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He glanced at the altar fire, gauging how much time remained "Let us look at the o to one of the whorls outside There can be no one a you who has not heard it in one form or another, perhaps even froine that it has been said, with greater or less elaboration, by augurs standing at this very a at the sides of the sculptured wave of onyx that was the ambion of the Grand Manteion, he waited for it to subside
"Is it afantasy? No, again It is a h I should say that His Cognizance, who peroodforehead "When Patera Silk went down to the first lander in the tunnels below our city, he saw the folloords on the last stair: `He who descends serves Pas best' Those words were graven on those stone steps at the order of Great Pas hihest in the eyes of Pas, and I believe highest in those of his father as well Froin of the myth But you to whom I speak, the citizens of this sacred city who do not descend, serve him also"
Flames snapped upon the altar now, the voice of the fire nearly as loud as his own A whiff of fragrant ss did not say it in the passage we read; but if we had read another-one I have read often-ould have been told that the gods require us to serve in one way at one time, and in a different way at another"
He had hoped to see General Mint's chair in one of the aisles, and had failed to find it As he spoke, he discovered her at the end of the fourth row, having presumably been lifted into her seat by an attendant who had rolled her chair away Bison sat beside her, watching through narrowed eyes and watched himself by Oreb, perched upon a cornice
"So it is with us Not long ago, it was our duty to leave, to board landers and cross the abyss to Blue or Green Many of us did, and so pleased the gods Now they wish those of you who have not gone to remain-to remain indefinitely, in fact, presu and s in his black beard
"Two nights ago, I conversed with a godling who informed me of this, and toldiven this opportunity I have fulfilled it instead, and I pray the blessing of the gods, of the Outsider and Silk particularly, in the days ahead"
He had watched Pig as he spoke; but if Pig's expression had altered in the slightest, the distance between theur approached the a sacrificial knife upon a black velvet pillow The heat of the altar fire was palpable
"We are ready, Patera," the augur whispered
"No" As his hand closed on the jeweled hilt, two ray stallion into the central aisle
"This's e call the sacristy? It's where we all vest, even His Cognizance, soet Pig and Hound floated through the open doorway "His Cognizance isn't in there now, or I don't think so But Patera Horn is"
He sighed as he dabbed at the bloodstains that spattered his robe, telling himself that it was at least an i sword tapped the stone floor and rattled against the sides of the doorway "Man co Most of us have finished cleaning up I'htly to get through the doorway and looking pleased about it
The eager young augur followed hientleo A man spoke to hi rumbled "Couple a' hundred fer a card, an' Hound h'off like a h'arrow"
"He did appear to ur added "I endeavored to get his naentleman and did not reply If you're concerned I could make inquiries"
"I doubt that it matters" He dried his hands on a spotless white toatching the blood-tinged water in the washbowl drain away, then used the towel again to , I feel sure Pig, would you like a chair? I'll fetch you one"
"I'll do it, Patera," the eager young augur said, and did
"Thank yer," Pig rumbled
"Wouldn't you like a chair too, Patera Horn?"
He shook his head, trying to indicate by his expression that the eager young augur had better go
"This is a very, very great honor for nizance, naturally"
"One that you have more than earned, I feel certain" He one, Pig said, "Win't, hain't yer, bucky? Nae wonner, h'all yer done"
"Tired? Actually, I'hterhouse and ht of soBut I'ot his knobbed staff fro could not see the gesture "If it were up tofor Silk this very minute"
"Good Silk!"
"Time tint be time toom, bucky"
"Wasted time cannot be recovered? Is that what it o, or at least not yet There's a croaiting for us For urs told me about it, and that hen I sent that one for you and Hound I thought that since we had to wait, we"They'll forget about us in half an hour or so, I iine Or at least they'll think ent out soo on about their business Were you able to follow the ceremony?"
"Ho, aye Hound tittled ter rounded his staff "What is it?"
"'Tis nae me fash, bucky But yer were ter h'ask h'about yer frien' Silk, were yer nae? Yer dinna"
"No No, you're quite right I did not"
He carried over a second chair for himself and sat down "I didn't ask theation-about Silk for one siht," Oreb's ood man, and he knows the reason as well as I So does Hound for that matter"
"Know h'it? He does nae"
"I believe he does I did not ask the congregation, Pig, because I knew that everyone in it thought that Idid not speak The blind face was tilted upward and to the left; as the silent seconds passed, two dots ofthat covered his elad But if they're for me-"
"Men come," Oreb announced distinctly
"There's no need I knoho I am, and what I am to do"
A very tall man in an ily handsome, strode into the sacristy, followed by similar men less richly dressed "Patera Silk"
He shook his head
The tall , sharply curved sword "We come to proclaim you Rajan of Gaon, Patera Silk Hail the Rajan!"
"Hail!" shouted the six with him Their swords were out almost before the first cheer They waved the "Rajan Silk!" Oreb fled through an open
"No" He rose "I am not Silk I appreciate the honor you seek to do hi man"
"Tentie noo, bucky Tentie be"
"I don't believe they have coo to their town, or so I iine"
The tall e our town, Rajan That is e have co like that You created a disturbance at Ermine's Beat the clerk"
"Yes, Rajan" The tall ht as the sapphire over his forehead "We knew you were there Soo in The clerk would not tell us, so with our belts we chastised him Our belts and the flats of our swords A donkey beaten is well next day"