bowed to the Ancestors, and we left.

As we returned to Akhor's chambers, close by the Great Hall, we found that many of the Kindred had assembled nearby after ensuring that no intruder had been near their chambers.

The talk was all of the Council, and of the Gedri, and of seeing one of the Silent Ones close to at last. This they had a good chance to do, for Lanen slumped fast asleep against the outer wall of the Council chamber. All spoke softly so as not to disturb her—I wondered what she would dream, for all the speech was in our ancient tongue and beyond her ken even were she wakeful.

Most, I noted with pleasure, remembered to speak of her by name, and as I listened I realised that Akhor was right— she was truly the Wind of Change. For many, the anger that Lanen had stirred up in them had been transmuted all in a moment to shame at her words, at their realisation that perhaps the Kindred had been unfair to the Gedri through the ages. She had touched a deep truth and most of our people were responding, despite the threat of a demonaided thief from among her people, for which she could hardly be held responsible. Few save the eldest spoke now of death or exile; I even heard in passing a suggestion that she be honoured as a teacher. I allowed myself a secret smile as I escorted Rishkaan into Akhor's torchlit chambers. Akhor would have so much joy at least.

No sooner were we inside, however, than Rishkaan spoke his frustration. ''Hadreshikrar, I obey our King, but in truth I do not know why I must be held here. I have seen what I have seen, and spoken truth in Council. Are my Weh dreams worth less than those of Akhor?''

"No, Rishkaan, of course not," I said sadly, "but you have attacked Lanen, the Gedri child, while still she addressed the Council, and that action has yet to be considered. She is not a Raksha to be killed on sight."

"I tell you she is the end of our world! I have seen it!" he cried.

"Calm yourself, old friend," I said gently. "I heard you both in Council. But I do not understand how both could be true. Akhor saw our people's salvation arising from his joining with Lanen, he told us the Winds spoke with him and said as much. How should I believe such communion false?"

"Perhaps he did not tell the whole truth," growled Rishkaan. "You well know that our Kindred are not above stretching the truth if it suits their need."

I bowed. ''True enough. Akhor concealed his twilight meeting with Lanen from me, he has admitted it. But Rishkaan, did his words in Council not strike you as those of one who has done with conceal? And why should he invent so clumsy a lie? If he sought to justify his actions, surely the voice of the Winds would be more use to him ere ever he and Lanen were joined. What good does that good word do him afterwards? No, to me it has the ring of truth. And—forgive me if I am blunt—how could there possibly be a mingling of the blood of Kantri and Gedri? I agree, it is a thought to sicken the mind, but surely it is beyond possibility. It is as if you asked us to beware the offspring of a bull and a butterfly."

"Fool!" cried Rishkaan. "I tell you I have seen it! She had our form, Shikrar, she was one of us! And her children I saw in terrible guise, half-Gedri, half-Kantri, caught between in a black hour, changing from one to the other. The sky was filled with hideous forms, the world was aflame with Raksha-fire, and because of her there was no Akhor to stand between the Lords of Hell and the last defenders of Kolmar." He bowed his head and did not speak for some time. "Ah, Hadreshikrar, I grow old before my time," he said sadly.

"Rishkaan, my friend, I hear you," I replied, "and well I know the years bring sorrow with wisdom. But I cannot believe the world is doomed, not by love, though I hear the truth in your voice and know that you at least believe it. I beg you consider though, for the sake of Akhor, that perhaps he and Lanen might also be right. It may be that you have seen most but not all of what is to come. Might there not be a last verse, a final turn on the wing or beat of the heart that has not been revealed to you? Or," I said, quietly voicing a thought that had been growing in my mind, "perhaps you have each seen only one side of a balance that might go either way. Perhaps the Council's decision to exile them will bring about its destruction, while allowing them to stay together would be the saving of our Kindred, as Akhor has foretold."

Rishkaan was mustering a reply when we both heard the sound of someone arriving outside the cavern entrance, and the sudden silence that came with it.

We did not wonder long. Kédra entered the cavern. ''I could find no trace of him, Father," he said, his voice in some strange place between defeat and merriment.

"Are you certain the Gedri who spoke with you told the truth?"

"And who might you be, to call me liar to my face?" asked a high voice I had not heard before. And in behind Kédra walked the second child of the Gedri I had ever seen close to.

She stood bent over, and I saw that she could not straighten. She was smaller and darker than Lanen, but full of the same fire. I was too surprised to be angry.

"I am the Keeper of Souls, lady," I answered sternly. ''Who are you, and know you a reason why I should not slay you for crossing the Boundary?"

She did not flinch, but Kédra answered me. "I stand her advocate, my father. Lanen commended her to me though this lady knew it not. She sought protection where she might, for Marik has learned that she aided Lanen in her escape, and seeks her life. She told me—"

"I told him, Master Keeper of Souls, that I'd rather die clean and fast than go the way Marik would send me," said the crooked one. "I am called Rella. And I would still rather be sent to my rest by you than by his fools of guards." She bowed to me. ''Do as you wish, Master. I am old enough, and now I've set her free I've done my duty and shall sleep peacefully."

I looked Kédra in the eye and saw there the curious merriment I had heard in his voice. It was clear he had come to like this creature and her boldness. To my amazement, I found that I agreed.

"If you stand friend to Lanen, how should I do other than welcome you?" I said.

She bowed again. "Then I thank you for my life." She gazed straight at me. "Seems you are true friends to her, after all, though I must say sometimes you've an odd way of showing it. Where is she?"

"I heard Akhor ask her to wait outside the Council chamber. My son, if you will keep the watch with Rishkaan I will swiftly escort this lady to Lanen, then go to the Chamber of Souls as guard."

"As you wish, father. Go well."

I leant close to the crooked one's face. "Come, mistress, let us walk together to the Council chamber. I would speak with you."

She bared her teeth in what appeared, by her voice, to be pleasure. "It will be an honour, Master."

Strange that so short a time could change so old a feeling.

I looked forward to speaking with her.

The Wind of Change, indeed.

I walk through dry leaves and feel small twigs snap under my feet, but no sound escapes to my ears or any other's. I am like a small boy that has outwitted his parents; I suspect I am grinning like a death's-head. My breath comes faster now as I approach the cave where I saw the gems in their golden cask. The time limit on my amulet beats in my mind as my heart beats in my chest. I know well that it has taken me little more than the half of an hour to get to this place from the Boundary. There is plenty of time in hand.

And there, just before me, darker in the general blackness, lies the entrance to the cave I seek.

Steel your nerves, Marik, stir up your courage to enter and seize the treasure—

Hell's teeth! What was that? Freeze, don't breathe, turn slowly—aah! What's that brilliance that burns my eyes?