I knew what he was trying to say, but I could see the fatal flaw. I said, “Bob, we cannot bluff with Sharra. It wantsruin and destruction … can’t you feel that?”

“It islike the sword in the fairy tale,” Rafe said. “Remember what it said on the scabbard? ‘Draw me never unless I may drink blood.’ ”

We swung to look at the child and he smiled nervously under all our eyes.

“Rafe’s right,” I said harshly. “We can’t loose Sharra unless we really mean to use it, and no sane human beings would do that.”

Kadarin said, “Marjorie. You’re the Keeper. Do you believe this superstitious drivel?”

Her voice was not steady, but she stretched her hand to me. “I believe Lew knows more about matrices than any of us, or all of us together. You pledged, Bob, you swore to Desideria to be guided by Lew’s judgment. I won’t work against it.”

Beltran said, “You’re both part-Terran! Are you two on their side then, against Darkover?”

I gasped at the old slur. I would never have believed it of Beltran. Marjorie flared. “It was you, yourself, who pointed out not a moment ago that we are allTerran! There is no ‘side,’ only a common good for all! Does the left hand chop off the right?”

I felt Marjorie struggle for control, felt Kadarin, too, fighting to overcome his flaming anger. I had confidence still in his integrity, when he took the time to control that vicious rage which was the one chink in the strong armor of his will.

Kadarin spoke gently at last: “Lew, I know there is some truth in what you say. I trust you, bredu.” The word moved me more that I could express. “But what alternative have we, my friend? Are you trying to say that we should simply give up our plans, our hopes, our dream? It was your dream, too. Must we forget what we all believed in?”

“The Gods forbid,” I said, shaken. “It is not the dream I would see put aside, only Sharra’s part in it.” Then I appealed directly to Beltran. He was the one I must convince.

“Let Sharra go back to the forge-folk’s keeping. They have held it harmless all these years. No, kinsman, hear me out,” I pleaded. “Do this, and I will go to Arilinn; I will speak with telepaths at Hali, at Neskaya and Corandolis and Dalereuth. I will explain to all of them what you are doing for Darkover, plead for you, if need be, before the Comyn Council itself. Do you honestly believe that you are the only man on Darkover who chafes under Terran rule and control? I am as certain as that I stand here, that they will come to your support and work with you freely and wholeheartedly, far better than I alone can do. And they have access to every known, monitored matrix on Darkover, and to the records of what was done with them in old times. We can find one safe for our purpose. Then I will work with you myself, and as long as you like, for your realaims. Not bluff with a terrible weapon, but a total, concerted effort by all of us, every one of us together, to recover the realstrengths of Darkover, something positive to give the Terrans and the Empire, in return for what they can give us.”

I met Regis’ eyes, and suddenly time was out of focus again. I saw him in a great hall, crowded with men and women, hundreds and hundreds of them, every telepath on Darkover!It slid away and the eight of us were alone in the little fireside room again. I said to Regis and Danilo, “You would cooperate in such an endeavor, wouldn’t you?”

Regis, his eyes gleaming with excitement, said, “With all my heart, Lord Beltran. I am certain that even Comyn Council would put all the telepaths and towers of Darkover at your service!”

This was a greater dream than the one which had drawn us together! It must be! I had seen it! Beltran must catch fire from it too!

Beltran stared at us all, and before he spoke my heart sank. There was icy contempt in his voice and words.

“You damnable forsworn traitor!” he flung at me. “Get me under the heel of Comyn, would you? That I should get on my knees before the Hali’imynand take from them as a gift the power which is my right? Better even to do as my doddering old father did, and grovel to the Terrans! But I am lord of Aldaran now, and I will plunge all Darkover into red chaos first! Never! Never, damn you! Never!” His voice rose to a hoarse shriek of rage.

“Beltran, I beg of you—”

“Beg! Beg, you stinking half-caste! As you would make mebeg, grovel—”

I clenched my fists, aching with the need to fall on him, beat that sneer off his face … no. That was not his true self, either, but Sharra.

“I am sorry, kinsman. You leave me no choice.” Whatever happened after, the closeness of this circle was broken; nothing could ever be the same. “Kadarin, you placed Sharra in my hands and pledged to abide my judgment. Before it is too late, the circle must be broken, the link destroyed, the matrix insulated before it controls us all.”

“No!” Thyra cried. “If you dare not handle it, I do!”

“ Breda—”

“No,” Marjorie said, her voice shaking, “no, Thyra. It is the only way. Lew’s right, it can destroy us all. Bob.” She faced Kadarin, her golden eyes swimming in tears. “You made me Keeper. By that authority, I have to say it.” Her voice broke in a sob. “The link must be broken.”

“No!” Kadarin said harshly, repulsing her outstretched hands. “I did not want you to be Keeper; I feared just this—that you would be swayed by Lew! Sharra’s circle must be preserved! You know you cannot break it without my consent!” He stared fiercely at her, and I thought of a hawk I had once seen, hovering over its prey.

Beltran stood in front of Danilo, facing him down. “I ask you for the last time. Will you do what I ask?”

Danilo was trembling. I recalled that he had been the youngest and most timid of the cadets. His voice shook as he said, “N-no, my lord Aldaran. I will not.”

Beltran turned his eyes on Regis. His voice was level and grim. “Regis Hastur. You are not now in the Domains, but in Aldaran’s stronghold. You came here of your own free will, and you will not depart from here until you command your minion to use his powers as I shall direct.”

“My paxmanis free to follow his own will and conscience. He has refused you; I support his decision. Now, Lord Aldaran, I respectfully request your leave to depart.”

Beltran shouted in the mountain tongue. The doors suddenly burst open and a dozen of his guards burst into the fireside room. I realized, in sudden consternation, that he must have meant this all along. One of them approached Regis, who was unarmed; Danilo quickly drew his dagger and stepped between them, but was swiftly disarmed. Beltran’s men dragged them back out of the way.

Marjorie faced Beltran in angry reproach.

“Beltran, you cannot! This is treachery! He was our father’s guest!”

“But not myguest,” Beltran said, and the words were a snarl, “and I have no patience with barbarian codes under a pretense of honor! Now for you, Lew Alton. Will you honor your pledge to us?”

“ Youspeak of honor?” The words seemed to rise from some hidden spring within me, and I spat on the floor at his feet. “I honor my pledge to you as you honor your father’s memory!” I turned my back on him. Within the hour I would be in touch with Arilinn by matrix, and the Comyn would know what Beltran planned …

I had forgotten the link still strong between us all. Kadarin said, “Oh, no, you won’t,” and gestured to the guards. “Take him!”

My hand fell to sword-hilt—and found, of course, nothing. Wear no sword, at kinsman’s board.I had trusted in my safety in my cousin’s own house! Two guards seized me, held me motionless between them. Kadarin came to where I was held and raised his hand to my throat, jerking the laces of my tunic undone. He raised his hand to the leather bag containing my personal matrix.