The Crystals of Mida

18 Phanisar—and a fool’s tale

Sounds of footsteps came from beyond the doorway, and I rose to my feet, somewhat unsteadily, preparing myself for the confrontation with Galiose. Much of the darkness had I passed in sleep, and the demands of hunger had eased with the passing hind, as they are wont to do, and fully prepared was I to press my quest. The steps seemed to betoken the presence of three males or more, and I placed myself before the metal, to await their appearance. Earlier had the armed male been replaced, the new male coming to grin upon me, yet had none spoken or closely approached.

The steps resolved themselves to forms, and the forms halted before my enclosure, true anger to be seen upon the faces of three. Galiose, Telion, and Ceralt stood before me, two armed males in leather and metal, seemingly amused, behind them. All eyes were unblinkingly upon me, and those of Ceralt filled me with uncertainty, for their lightness was chilled to a large degree. With some small difficulty I looked from him, and gazed upon Galiose, called High Seat of Ranistard. This male’s brows were low with anger, and slowly did he shake his head.

“I should find little surprise at her presence within my Palace,” said he, “for surely has she been sent by Sigurr to plague me for my sins! How obedient to your will she has become, hunter!”

Ceralt said nothing to this comment, yet his face darkened.

I disliked his gaze in its entirety, and looked once more upon Galiose.

“The Crystals of Mida must be released,” said I to this male. “Neither they nor the Hosta are to remain in the grasp of city males, and Mida demands the release of all.”

“Indeed!” said Galiose, surprised. “I would know the manner in which this revelation reached you—for I see no reason for agreement.”

“All must be released!” said I quite sharply, my hands upon the metal of the enclosure, my gaze firm upon Galiose. “Should this not be in accordance with your wishes, gladly will I face you with sword in hand, and see the matter done when you have fallen.”

“When I have fallen!” Galiose shouted, his face suffused with rage. “Truly do you require a lesson in manners, wench!” he shouted. “I am a warrior with a warrior’s pride, and do not care to be mocked! Should you ever stand before me with naked blade, you shall quickly see who the fallen is to be!”

“You accept my challenge, then?” I asked, to the consternation of Telion and Ceralt. “To the winner belongs all, Hosta and Crystals alike.”

“No!” shouted Ceralt and Telion as one, disallowing a reply from Galiose. Galiose seemed annoyed, and I, too, felt so.

“There shall be no battle!” said Ceralt quite sternly, his eyes ablaze like Galiose’s. “A wench shall be punished, of that you may be sure, and no battle shall it be!”

“Jalav addresses Galiose,” said I quite evenly to Ceralt and Telion. “Is he not to be allowed to reply of his own?”

“The High Seat refuses your challenge!” said Telion, once more causing Galiose’s lips to part for naught. “Jalav shall not put hand to weapon, yet were she mine, she would find close acquaintance with the leather of punishment!”

“Have all now had their say?” inquired Galiose politely, looking from angered Telion to angered Ceralt.

“No other wishes to relieve me of the tedious chore of deciding upon my own actions?” Telion and Ceralt flushed at these words, and again attempted to speak, till Galiose’s hand raised to silence them. “Enough!” said he quite sharply. “Jalav addressed the High Seat, and to her shall the High Seat reply!” His eyes came to me once more, and a smile touched his lips. “Lovely Jalav,” said he, his tone soft. “A warrior may not, in honor, raise sword to a woman, even though she be a woman such as yourself. The Hosta and the Crystals shall remain in the grasp of—‘city males,’ and there is naught you may do to alter this.” Then did his smile slip away, and a hardness entered his tone. “Yet,” said he, “there is a matter which must indeed be seen to by you! I shall have you brought before your wenches, and you shall instruct them against continuing as they have done so far!”

I found no meaning in the words of Galiose, and Ceralt and Telion frowned as well. “What has happened?” asked Telion of Galiose. “I have heard of no difficulty.”

“Nor shall the word be spread,” said Galiose in annoyance. “You know of the curfew declared against the wenches?” Telion and Ceralt nodded, and those males behind Galiose attempted to mask some amusement. “There is considerable reason for the curfew,” continued Galiose, his eyes upon me. “Small packs of her females had taken to gathering at darkness, and by the new light were there many men of our city who had found themselves—persuaded—to please the females through the darkness! Yet the curfew has merely sent them to the shadows, and we have as yet to find the culprits! Jalav, their leader, shall order a halt to these doings, else shall she be punished in their stead!”

“Galiose, you cannot do so!” protested Ceralt, a tightness to his tone. “My wench has had no part in such doings, for she has constantly been with me!”

“So say each of the others!” snapped Galiose angrily. “They each would swear by the Serene oneness that their wench be innocent! For now, I care not who has done and who has not! I simply wish to see an end to the matter! Jalav shall speak with them, and they shall cease, else Jalav shall suffer!”

“Jalav may do naught,” said I with a shrug. “My Hosta have been taken from me, to serve the needs of city males, therefore may the city males see to their own safety. Am I to protect the servants of the thieves of the Crystals of Mida?”

“You dare to call me thief?” roared Galiose, beside himself with fury. His hands grasped the metal of the door, as though he would tear it from its place, and Telion closed his eyes as though in pain. Ceralt, I did not look toward, for I wished to use the High Seat’s fury, and the hunter’s presence disturbed me.

“Stolen were the Crystals and the freedom of the Hosta,” said I with another shrug. “Should Galiose feel the accusation too deeply, he may perhaps find the stomach to face me. How say you, O honorable warrior?”

Galiose seemed unable to speak, so deep was his anger. He stared upon me with furious eyes, then he pulled himself from the metal and strode away, Telion immediately in his wake. Much annoyed was I that my challenge had been scorned, and I grasped the metal in anger, yet did I find my wrist grasped in turn. My eyes moved to see Ceralt, his large fingers tight about my left wrist.

“I shall gag you myself,” he hissed, with eyes ablaze, “should I hear from you another word! You shall not face the High Seat in battle, even should he be willing to do so, for you belong to me, and I shall not allow it! Are my words clear to you?”

Clear were the words of Ceralt, and clear his disapproval, and I lowered my eyes and moved my right hand to touch gently the broad hand of him. Such strange feelings did he bring forth in me that I could not meet his gaze, yet was the sight of his hand upon mine no better, for his warmth reached through my skin and touched me deep. Dark was his hand, and dark the hair sprinkled upon it, so strong the fist, and almost smooth to my finger’s caress. His hand trembled slightly at my touch, and more tightly was my wrist held in his grasp.

“Jalav, I had thought you gone!” he whispered raggedly, his left hand reaching within to stroke my back. “Why did you run from me, and what do you do here?”

“I must recover Mida’s Crystals,” I whispered in turn. “Ceralt must not care for Jalav, for Jalav is bound to do Mida’s bidding—and belong to no male. Almost do I wish it were not so.”

“It need not be so!” he insisted, drawing me to him though the metal stood between us. “There is naught you may do to free the Crystals, and the Hosta do now belong to the men of Ranistard! You are mine, Jalav, and so shall you continue to be, though you run from me a thousand times!”

“It may not be so,” I sighed, “for Mida demands the return of her Crystals. May I—have my life sign when I am to face Galiose with blades?”

“No!” he shouted angrily, and the skin tautened upon the fist which held me. Again I sighed, for I had hoped that my soul need not be lost, yet did Ceralt still move to the bidding of Mida. My soul was to be the cost of my earlier failure, and naught was to change that. “No!” Ceralt shouted again, and his hand grasped my arm to shake me. “You shall not do battle, Jalav, therefore have you no need of your bit of wood! Do not speak of it again!”

My head lowered somewhat, knowing the futility of speaking of it again, and then footsteps reapproached. My eyes raised past Ceralt’s arm, and Galiose and Telion did I see, coming once more to stand before me. As I did not wish him to, Ceralt did not release me, and again did Galiose smile slightly.

“We must turn your interest to things other than battle,” said Galiose to me, “and I am pleased to see that that is not far from being done. Perhaps some words with Phanisar shall convince you that the Crystals of power may not be returned to the Hosta. Guard! Unlock the cell.”

Ceralt and I parted so that the enclosure might be opened, and I was pleased at this turn of events. Should Phanisar be the aged male in whose keeping were the Crystals, still might I find opportunity to seize them. Down the area from the enclosures did we walk, Galiose and Telion before us, Ceralt beside me with hand upon my neck, the two males behind us. Still amused did these armed males seem, and that was also pleasing. Should the need arise, their weapons would not prove difficult to take.

But one level lower did we descend, to the level of the Crystals; however, we were not to enter the room which held them. Another room did we enter, of polished wood and platforms, with blue cloth upon its floor, and blue silk seats beside one platform. To this platform of seats was I led, and the aged male whom I had seen with the Crystals rose from a seat and bowed to Galiose. Beside his seat, upon the platform, stood a pile of leather and cloth, and now I was able to see strokes of black upon the leather. But briefly did I glance at this, for to my disappointment, the armed males remained without the room, closing the door firmly so that it would not swing. Neither Crystals nor weapons were then within reach, therefore was the time to pass uselessly.

“Jalav, this is Phanisar,” said Galiose, gesturing toward the aged male. “You have, I believe, already met, though far less formally.”

“Indeed,” nodded he called Phanisar, a wry sharpness to his gaze. His hand showed itself to be wrapped about with white cloth, and gingerly did he hold the hand. “Jalav and I have indeed met,” said he, “yet was my acquaintanceship closer with her teeth. I trust the incident shall not be repeated?”

The males laughed somewhat at the comment, and Ceralt shook me by the neck. “I shall see to her behavior,” said he, “and I do, most sincerely, sympathize. Her teeth have almost the sharpness of her tongue.”

“Perhaps we may lessen her sharpness,” said Galiose. “Let us seat ourselves, and Phanisar may inform our war leader here of the true nature of the Crystals.”

All took seat upon the blue silk, and he called Phanisar placed his hand upon the pile of leather and cloth. “This, Jalav,” said he, “is a writing of the Early Times, a belonging of those who had for themselves the Lost Knowledge, for they were able to speak with the gods themselves. Within this writing is there spoken of the comm, and the Crystals of power as well.”

So sincere did Phanisar seem, that I said naught of the foolishness he spouted. All knew that lore was handed from mother to daughter and therefore never lost, and all knew as well that leather and cloth had naught of a tongue with which to speak. Addled with age was this male Phanisar, an object upon which a warrior was to look with pity.

Phanisar smiled and said, “The comm, Jalav, is a device which may be used to speak with the gods, to ask of them the questions which men may not answer. Many and many a kalod ago, long before the time of my father, and his father, and his father’s father, perhaps as much as three hundred kalod, the crystals were taken from the comm, so that men might no longer speak with the gods. The crystals hold within themselves a power which the device does use to reach the gods, a power without which the device is useless. For some mysterious reason is the power within the crystals painful to females, therefore were the crystals taken by females, and hidden away from the sight of men.”

“The Crystals are the belonging of Mida,” said I, “sent to her Midanna to be kept against the time she again wishes them. Males have naught to do with them.”

“Males have much to do with them,” corrected Phanisar with a smile. “It is the destiny of men to speak with the gods, and soon shall our destiny be fulfilled. Two of the crystals lie within our grasp, and it shall be only a matter of time before the third lies here, as well. We may not use the device save with the third crystal in place, for we would not cause undue pain to our women. Tell me, girl, what feelings did the device cause within you when Vistren set it working? The High Seat has told me of your presence at that time, and also of your appearance.”

Again I felt the touch of agony, the stabbing of the fiery blades about me, the depth of darkness without end. A small shudder took me at the memory; however I merely replied, “The pain was great and difficult to bear, far beyond any other given by males. Wise was Mida for having taken the Crystals from them, and it is my hope that such may again be accomplished.”

“We regret your pain, lovely Jalav,” said Galiose quite softly as Ceralt’s arm circled me, “yet must the Crystals remain with men. Closely guarded shall they be from this time onward, for we have no wish to see them again taken by females.”

Quite sober and regretful did Galiose appear, yet unmoving as well. Unarmed, the Midanna would not again possess the Crystals, therefore must they, in some manner, rearm themselves. The problem was one to be thought upon; however Phanisar drew my attention to him once more.

“Tell me, wench,” said he, “how quickly the pain left once the device no longer operated. Did the pain linger for hind, disappear in a moment, come and go, remain as it was? Were there other effects upon you or the others? Speak of all that you recall.”

I knew not why that would interest the male, but I shrugged and replied, “The pain eased at the going of the darkness, yet were its echoes felt for many hind. In feyd were we again as we had been, save for the new lives which were lost.”

“New lives?” frowned this Phanisar, and a stir passed among the other males. “Some of your wenches had been with child?”

“Some few,” I nodded, “but I was unable to return them to our own lands. All lost the quickened seed within them, a great loss to the clan of the Hosta.”

Phanisar gazed sadly upon me in silence, yet did Telion’s hand come gently to my arm. “Which of your wenches were with child?” he asked with difficulty. “Have I met any of them?”

“Most are known to Telion,” said I, gazing in puzzlement at his pain-filled eyes. “Most took his seed in the Hosta use tent, and others made full use of the hunters of Ceralt. Fayan lost the seed of Nidisar, and Larid lost that which she carried. Others were—”

Abruptly were my words cut short, for Telion raised himself quickly from his seat and left the room, his red-gold head bowed as he walked. The other males followed his departure in silence, sadness full in their eyes, yet had I no understanding of the actions of any of them. How may the loss of new lives to the Hosta touch the males of the city of Ranistard? Much confusion did I find in the matter, and further still, for Ceralt turned to gaze upon me.

“And Jalav?” said he, a quietness to his tone. “Was there naught within Jalav to be lost?”

“Jalav is war leader,” I explained, not knowing why his hand was on mine. “A war leader may not have life within her, therefore does she chew the leaves of the dabla bush. No life was there to be lost by Jalav.”

Ceralt frowned, then Phanisar nodded. “The dabla bush,” said Phanisar thoughtfully. “I have heard of such a use for it, and my records do contain notes upon a counteragent. Fear not, my boy, the matter may be properly seen to.”

Ceralt greeted these words with pleasure, though I was still confused. I knew not the meaning of “counteragent,” and I knew no reason for Ceralt’s pleasure; his light eyes gazed happily upon me, his large hand tight upon my fingers. Small time was there for such considerations, however, for Phanisar turned to me once more.

“See here, young Jalav,” said he, his hand moving upon the pile of leather and cloth, and easily did it open to show further strokes of black, though smaller. “These writings do speak of the Crystals of power and where two were sent, yet the place of the third remains unknown. Were naught save two sent to the Midanna?”

“Two only are known to me,” said I, gazing upon the small, black strokes. The hand of Phanisar turned the cloth quite slowly, and truly did I wonder upon the reason for placing so large a number of strokes upon a cloth. That the strokes spoke was foolishness, fit only for the mind of age-addled males, yet did I continue to wonder. The cloth was slowly turned, showing line upon line of strokes, and then the signs appeared without warning. The first I saw of it was a line of hands, some alone, some with a second hand, though all were hands and all seemingly moving. No true recognition came to me till I stared upon the first hand to the left, a hand which showed the thumb between the second and third fingers, palm out, moving from left to right. That was obviously the word “the,” in the silent speech of the Midanna, yet for what reason would it be put upon the cloth? Further did I seek, to the second sign below the first, and then did I see two hands, that to the left higher than the other, each in a fist save with the smallest finger, which was held erect. The hand to the left stood pointing upward, that to the right pointed right, clearly showing the word, “last.” To each further sign did I go, and the message was brought quickly to me. “The last of the Crystals may be found within the Palace of the High Seat of the city of Bellinard, buried deep below the ground, fully fifty paces from the first, then left twenty paces farther. There may it be found within, yet not, we pray, by men.”

The message seemed strange, so strange that I had not noticed the cessation of the movement of Phanisar, yet when I raised my eyes from the signs, well I knew that Phanisar had watched me closely, therefore did I ask, “And what meaning have these signs upon the cloth? Do they not speak as well?”

“In no tongue known to me,” replied Phanisar with a shake of his head, his eyes still upon me. “I thought perhaps the signs might speak to another, therefore did I show them to you. For a moment, it seemed as though you read them.”

“Perhaps their meaning is known to Mida,” I suggested with a smile. “As the Crystals are hers, their locations must also be known to her.”

Galiose began to speak, but was quickly silenced by the hand of Phanisar. Phanisar smiled and firmly withdrew the leather and cloth. “Of course the wench knows naught of the signs within,” said he with satisfaction. “We must seek elsewhere for the answer, Blessed One.”

“As you say, Phanisar,” replied Galiose with some puzzlement. “Have you further questions for the wench?” At the aged male’s headshake, Galiose rose from his seat. “Perhaps, lovely Jalav,” said he, “you now understand why we hold the Crystals. The Crystals belong to men, and once were they stolen by females. Not again shall that occur. She is once more placed in your keeping, Ceralt. Should she again be found within these walls without permission, it shall go hard with her. I shall inform you when I wish her to address the others.”

Ceralt nodded without comment, rose from his seat, pulled me from mine, and hastily departed, my wrist held firmly within his hand. To the level of the entrance did we descend, and thence to the open beyond the dwelling. The light shone grayly about us as we walked, the wind quite chill in its presence. A shiver reached me because of the wind, and again I longed for the warmth of the lands of the Hosta. Ceralt turned to place his arm about me with a hearty grin.

“I see a wench shivers with the coming cold,” said he. “Soon shall the winter descend upon us, to make this fey seem warm, and then shall the breasts of foolish wenches freeze in the points the cold causes. Yet Jalav shall not be forced to give over her bit of cloth till she wishes it. A man enjoys the sight of points.”

Most miserably did I see that Ceralt spoke the truth, for indeed had the chill reached out to touch me. Should the cold grow greater still, the Hosta would not be seen, for which of them would shun clan colors for comfort? Too slowly did we walk toward Ceralt’s dwelling, yet the hunter seemed unhurried in his pace, his arm about me holding me to his stride. The thought came that he walked so with a purpose, though the nature of the purpose was not clear. Surely Ceralt knew a Hosta would not forsake clan colors of herself, and Jalav was yet Hosta.

At last we entered the dwelling of Ceralt, and most welcome was its warmth. I stood upon the entrance cloth, of a brown and green like the forests, thinking to return to the room which was mine so that I might consider what I had learned, yet Ceralt looked upon me again with a frown.

“You appear unreasonably thin, wench,” said he in disapproval. “What was given you to eat in the Palace of the High Seat?”

“Naught was given me,” I answered, thinking instead, of the Palace in Bellinard. Where, below ground, did the Crystal lie hidden, and how might the Hosta claim it as their own? Were we able to escape the city of Ranistard, enter Bellinard, find the remaining Crystal, and return it to our own land, surely would the other clans of the Midanna return with us to once again free the other Crystals. Yet would it be necessary to make very sure that Ceralt was not harmed during the attack, for I would see him live as safely as might be. He was a strange male, this hunter, and strange were the feelings he produced within me.

“You were given nothing?” Ceralt repeated in outrage. “Does the High Seat think to save his coppers? I shall speak to him of this, Sigurr take me if I fail to do so!” Then he turned to me sternly. “Jalav,” said he, his hands upon my arms, “you shall this moment request the sharing of my food, else shall I be greatly angered! Do you wish to see me angered?”

So sternly did he look upon me, yet was there a faint worry in his eyes as well. Unbidden, a smile came to my lips, and my hand touched his covering. “Jalav does not wish to see Ceralt angered,” said I quite softly. “Therefore does she request the sharing of his provender.”

“Beautifully done,” laughed Ceralt gently, pulling me to him so that he might hold me. “I must continue with your lessons, for I would see you civilized as quickly as may be. The process shall not be overly painful.”

“I am to be given further pain?” said I, raising my eyes to look up toward his. “Ceralt is displeased with Jalav?”

“No, no,” said Ceralt quickly, his arms full tight about me. “I merely meant the remark as humor. There shall be no further pain given you.”

“Ceralt finds humor in pain?” I asked, my cheek against his covering. Strange indeed were the ways of males.

Ceralt sighed, then chuckled a bit. “No, my Jalav,” said he, stroking my hair. “There is little humor in pain, and I shall not attempt such foolishness again. Come, Inala shall fetch our meal for us.”

Wordlessly did I go with Ceralt to the room of red silk, where the female Inala was bidden to fetch food. She nodded in obedience to Ceralt’s order, then paused as she was about to depart. “Master,” said she, in innocence, “shall I fetch a pitcher of renth as well?”

Ceralt winced at the mention of renth, and quickly shook his head. “Not yet am I able to face further renth,” said he. “Still do I feel the touch of it in my head, therefore shall I drink only water.”

“As Master wishes,” Inala murmured, then she turned to me. “Does Mistress alone wish a flagon, then?”

“I would be pleased at the taste of some renth,” said I, and then saw the female’s amusement at the look Ceralt gave me.

Wide-eyed was the hunter, and disbelieving, yet then he nodded as though touched by a thought.

“Of course,” said he in satisfaction. “Jalav could not have drunk as much of the renth as Telion and I, therefore did it have less effect on her.”

“Oh, no, Master,” said the female, her amusement again masked behind innocence. “The Mistress had as much renth as the Master, yet was she entirely untouched by it. Never before have I seen the like of it!”

Ceralt frowned and dismissed the female, then he slid low within his seat, his eyes unhappily upon me. Many times did he shake his head, as though to deny some thought which had come to him, yet did the thought persist in its return, for he continued to stare and shake his head. The meal proved to be a silent one, and each time Inala refilled my pot of renth, Ceralt closed his eyes and muttered to himself.

With the meal done, Ceralt had the platform cleared so that he might fetch a large piece of stiffened cloth and a stick of charcoal, much as the female Lodda had had. I felt quite pleased that my hunger was gone, therefore I refrained from laughter when Ceralt made strokes with the charcoal, and then informed me that the strokes said the name, Jalav. Jalav sat beside a foolish Ceralt, not upon a stiffened bit of cloth, therefore how were the strokes to be termed Jalav? As Ceralt formed other strokes, called “letters” by him, I thought again upon the problem of the Crystal. That Hosta must depart from Ranistard was clear, yet how was that to be accomplished? Long did I think upon the matter, and truly angered was Ceralt that I had failed to heed him, as he learned upon speaking to me of the strokes. Naught had I heard of the foolishness of the strokes, and Ceralt sent me from him, saying that I would know the foolishness, else I would know a punishment. His anger saddened me quite a bit, and in silence did I bathe in the large pot filled by Inala, for soon would I find the need to leave Ceralt again. Though it was not my wish to leave the hunter with anger, all my efforts seemed to accomplish this undesired end. Perhaps that was due to the displeasure of Mida, and therefore was I unable to change the matter. I knew not, yet did it trouble me.

Darkness had come when my hair was dried and combed at last, and Ceralt called me to another meal. His anger at the foolishness of the strokes was still upon him, and I began to feel a great annoyance. I cared nothing for strokes and letters, and had little patience for the matter. I raised my renth to the male each time I drank, and pleased was I to see annoyance at such action displace the anger of the strokes. By meal’s end the hunter glared upon my smile, and abruptly did he rise to stand quite straight.

“As darkness is upon us, my wench,” said he, “I feel it best that we retire. The new light shall see you again with your letters, and I shall see that you learn them.”

“Jalav has learned many things,” said I, and also rose to my feet. “Jalav knows the ways of the hadat, and the lenga, and the falth, the song of the lellin, the flight of the wrettan, the temper of the gando. Jalav knows the means by which to feed herself, to see to her safety in the forests, to search out water. Jalav knows the bending of a bow, the casting of a spear, the flashing of a sword. May the strokes you speak of compare with the knowledge already held by Jalav?”

“The—‘strokes’ contain all such things and more beside,” said Ceralt with a smile, “Does Jalav know the manner in which metal may be found, the way that stone must be placed to form a building which will stand, the proper season for the ground to take a seed, the manner in which men’s words may be sent to one another by mirrors? These things do the—strokes—contain, and these things may you also learn, should you first learn your letters.”

“Jalav has little need of such,” I informed him firmly. “Think you the Hosta be city folk, to wish metal, buildings and seedlings?”

“The Hosta now are indeed city wenches,” laughed Ceralt, and his arm came to me. “They must learn the things their men know of, else shall their men be displeased with them. Come you now, for the time of darkness passes too swiftly.”

Firmly Ceralt led me to the level above, yet was I not to return to the room which had been mine. Another room did we enter, one larger than the first, one of many shades of brown, both light and dark, upon the silks and floor cloth. Some white was there too, among the browns, and brightly did it stand in the glow of the fire. Up to the platform called bed did Ceralt lead me, and firmly did he point to it.

“This is what a civilized wench sleeps upon in the city,” said he, “and this is what my wench shall learn to use. Remove your bit of cloth, and the lesson shall begin.”

I looked upon the height of the platform, and then shook my head. “Jalav shall sleep upon the cloth by the fire,” said I, also pointing with my finger. “Sooner would I sleep upon gando-back than upon yon platform.”

“Unfortunately,” said Ceralt with a grin as he removed his covering, “my house lacks a gando, therefore must it be upon the platform—ah, Sigurr take it! Upon the bed! It is called a bed, Jalav.”

“I care naught for what it may be called,” said I, my arms folded upon my chest. “Jalav shall not use it.”

“Jalav shall,” said Ceralt, and he stepped to me and raised me in his arms. Full hard did I struggle so as not to be placed upon the platform, yet did Ceralt place me there, and himself as well, his arms about me preventing an escape. My clan covering yielded to his greater strength in turn, and then was I merely held as Ceralt sighed and closed his eyes. Great dislike did I have for the platform, yet was I uncomfortably aware of the hunter’s nearness, the great chest against which I lay, the male heat and smell of the body of him. Slightly did I move in the tight circle of his arms, then raised my head a bit.

“Jalav is captive to the hunter Ceralt,” said I, and his eyes opened somewhat. “Is Ceralt not to use her?”

The hunter smiled faintly, and his lips touched my forehead. “Ceralt has considered it,” he murmured, his hand amove upon me. “Has Jalav any wish of it?”

“Jalav has not the strength to halt the will of a male,” said I, rather unsteadily. The hand of Ceralt moved about me, and truly did I wish the chance to take him.

“Then, should Jalav have some interest,” murmured Ceralt, his leg as well upon me, “she must speak of it to Ceralt.”

In misery did I attempt to remain still, yet that was impossible. The feelings fired by Ceralt in me turned me weak with the need for him. “Jalav—Jalav—has some interest in her use by Ceralt,” I muttered faintly, and the hunter laughed gently.

“I feel it would do well for Jalav,” said he, “were she to request her use by Ceralt. I seem to recall another who was made to ask for use, and most fitting would the same from Jalav be.”

I groaned then, and struggled again to free myself, yet was freedom not to be mine, nor escape from the nearness of the male. My need could not be denied, and therefore was I forced to say, quite faintly, “Jalav—Jalav asks that she be used by Ceralt.”

“Let us not be quite so formal,” Ceralt grinned. “Who asks to be used by whom?”

Desperately, I threw myself about, then cried, “I ask to be used, Ceralt! In the name of Mida do I ask to be used!”

“And so you shall be, Jalav mine!” Ceralt laughed, yet no mockery was there in his laugh. Quickly did he take me then, and many times did I cry out at his use, for truly did Mida move him well.