the collar about her throat, the collar which had been hidden by her white, city-female covering. Her light brown hair found itself bound by small bits of metal, yet was she as untroubled as others by this. She stood, though clad in the collar of a slave, possessing a dignity which other city females lacked, and perhaps the renth aided in loosening my tongue somewhat.

“I—have strange feelings for Ceralt,” said I, attempting to find the proper words, and also attempting to maintain a dignity of my own. “These feelings confuse me, for I am unable to know the reasons for what he does. There was a city female before you, and Ceralt gave me to her so that she might cause me pain, yet was he prepared to do battle with Telion when Telion only mentioned the leather. I do not understand the desires and motivations of Ceralt!”

“There is little to understand,” said the female Inala gently, and she came to place her arm about me. “I have heard what befell you at the hand of the mistress Lodda, and you are mistaken. The chief hunter Ceralt did not wish you beaten by her—that is why she was dismissed. The chief hunter has much strong feeling for you—and much gentle feeling. Already has he removed your collar; and I should not be surprised if he were to free you.”

“I have not worn a collar,” said I, my head shaking in the confusion about me. “I am captive to Ceralt, not slave, for surely Ceralt knows that Jalav may not be slave.”

Inala’s brown eyes seemed troubled. “I do not understand,” she began, then she was lost in thought for a moment before continuing slowly. “Perhaps,” said she, gazing into the distance, “perhaps the confinement and slave gruel and lack of clothing are only punishment. Yet for a man to treat a free woman so—” Her head shook. “Indeed, the chief hunter is a hard man. Have you no hope of appealing to the High Seat?”

“The High Seat Galiose has little reason to feel concern for Jalav,” said I, much disturbed by what had been told me. Could it truly be that Ceralt had not wished for my pain at the hand of the female Lodda? That he was not concerned with my having left him enchained? The thought filled me with feelings I had little hope of evaluating, and weakly I said, “I do not understand why Ceralt challenged Telion. For what reason would he do so?”

Inala laughed softly. “Surely only a truly great love would cause a man to challenge so deadly a warrior as Telion,” said she, much gladness upon her face. “Indeed, it seems that the captive has captured the captor.”

My eyes closed briefly with the pain of such thought, and stiffly did I rise from the seat. “Such may not be,” said I, looking down upon the female. “Even were it not contrary to the ways of Hosta, I am no longer of sufficient worth to be the concern of any, most especially not of one such as Ceralt.” The female seemed quite saddened by my words, yet did a further thought come to me. I had failed Mida, and easily might it be seen that I must now attempt to repair the error. Should my life be forfeit in the attempt, my soul, too, would fade to naught, and that would be the best of the matter. No longer was I a proper Hosta warrior, for strange, unbidden feelings continuously presented themselves to me. Far better that Jalav be removed from the unknowable and exist no more.

I left the female and the room of red silk then, and ascended the steps to the room which had been given me. When I had pushed within, I became aware of a form upon the platform called bed. Ceralt lay there, deeply asleep, and haltingly did I approach him. He lay upon his side, his arm outstretched across the platform, his face unusually pale beneath the dark of his hair. I reached my hand out to touch his face, and he did not stir, not at the stroking of my fingers, nor at the withdrawal of them. So male was Ceralt, and so desirable, that a warrior found difficulty in keeping her hands from him, yet was he well taken by the renth, and therefore to be left untouched. I walked to the fire, and lay upon the cloth before it, there to pass the darkness, for with the beginning of the new light I would seek to do as Mida had bid me. Had I not had so much of the renth, I would have begun then, yet were some hind of sleep necessary to restore my thoughts to order. That I would pass these hind not far from Ceralt I had not dared hope, and well pleased was I to find it so. There was little to believe that my eyes would again touch him. I turned so that I might see him, and sleep found me positioned so.

The dwelling of Vistren seemed entirely untenanted, and silently empty before the pale beginnings of the new light. Carefully had I approached it, not caring to be seen by any who might be within, and now was there a door before me swinging easily to the touch of my hand. The same door I had entered once before gave me entry, and I was pleased to leave the heavy chill of the darkness without for the warmer darkness within. Truly had the chill intensified, and longingly did I wish for the warmth of Hosta lands. My clan covering, no matter how welcome its presence about my hips, did little to dispel the chill.

Still was the dwelling of Vistren, as still as Ceralt’s had been when I had awakened. Ceralt had slept as soundly as ever, hearing naught of my departure, nor had the female Inala been disturbed by my searches. My clan covering was within the tiny, windowless room where she slept, among the bits and pieces of cloth folded in a corner. It was but the work of a moment to don it, and then did I leave the dwelling, my thoughts barely touching the life sign which hung about Ceralt’s neck. I well knew that my soul was to be lost, and had come to accept the fact.

Vistren’s dwelling contained naught of lit torches, yet had I little difficulty in recalling the direction. To the room of yellow silk did I go, and beyond through the farther door to the steps, and then to the floor upon which the device had been found. Neither ruined door had been repaired, and the second revealed the reason for such laxity. By the feeble glow of the small candle I had lit, was it easily seen that the device no longer sat where once it had been. Carefully did I seek about the room, yet was it nowhere to be seen. Deeply distressed did I feel then, refusing any relief, and then knew what was necessary. The entire dwelling must be searched.

Upon igniting a torch did I begin the search, to no avail. The device, in its cumbersome form, would not be easily hidden, yet nowhere was there trace of it. The new light was strong beyond the window beside the room I came to last, a room whose use was not easily seen. Bare of silks and floor covering was the room, the walls containing only paired metal cuffs, two hands of them, and very high. Then were the old traces of blood revealed by the torchlight, here and there upon the wooden floor, and no further explanation did I require. Vistren had held slaves, and well pleased was I that never again would he do so.

I extinguished the torch in a bucket of dirt, then seated myself beside the bucket, where I might take a moment to consider. The device bearing the Crystals could not have merely faded from view, therefore it must have been taken by someone. Vistren, dead, could not have seen to the matter, nor could those who had ridden from the city with the Hosta; however, there had been others within the room to learn of its existence. Telion had been there, and Galiose and his males, though Galiose seemed the most likely to have taken it. Galiose was leader within the city, called High Seat, and to his dwelling must the device have been carried. I cared little for the need, yet to Galiose’s dwelling must I also take my search. I thought upon the wisdom of going with the light, then knew the effort would be futile. Much difficulty would there be with the males in leather and metal, and I, unarmed, would have small chance of besting them. Wisest would be to await true darkness, when the males found themselves touched by the wish for sleep. Then would their vigilance be less, and a shadow moving by them not be noted. I lay flat upon the floor, knowing the lack of all things edible within the dwelling and regretting it, and then forced myself to seek escape from chill and hunger within sleep.

Darkness was not far from coming when I awakened, therefore did I seat myself erect once more, and patiently await the passing hind. First came full darkness, then did the sounds from without grow still, and then did the Entry to Mida’s Realm appear in the skies, and still I waited. When the Entry had once more departed, I rose to my feet, stretched briefly, then sought the door by which I had entered. The time had come to approach the dwelling of Galiose.

Many were the males in leather and metal about the dwelling, yet were their eyes the eyes of city males and therefore unseeing. To the bushes close by the dwelling I moved, passing near to a male who paused in his walk to stretch with weariness before continuing on. Such a pause had been foolhardy, for it had been done in the darkness, between torches, and had I had a weapon and wished his life, it would then have been mine. Briefly I shrugged over the lacks of males, then sought out the window which had once been left ajar. What is done once is often done many times, and the window did stand ajar once more, those within believing themselves safe because of the presence of those without. Silently, I entered through the window, to find the blue cloth beneath my feet and none about, therefore I hastened to the left, where a long, darkened area was to be found, and began my search.

Again the hind passed, yet was the need for caution great. No sign of the device did I come upon, and many folk were about, at ease or asleep within rooms, for the most part, some few walking about. At each sound of approach, I stepped within shadows, those being caused by many of the torches having been extinguished, and waited till the passerby had gone his way. Once the passersby were two, a male of metal and leather, and a female slave clad in the blue silk of Galiose. The male held the female by her wrist, taking her along behind him as she attempted to fist the sleep from her eyes, her steps hurried as she was made to match the pace of the male. Neither saw me where I stood, yet was I able to see that the male wore sword and dagger, and that interested me greatly. Had I need of a weapon, I now knew where it was to be had.

Each room of the lowest floor did I search, in some merely glancing about, and then was I forced to the floor above. Many rooms for sleep were to he found there, the slaves asleep by their platform in the midst of the area, and quickly I decided to seek elsewhere. Should the device be found in such a place, surely it would be within the guarded rooms of Galiose that it would lie, and should such be the case, I had little hope of reaching it. Quickly, I passed the sleeping slaves, for a farther set of steps was to be seen to the end of their area.

Upon the third level was the floor cloth less grand, the silks completely absent, and there was an air of use, rather than neglect. Though the way was dim through lack of torches, I was able to see the wood-covered walls, a smooth and polished wood, as I moved along. The air within a number of rooms was heavily laden, filled with scents I could not identify, never before having come across them, yet was the device not in view. Other things stood about on platforms, items of glass and metal, some filled, some not, some connecting to another, others standing singly, and truth to tell, I liked it not. Such things seemed unnatural, locked away from the sight of Mida for fell purposes, and hurriedly did I leave them to themselves. Again I carried a lighted candle, for a torch was too difficult to extinguish, and I felt the presence of others upon the level. Small murmurings came to me, of voices from a distance, and most carefully did I move, so as not to alert them.

Many reckid passed before I came upon the room, merely one among others, yet lit somewhat by gently glowing candles. My own candle I extinguished before moving inside, and quickly was its presence in my hand forgotten, for to the right, alone upon a wide platform, stood the device. Other, smaller platforms stood before the wall, not far from it, and upon these platforms were piles of leather and cloth.

The leather seemed to surround the cloth, perhaps protectively, yet little thought did I give to it, for the end of my quest was before me. The Crystals, cloudy in the golden air, drew me toward them, and willingly did I go, at last raising my hand to grasp one.

“No!” snapped a voice, and I whirled around. A male was there, upon a seat behind a platform, and he gazed sternly at me. An aged male was he, his hair gray above a sharp-featured face, his brows thick and gray above disapproving black eyes. He rose from his seat and began to approach me, and his green covering showed itself to be longer and fuller than those of other males. It hung somewhat loosely upon his tall, thin form, and his arms were covered by it as well. Briefly, I saw a sign of metal upon a chain about his neck, the sign of a single, opened eye, the sign which Vistren had worn, and then he stood before me.

“Do you seek your death, foolish wench?” the male demanded in annoyance. “Secret fires guard the Crystals of power when they are held so, fires which shall strike without thought being given to whom they strike! Who are you, and why have you come here?”

With disappointment I noted that the male wore no weapons, yet he was aged, and perhaps without the strength of others. “I come for the Crystals,” said I, “for they belong to Mida. Do not attempt to interfere, for I shall have them!”

I turned from him then, and again reached toward the Crystals, but his hand closed upon my arm and pulled me from the platform. “You shall not touch the comm, young savage!” said he, his fingers upon my arm with surprising strength. He was still annoyed, but he only held my left arm, therefore I moved quickly toward him in attack, teeth and nails eager for victory. A muffled shout erupted from him as he struggled to fend off hurt, then his voice raised to a clear shout. “Guards!” he called breathlessly and anxiously. “To me, to me!”

Nearly had I driven the male to his platform, the snarl of the hadat deep within my throat, desperation clear upon his features. I thought to leave him and hasten to the Crystals before the arrival of others, yet was I unable to do so. The male had kept my teeth from him, though his hand still grasped my arm, disallowing my return to the device, and I was unable to free myself. Resolutely, I sent my teeth to his hand, and with a howl of pain from him I was quickly released, yet had the time fled to naught. Two armed males, in leather and metal, rapidly appeared then to bar my way, and firmly was I taken and held between them. My attempts at struggle were in vain, the device secure from reach beyond their broad, muscled backs.

“Hold her!” gasped the aged male, his bitten hand held to him by the other. “In the name of the Serene Oneness, do not allow her to reach the comm! The empty-headed wench would throw her life away!”

With some difficulty the armed males drew me farther from the device, their hands upon my arms, their bodies behind mine, till we stood before the aged male, his disapproving eyes once more upon me. I breathed heavily from the struggle, yet was I still unbeaten. The Crystals lay not far from me, and my life was yet mine.

“Do not release her,” the aged male ordered, his eyes unmoving from me. “I ask again your name, wench, and your purpose in attempting the theft of the Crystals of power. Know you not the gates of the city remain locked against all departures?”

Full straight did I stand in the grasp of the males beside me, and disdained to answer. To accuse one of the Midanna of theft of the Crystals of Mida spoke of foolishness beyond the norm, and there was nothing I cared to say upon the matter. The aged male’s annoyance grew, and he nodded briskly.

“Very well!” said he harshly. “You may consider your reply till the new light, and then you may offer it to the High Seat! Place her in a retaining cell, and post a guard. The High Seat shall decide her fate!”

With nods the males pulled me from the room, and firm was their grasp upon my arms. I fully expected to be taken below, to the darkness in the ground; however I was forced to a new set of steps which we ascended. No cloth at all was to be found upon this next level, and the rooms were not rooms, but enclosures. The walls were unadorned stone of pink, the floors uncovered stone of gray, the doors not doors but lines of metal, enclosing rooms but leaving them quite open to view. Within such a room was I thrust, the light of a nearby torch casting shadowed illumination, and the metal door was closed behind, holding me captive within. The armed males grinned, and shook their heads before one took himself off, the other standing some paces from the room. The room itself contained only a narrow platform upon which was cloth somewhat like that of a platform called bed. I placed myself upon the gray stone of the floor, my shoulders against the pink stone of the walls, my head back, my eyes, closed. Once again had I failed Mida, yet would I continue in my efforts till my life and soul had fled, naught less to halt me. With the new light would I face Galiose, demanding the return of the Crystals, else demanding his life in their stead. Naught was there to halt my final efforts upon Mida’s behalf, for the Crystals must be freed. Perhaps then would my Hosta also be freed, to live as they had before my failure, for then would Mida be pleased. I sat beside the wall, my eyes closed, and awaited the new light.