The Crystals of Mida

20 A second visit—and a final call

Pale light shone down upon the city of Bellinard, and once again I looked at it from a distance. Those at the gates moved slowly forward; however there were considerably fewer than had been there when first I had looked upon it. I watched their movement with grim pleasure, for soon the darkness would come, the gates would close, and the Hosta would enter to claim the Crystal.

Many hind had we been upon the trail, but we were little the worse for the traveling. To my great surprise, Inala was still among us, for she had proven tenacious beyond expectation. The balance of the first darkness had been most difficult for her, for we had slept upon the ground in the forest, with none of the comforts of the city folk. Exhaustion had claimed her quickly, though the chill of the air was sufficient to waken her many times, leaving her shuddering till the weariness took her yet again. My warriors and I had stood watches through the darkness, and when the light came, we prepared ourselves for our travels. Meat was quickly hunted for, and with some small difficulty was the track of the lenga found. Lacking bow and spear, the lenga must be trapped, yet were their pelts needed for their warmth. Within three feyd were the needed pelts obtained, and all slept in comfort through the darkness. Inala found the taste of uncooked meat unpleasant, but forced herself to partake of it, for no fires would the Hosta build. Early upon the fifth fey, we passed a range of low hills to the east, and grazing upon these hills was a set of wild kand. Binat and Gimin took the climbing leather to snare one of the set, and then taught the captive to hold a rider. With one kan were a hand of others easily caught, and soon were we mounted upon the trail. Again, Inala found some difficulty, but was quick to learn whatever was necessary. My warriors, at first amused by her presence, at last approved fully of the city female. Inala lacked the abilities of the Hosta, yet she was willing to attempt whatever must be done, and all with dignity. That is all any might ask of another.

Gimin approached my position, where I stood and gazed upon the city, and her eyes, too, studied the walls. “All is prepared, Jalav,” she said. “We need only await the darkness.”

I nodded my head at these words, finding no wish to speak. Within the walls of Bellinard lay the Crystal we sought, yet through all of our journey, we had been unable to find sign of the males who preceded us. The thought had come that they traveled elsewhere, unaware of the true location of the Crystal, and that disturbed me greatly. When the Crystal rested in Hosta hands, I would send it on and ride in search of the hunter Ceralt, asking Mida to protect him till I, myself, was able to do so. The Hosta home tents would be empty indeed without the male I hungered for.

With Gimin beside me, I mounted my kan and withdrew to where the others waited, seeing Inala busily preparing the nilno we had obtained for her to feed upon. The city female would see to our kand till our return, and great was our fortune that she had accompanied us, for she had aided me in determining the true location of the Crystal. The message had read, “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.” That the place referred to was the dungeons of the Palace, all agreed, still, the balance of it puzzled us till Inala quietly asked if perhaps the first referred to the first of the doors of metal. Slowly we all agreed to this, and then we each of us, save Gimin, recalled the doors of metal within which we had been placed. Behind such a door, then, lay the Crystal, and we must see that it was recovered. Inala would take the kand and the nilno and await us by the caves she had been shown, and should we fail to return by the time she no longer had fodder, she was free to take the kand and do with them as she would. Not pleased was Inala at this thought, yet she was aware of the dangers the Hosta faced, and therefore remained silent.

At the arrival of full darkness, before the appearance of the Entry to Mida’s Realm, we took our leave of Inala, and silently made our way to the walls of Bellinard. All moved easily and well, yet was Larid as concerned for Telion as I for Ceralt, and Fayan, though silent, also seemed preoccupied. Gimin and Binat, displeased with the males who had claimed them, cared naught for their lack of presence, and were eager to return to Hosta lands. All were in possession of their life signs, and therefore did the thought of battle disturb us not at all. Mida’s task would be seen to, and then would we go our separate ways.

Quickly we scaled the wall and then descended and easily found our way to the Palace of the High Seat. Few were the males who moved about, and those, in leather and metal, were as unhearing and unseeing as all city males. About the Palace of the High Seat did we move, mindful of those who guarded the dwelling; seeking an entrance which might be used for my purpose. A small entrance did we find, guarded only by two, and this entrance was the one I desired. With stealth we approached the males, and then were our swords at their faces. Beyond a first, abortive attempt to reach their weapons, they remained motionless, till we forced them within the entrance they had guarded. Once within a small doored area, no part of the main Palace, the coverings of leather and metal were stripped from the males, and I stood coldly before them.

“One of you,” said I to them, “shall accompany us where we would go. The other shall remain here, a dagger to his throat, his life to be lost as well as the first’s, should we be betrayed. Is this clear?”

The males glanced at one another, finding no amusement in their predicament, and then they nodded without speaking. I knew not why they looked shocked; perhaps they had memory of the first of our visits. If so, well and good. Belief in the certainty of their deaths would aid in our effort.

To the first of the males did I return his covering and weapons, the second being well bound upon the floor, the dagger of Binat at his throat. The second looked pleadingly at the first, and the first nodded in weariness, indicating that he would not attempt betrayal. Little note did I take of this indication, for city males are not to be trusted to stand by their word, yet the male did as he was bidden. Larid, Fayan, and I removed our swordbelts, our daggers fast in our fists, and we three preceded the male, our arms behind us as though bound, and so did we present ourselves to the males who stood before the door to the depths, as prisoners being conducted within. Gimin followed to the door of this area, awaiting without for sign of disturbance, yet was the matter easily seen to. The males before the door to the depths fell quickly to our blades, and he who conducted us found the deed done before a sound might be uttered by him. Rapidly, then, did Gimin join us, and the bodies were placed within shadow before we descended.

Gimin and Larid I sent ahead, Larid once more armed, for the large metal door must be approached quite openly. When Fayan and the male and I reached the depths ourselves, my two warriors crouched below the opening in the metal, unseen by those who stood within. The sound of our descent brought the attention I had expected, and Fayan and I walked before the male, as though bound, making no attempt to mask the illness brought by the stink of the dungeons. The males within, seeing only a male with two captives, opened the door, and but two reckid later lay upon the stones in pools of their own blood. Larid and Gimin cleaned their swords, and all entered the door, then we slid the bar of metal behind us.

Gimin I left by the door to guard the remaining male, and Larid, Fayan and I took a torch to seek the Crystal. Fully fifty paces did we walk as bidden, the stench unbelievably strong in our nostrils, the stones slimy and cold beneath our feet, and we were then faced with dilemma. Two areas to the left were presented us, the second being fifty paces from the first of the metal cell doors, and nothing was there to do save search the both. The first area to the left, twenty paces down, showed an empty cell and nothing else. No Crystal was there within it, therefore we proceeded to the second of our choices; however, the opening of the door showed the cell inhabited. Chained to the wall, cringing from the light of the torch, sat what once had been a male. A gibbering sound came from the bloated skin and bones of him, and difficult was it to see how he remained alive. No hair was there upon him, nor a covering, yet covered was he with indications of the teeth of scarm. But half of his feet and hands had he, and too, what might be seen of his face showed the feeding of the scarm as well. Larid gagged at the heightened stench and turned away to empty herself; the proper course of action was clear to me. As quickly as I might, I ended the misery of the wretch, and little was the blood which flowed from him. The needful seen to, we began to look about, and most grim were my feelings toward the High Seat of Bellinard. No honest death did he propose for those who offended him, and much would I have enjoyed the return of his actions in kind. The fattened male was unfit for any save the chains he decreed for others.

Nearly did our search end in vain, for the Crystal was not to be seen within the confines of the cell. Again and again, I pondered where it might be placed, and then my eyes fell upon the flow of water through the stone of the wall. Where the water struck the floor, a cavity had been formed, and within the cavity, the water seemed much cloudier than that of the first cell. Quickly, I moved to the cavity, and within the water did my fingers touch what we had sought. I drew it forth, fearing it had been harmed by so long a submersion in water, but it did not show a single flaw. The Crystal, unharmed, was then in our possession, and I placed it within the small sack hung about my neck for the purpose, and gratefully did we leave the cell to the dead.

Most relieved was Gimin by our return, and once again, we ascended to the air which might be breathed without effort. The male in our midst was silent and fearful, for his weapons had once again been taken, and well he knew his usefulness was at an end, yet are Hosta not without a sense of gratitude. The male had served truly and well, therefore was he merely returned to where the other lay, and bound as was the other, both being gagged against sound which they might wish to make. Binat seemed pleased with something, which gave me to believe that she had used the male she guarded in our absence, but that was unimportant. We took ourselves from the dwelling with care, and joined the silence and shadows of the darkness. We passed through the city unseen and unheard, and at last stood upon the ground without the gates of Bellinard, our freedom intact, the last of the Crystals within our hands. High was our elation as we made for the caves where Inala waited, and much was the laughter we shared when once away from the walls of the city. Larid, as well pleased as were we all, still seemed a bit pale from the visit to the cell, yet when I spoke to her of it, she only grinned. Again was she with child, she informed me, and that was the reason for her illness. At such tidings were we all much pleased, for well might her illness indicate the child would be female. Another Hosta in the making was ever a cause for joy, and happily did we at last approach the caves.

The caves lay above the level of the ground, and were reached by a narrow trail which led between the stand of rock. By habit did we ascend the trail with caution, yet was the caution insufficient for our safety. In the darkness there was lack of all sound and sign, and quite silently did the nets fall upon us from above. Wildly and furiously, we struggled to reach our weapons, yet the males were upon us before that might be accomplished. With the speed of prior thought were our weapons taken, and then were we dragged within the caves themselves. Torches flared all about us then, and before our eyes stood Galiose and Telion, and Ceralt, and Nidisar, and others of the males of Ranistard. Inala lay bound and gagged in a corner, misery clear in her eyes, and Galiose laughed quite heartily and stepped forward.

“What lovely fish we have netted.” He grinned, examining us where we stood in the grip of males. “Is there, perhaps, other treasure to be found in out nets?”

The males about me removed the net, and then was the Crystal taken from me, the leather of the sack in which it lay cut from about my neck. Galiose peered within the sack, assured himself of the presence of the Crystal, and then wrapped the leather of the sack about his hand.

“Excellently done.” He nodded in approval, indicating that the remaining nets were to be removed. “Quite sure was I that you would have small difficulty acquiring possession of the Crystal, did you but think it was about to fall to us. You all shall be rewarded for your efforts in behalf of your city, and we shall all return there with the coming of the new light. You may now rest and feed yourselves.”

With great satisfaction he turned away, and I found that the illness of the depths had returned to me. No sign of the males’ travel had we found before us, for the males had traveled in our track, not before us. Naught had they known of the location of the Crystal, simply had they stood aside and allowed the witless Hosta to fetch it for them. Deep disgust did I feel at myself, for I had been gulled as easily as a child, and not soon would the shame thus given me again be taken away.

“I am much relieved to see you unhurt,” came a soft voice, and I raised my eyes to see Ceralt before me. The hunter grinned with great pleasure and placed his arms about me, yet his lips upon mine found no response. Although deep had been my concern for his safety, he had used me to gain possession of the Crystal for Galiose, telling me of his journey merely to send me to Bellinard. Of small worth are city males, and again had the lesson been taught me. Without a word, I pushed from him, and walked to where Inala lay bound, tears streaming from her eyes. Shame seemed to be upon her, as though she were true Hosta warrior, though the matter was beyond any effort of hers. Nothing could she have done in the presence of so many, and this I explained when I had released her. She and I and my warriors sat together in silence, taking no note of the presence of the males, refusing them the least of glances. Well betrayed had the Hosta been by the males who had claimed them, and nothing further might any save Mida do upon the matter.

Rapid was our return to the city of Ranistard, for Galiose wished to place the third Crystal with the others. Bound upon their kand were the Hosta, and Inala as well, for we had attempted escape the first fey upon the trail. Each of us had chosen a direction in which to ride, thinking that some, at least, would win free, yet the numbers of the males had destroyed such hope. Each of us was pursued and quickly caught, and then returned to the line of march. The leather was placed angrily upon my wrists by Ceralt, and I cared naught for his anger. No word nor look did I address to him, though many times he attempted to speak with me, and Larid, too, did much the same with Telion. Fayan alone merely did as she had done with Nidisar, and Nidisar seemed somewhat pleased that Ceralt and Telion too found themselves ignored.

The darkness I passed at Ceralt’s side, his lenga pelt and mine placed close together, yet he found little response to his touches and caresses, and soon he ceased all attempts at either. The two hunters, Ceralt and Nidisar, and the warrior Telion, rode together through the light, the leads to our kand in their hands, misery upon their faces. All had been shown the Hosta opinion of them, and none found the opinion attractive.

Galiose caused a stir among us, for the High Seat looked upon Inala and found her pleasing. The first darkness, he carried her to his sleeping pelt, yet the small city female refused the order to please him. The metal collar still about her neck, she held her head high and denied the needs of the High Seat, much to the annoyance of Galiose. Firmly he attempted the use of her without her will, and the forests rang with the sound of his shout when her teeth sank deep in his shoulder. In full disgust, he thrust her from him, and her look of satisfaction caused him irritation. For two feyd he spent the light in contemplation of her, and upon the coming of darkness upon the second, he threw her to his shoulder and strode off into the trees, saying that none might follow. No lenga pelt did he fetch with him, yet he did not return before the coming of the new light. Much quieter did Inala seem upon their return, and wary was her gaze when she looked upon the High Seat. The next darkness was the same thing done, and the next, and not till the fourth fey was I able to learn what had occurred. The High Seat had not again attempted use of her, yet had he, each darkness, taken her covering and placed himself beside her. When the chill of the air had caused her to shudder where she lay, he had taken her in his arms and had merely held her. Yet the last darkness, so she said, he had made no attempt to place his warmth about her, but had waited till the chill had driven her to him. Soon, she knew, the nearness of him would begin to reach her, and she knew not what to do. Small council or comfort was I able to give, for strong was my memory of Ceralt before his betrayal, and deep was my hurt and need, never to be eased. I knew when Inala had been able to refuse Galiose no longer, and deeper did my misery grow.

The sight of Ranistard was welcome to all, yet Telion felt the most relief at its presence. Four feyd earlier, Larid had grown ill upon the trail, and thereafter had found herself unable to feed. Neither raw meat nor cooked could she retain, and each of the hunters searched most earnestly for something she might be fed. Roast lellin seemed the sole thing which she was able to feed upon, and little enough of that tempted her. Telion freed her wrists and held her before him upon his kan, his face pale and drawn with concern, his arms desperately about her. Larid lay herself upon his chest, her eyes closed, her breathing uneven, and well did I know that pain was hers, though she gave no other sign of it. I rode upon my kan with deep felt misery, for the punishment for failure should have been mine, not Larid’s. Oh, Mida! Will we never find success and approval in your eyes?

Once within Ranistard, Larid was taken to the dwelling of Galiose, and Fayan and I, again unbound, with Ceralt and Nidisar, were told we might accompany her. Inala rode close beside Galiose, at his bidding, and was not permitted to return to the dwelling of Ceralt. She had been ordered to remain with Galiose, and much fear had she that the High Seat would name her slave to him, for she had discovered deep feelings for the large, dark male. As free woman did she wish to serve him, not as slave, for, as she had said, her love was enslavement enough. Gimin and Binat had been met at the gates of the city by those males they had ridden from, and grim indeed were the looks upon the faces of the males. Two of the warriors of Galiose were they, yet had they seemed barely male to my warriors, who had scorned the softness of their ways. Now it seemed that their softness would be no more, for my warriors were pulled from their kand by the hair, and taken off by the males in such a manner. The males had spoken of much leather awaiting runaway wenches, and my warriors had not seemed at all pleased. By the sides of the males had they stumbled along, and we rode past them to the High Seat’s dwelling.

Within the dwelling did Telion carry Larid, and Fayan, Nidisar, Ceralt, and I were led by a slave to a room of wide seats and small platforms, and told that we might await word of Larid there. The males took their places upon the silk of the seats, and Fayan and I seated ourselves upon the cloth by the room’s fire. The cloth was a blue like the skies, and I recalled the words of Telion of the covering which he had wished Larid to don, and then I covered my eyes with my hand. In but a matter of reckid, Telion entered the room as well, saying that Phanisar had forbidden his presence, and he seated himself to one side of the room, desolation etched upon his features, tragedy deep within his eyes. None spoke with him of the pain we shared; when renth was brought, all partook of it.

More than two hind passed in the waiting, and often did my eyes move to Ceralt where he sat, a pot of renth clasped miserably within his fist. Over and again I found the need to remind myself that the dark-haired, light-eyed hunter had betrayed me, and over and again did the pain of such a memory twist me deep inside. Greatly did I long for the gentle touch of the male, the knowledge of his presence beside me in my misery, the feeling that he cared for more than just the use of me, yet never were these things to be had again, for truly had I been betrayed by him. Unbidden did the thought bring weakling tears to my eyes, and was I unable to stem the flow; down my cheeks they streamed as the hunter suddenly looked at my face. Shamed, I turned away again, not wishing my weakness to be seen by him, yet with a muffled cry he jumped to his feet and started toward me. Only two steps had he taken, when the appearance of Phanisar at the door caused all to halt what they had been about and rise quickly to their feet. No word did any of the males speak, and I, too, found great reluctance to voice a query, therefore was the matter left to Fayan.

“Does Larid live?” she asked quietly, a calmness to her voice which I did not share.

“Of a certainty, she lives,” responded Phanisar pleasantly, and he entered farther within the room. “It was merely a matter of too great an exertion, for the loss of the previous child weakened her somewhat. With rest and comfort, she shall soon be up and about.”

“Praise be to the Serene Oneness!” Telion choked out, and then he finished his renth in a swallow. Great relief flooded his features, until a moment later a frown appeared. “What meant you,” said he to Phanisar, “when you spoke of the previous child?”

“Surely you must know,” responded Phanisar with a chuckle. “The wench is again with child, and confidently assures me that the child is yours.”

“Mine,” breathed Telion, and then he raised his voice and shouted, “Mine! The child is mine!” An insane laughter roared from him, and then he raced from the room, unmindful of the stares of others. Some confusion did I feel over the exchange of the males, for surely they knew that the child was Larid’s, and not Telion’s, as they had insisted. Any but an infant or a dolt is aware that a male cannot bear a child.

Phanisar had come to stand by the fire between Fayan and myself, and now he looked about himself most comfortably. “Perhaps,” said he to the, rest of us, “you would care to see the device of the Crystals. It is now readied for use, although I wish to await the departure of the female Larid before it is activated. In but a hin or two, small men once again speak with the gods.”

Fayan and I exchanged looks of distaste, yet was it possible that Mida beckoned with the invitation, therefore did we nod our agreement. The males, too, indicated their interest, therefore Fayan and I began to walk toward the door.

“A moment,” called Phanisar from where he yet stood by the fire, and Fayan and I turned to see that he held our pots of renth. “Good renth should not be abandoned,” said he with a smile. “You may finish your flagons, should the deed not be beyond you.”

Again Fayan and I exchanged glances, then with a shrug returned to where the male stood. My pot contained a mere half of the renth it was able to hold, therefore I swallowed it quickly, seeing that Fayan did as I did. No reaction to the renth did Fayan show, yet mine seemed to have soured in the pot. Most bitter was the taste of it, and my face obviously showed this, for Phanisar laughed heartily,

“I see the renth is not to your liking,” said he quite smoothly. “My apologies, wench, and I shall not suggest a like action again. Shall we now retire to the comm room?”

Somewhat suspicious of Phanisar did I find myself, yet I knew not where my suspicions should lie. I thought upon it as we walked to the room of the device, but nothing occurred to me. Ceralt looked quite closely upon me, though he had not again attempted to approach me. Such action should have pleased me, yet was I unsure of the presence of pleasure. Of many things did I find myself unsure, and I did not care for the feel of it.

Within the room of the device stood many armed males, among them Galiose. The High Seat appeared in great spirits, and most pleasantly did he approach us. “I was pleased to learn of the well-being of the red-haired female,” he said as he neared. “Inala, too, shall be pleased to learn of it, for my woman has much liking for the wench.”

“Do you refer to the slavewoman Inala?” Ceralt murmured, an odd look upon his face.

“A slave no more,” Galiose laughed in reply, “for she has proven herself free. She informed me quite soberly that sooner would she face death than slavery, therefore what choice had I but to free her?”

“What choice, indeed.” Ceralt laughed in agreement, and he, too, seemed pleased with Inala’s freedom. Strange were these males, to first enslave a woman, and then rejoice at her having been freed.

“In a fey or two,” continued Galiose, “we shall have further cause for merrymaking. A rider reached me but moments ago, saying that the party fetching the Silla wenches shall soon be here. My men wait most eagerly for them, for I hear they are a toothsome lot.”

Ceralt and Nidisar chuckled with Galiose, while Fayan and I looked at each other in distress. Completely had we forgotten the coming of the Silla, and a way must be found to arm our Hosta before their arrival. Most pleased would we be to face Silla with sword, yet first must the sword be found to be used.

Phanisar had gone to look more closely upon the device, and easily was it to be seen that the golden air now carried the third of the Crystals as well. I did not care for the look of the device, yet Phanisar gestured Fayan and myself the closer. With reluctance did we approach him, and the male pointed to a projection upon the side of the device.

“See you here,” said he to us, indicating the projection. “The writings speak of this as an ‘operator testing outlet,’ yet have I been able to make sense of such gibberish. It is a manner by which one may know if she who uses the device is fit. Vistren, in his insanity, did not realize that only a female may speak through the device, else we may assume that he would have taken care to see that so many females did not die. Each female in Ranistard have I tried here, saving the two now before me, and those who accompanied them, and I have found none save three who may, in dire need, be used. A light shines brightly at the touch of her who is ideal, yet naught have I gotten from the others save a feeble light. Perhaps one of you shall be the proper user, eh? Step closer, singly, and place a finger upon the knob.”

This time Fayan and I did not look upon one another, for neither of us cared to touch the device of pain. Clearly did I recall the first time I had attempted the touch of it, and not again would I attempt so foolish a thing. Even had I known that the Crystals would be mine in the touching of the device, still would I have hesitated, for with so many males about, escape with the Crystals would have been impossible.

“Come, come,” urged Phanisar with a trace of impatience.

“There is nothing to fear, and each of the others have already accomplished it. Are you two less than they?”

The accusation stung my pride, for a war leader is always first into danger. As my warriors, had already gone before me, naught was there to do save act as they. Feeling great reluctance yet showing none of it, I stepped the closer and placed my finger upon the projection, braced against the pain I expected, yet no pain did I feel at the contact. Only a faint tingling ran through me, and a light showed upon the device above the projection.

“Better than the others,” Phanisar murmured, studying the light, “yet still below the required strength. Let us try the second now.”

Fayan approached as I stepped to the side, and bolstered by my example, she touched the projection quite easily. Immediately did the light grow bright, and a cry of elation came from Phanisar.

“A true sender!” he shouted, his hand pounding upon the platform of the device. “See here, Blessed One, we have our sender!”

Galiose hurried forward, and other males as well, and much time did they spend in explanation of their wishes. Fayan was to use the device at their direction, said they, and her fondest desire would be hers for the asking. Fayan quickly came to understand that the device might not be easily used without her, and she turned thoughtfully to Galiose.

“Am I to understand that I might be forced to the use of the device,” said she, “yet my full cooperation would be much the better?”

“Aye,” nodded Galiose, “and also it would be much the wiser. You may make any request of me, within reason, and I shall see it done.”

“Might the Hosta be released from Ranistard?” she asked at once, but the firm headshake of Galiose negated the thought. “Very well,” said she, accepting the decision. “My cooperation is yours, should you agree to my alternate terms.”

“Which are?” prompted Galiose, suspiciously.

“I wish the gift of a slave,” Fayan announced quite calmly. “A slave of my own choosing.” Slowly, her eyes moved till they rested upon Nidisar, and the eyes of everyone about also moved to the male. Not a sound was uttered in the room, and Nidisar’s eyes widened and moved anxiously about.

“That is foolishness!” Nidisar protested with hollow laugh. “I am a hunter and a free man, not a slave to be given as gift!”

No reply did any make to this, and greater did Nidisar’s agitation grow. His hand moved upon his face, and Phanisar stepped the closer to him.

“Think, my boy,” said Phanisar earnestly, “of the service which would be performed by you for Ranistard! We shall speak with the gods themselves, and your sacrifice shall be remembered forever! Is such a thing not worthy of your effort?”

Nidisar gazed about weakly, stuttering, “B—but—bu—but—” however the matter was already decided. Galiose, with a shrug of resignation, gestured to two of his males, and a collar of metal was fetched and placed about Nidisar’s throat. Most miserable did the collared Nidisar seem, and I approached him with the intention of adding to his misery.

“It seems, Nidisar,” said I quite blandly, “that the spear has now been cast again. Should a slave be erect upon his feet as though he were free?”

“He should not,” came Fayan’s voice from beside me, before an angered Nidisar might reply. “On your knees, slave,” Fayan ordered, “and remain there till otherwise bidden!”

Nidisar, nearly livid with rage, stood quite straight, therefore two of Galiose’s males approached and forced him to his knees. Most amused did they seem to be at the plight of the hunter, and Fayan and I, too, laughed.

“Much the better,” I nodded at the kneeling Nidisar, seeing the strong satisfaction upon the face of Fayan. “Think you, Fayan, he requires a leash, that he might not forget himself and wander off?”

“An excellent thought.” Fayan grinned. “I shall see to it quickly, for I would not have my slave wander off. There are many things one might find to occupy a slave.”

Upon hearing her words, Nidisar closed his eyes as though in pain, for it was clear to all that Fayan meant to show her displeasure with him quite forcefully. Some small sympathy did I feel for the hunter, for I knew the strength of Fayan, yet had Nidisar well earned the punishment he was now to receive. With a grin, I left Fayan with her gift, and moved once more toward the platform of the device.

“Soon all shall be prepared,” said Phanisar to Galiose and Ceralt. “I now await word that the female Larid has been removed from the Palace. The operation of the comm should not be overly painful for the others, yet she, in her weakened condition, need not be made to suffer.”

Most pleased was I to learn that the device would cause but little pain, and then was I struck in the stomach with the twist of my insides. Without volition I bent forward with the pain, and surely did I think the device had been activated.

“Jalav!” shouted Ceralt, and in a flash was he by my side, his arms about me in support. The ache eased so that I might straighten, yet was I still touched by it. Ceralt looked anxiously toward Phanisar, and the tall, aged male shook his head.

“It is only the action of the counteragent,” he said to Ceralt. “The dabla bush held her childless, and now must its grip be loosened. The cramps shall pass in a matter of feyd, and then shall she be as other wenches, able to bear your seed. I placed the counteragent in her renth, and now the time is past when she might void herself of it.”

Most relieved did Ceralt seem, and his light eyes looked upon me with pleasure as his arm tightened about me, while I remained confused. “I do not understand,” I said to Phanisar, bringing the aged male’s eyes to me once more. “I am not able to bear a child!”

“You soon shall be,” he replied with a grin. “The counteragent shall see to that.”

“That may not be!” I insisted, my head shaking in negation. “Jalav is war leader, and no war leader may have life within her!”

“That is also easily seen to,” grinned Ceralt, his arm yet about me. “Jalav shall no longer be war leader, therefore is the difficulty overcome. Life there shall be within you, my girl, placed there right quickly by me.”

Ceralt and Phanisar laughed with each other as males are wont to do, and the words of the males angered me greatly, for Jalav was not slave to be ordered about and done contrary to her will. In some manner had the leaf of the dabla bush been overcome, yet had I seen dabla bushes growing there in the city of Ranistard. When the Silla arrived to battle the Hosta, the war leader Jalav would be well prepared!

Ceralt insisted that I take seat till the pain left me; however I had been seated but a moment when a slave entered to say that Larid was well away from the dwelling. All then eagerly pressed toward the platform of the device, therefore did I, too, rise once more so that I might join them. Whatever was to occur would not occur without Jalav.

Fayan had been seated beside the platform of the device, and now the male Phanisar placed a band of sorts about her brow. The band led, by a very thin length of metal, to the device itself, and naught else touched the warrior Fayan, though the band seemed sufficient. Fayan sat unmoving and expressionless, yet I knew that the matter cost her dearly in courage. Phanisar touched briefly about the device, and then I, too, found the need to call upon courage. A deep, sharpened tingling touched all parts of me, and a darkness, the darkness of the Crystals, descended once more. Completed, now, was this darkness, and deeper, if possible, than the instance previous, a darkness unending in its distance, of a height and a width incomprehensible. The darkened Crystals in their golden air beckoned to me, pulled at me, toward where surely my soul would be forever enmeshed. My right hand clutched my life sign, my left hand grasped at the covering of Ceralt, and then was the strength of his arm about me, holding me from the dreaded dark.

“Now, wench,” said Phanisar softly to Fayan, “there is a thing you must say till a response is elicited. Say the word, ‘calling,’ then repeat the word, slowly and clearly, till I bid you to cease.”

“Calling,” said Fayan, without inflection, and indeed she repeated the word, over and again, her eyes full closed, the inner part of her seemingly afloat in the golden air beside the Crystals. Most distant did Fayan appear to be, and distantly did the echo of her call resound.

Two hands of reckid passed to naught, and still did Fayan speak the word. How long a wait was to be faced, none knew, and then, of a sudden, from the golden air, came a voice, and the word was, “answering.”

A brief stir moved all about, and the air that had been that of eld, became charged with hope, and fear and awe. Galiose stood triumphant in his place, and Phanisar seemed to glimpse the making of his fondest dream. His hand moved toward the shoulder of Fayan, though he halted short of contact, and his voice, quite hoarse, reached forward instead.

“We do send our fondest greetings, lady,” said he, for truly had the voice been that of a female. “We seek the ears of the gods, and would speak with your masters if we may.”

“My masters?” the female voice echoed. “What station are you calling from? And why does your speech sound so strange?”

Confusion touched the features of Phanisar, and he stumbled. “Truly do I beg your pardon, lady, yet do I lack understanding of your words. What might be a station?”

“I don’t know what’s going on here,” the female voice muttered angrily, “but I’ll sure as sending find out! I’ll have a fix on your comm in just—about—now!” A silence surrounded the female voice, and then it returned, at first awed, and then filled with joy. “You’re way out in sector V!” the voice exclaimed. “We haven’t heard from anyone there since the rebellion! Then your power crystals were saved! Hell and damnation, won’t Mida be pleased!”

“Mida!” I cried most happily, and the males looked toward one another in deepest shock. Mida reigned where the male gods dwelt, and all happenings came at her bidding!

“We know naught of any rebellion!” Phanisar blurted, his eyes wild. “The crystals had been taken from us by females and now have we recovered them so that we might once again reach the gods! I know naught of what you speak!”

“You poor boonies,” the voice commiserated with true sadness. “Out of touch for all this time, and probably regressed, too. Maybe if I tell you what happened, it’ll help you to understand.

“About two hundred and fifty standard years ago, all comm stations, like the one you’re calling from now, were controlled by men. Oh, sure, only women could be senders, but what they sent was at the direction of men. Then Mida came along, and decided that enough was enough, so a call went out to all stations to hide the power crystals until men came around to our way of thinking. It took a long time—you men are so stubborn—but to keep the Union from falling apart, the men finally gave in. Mida took over running things, and now women do the calling and the directing—and a good job we’ve done, too! The Union is stronger than ever, and we have a fully trained group that will hop over there and help you get your planet straightened out again. I’ve got a good, solid fix on the booster station built into the satellite of your planet, and we’ll come as soon as we can. With our women around to run things, you’ll be civilized in no time.”

The shock held each of the males in a grip unbreakable, therefore was I free to step forward and say, “Yet you spoke of Mida. Mida is with you?”

“No, honey,” laughed the voice, “it would be more accurate to say that I was with Mida. All of us are with Mida-members in good standing, too. Mida does it all, and its name comes from the job of sending. You’ll be learning it soon enough, but it can’t really hurt to tell you—Mida stands for ‘Minds In Dark Adventure.’ It started out as a club for senders, and ended up running the Union. But just you wait. As soon as we get there, you’ll have a chance to learn everything we know. You’ll love being civilized—all of you.”

Again there was silence, most agonizingly from myself as well, yet Ceralt stepped forward to stand beside me. “Civilized,” he said in a musing tone. “We are to be civilized.” And then he laughed and laughed till the tears came down.