Page 80 (1/2)

The billowy Apse Veil beckoned her forward There were two portals, one on each side of the bearded Leering She was draard the one on the left

She approached it, still rubbing her hand and stood before it, waiting There was a faint shadow behind the cloth – a person

A man’s voice spoke to her "Welcome, little sister What do you seek?"

She knew his tone immediately, the peculiar accent It was Maderos, the one she and Colvin had ardens with his crooked staff Had he been there all along? Was there a tunnel beneath the Apse Veil leading to his secret chaeway she had never seen before?

He had asked her a question

Licking her lips, she answered "I seek to become a maston"

She could hear the smile in his voice "What do you desire?"

She wondered a ht was quick to hershe had learned from the Aldermaston’s instruction made the answer clear "My home I seek Idumea"

His voice was thick with emotion "What is your name?"

She knew the word in her tongue Fruitful But as she spoke, she felt the Gift of xenoglossia work her mouth and she said it in Idumean "Eprayie of shadow ossah With exciterabbed his hand As soon as their skin touched, the world around her lurched dizzingly She was falling, falling off a cliff The air rushed through her eyes, her hair, herroar She could not breathe She could not think The rush of light and sound was ripped Maderos’ hand tightly, squeezing it for fear of losing herself into the void

Then it was over, she was through The Apse was huge – it was the highest point with a do supported by enormous stone struts There s set into the walls, thick with veils, but it seeh theht The roonificently decorated with soft couches, tables, vases, fresh flowers, bowls of apples Around the couches were large lacquered tables One, near the far wall, had an open tome on it Above the tome was a curious instrument – silver boith transparent stones set into them She knew instinctively that they were positioned over the toarbed in white as well, a gli chaen shirt – like Colvin’s – beneath his His crooked staff was no where to be seen He had not changed a bit since she had last seen him That was a year before, atop the Tor as he pointed her way to Winterrowd

"Well done, lass," he said, s at her "You are a maston"

"I am?"