How he wished he could tell Thaggoran that!

He laughed, and took Thaggoran’s amulet in his hand.

“Oh, Thaggoran, Thaggoran, if I started telling you everything that I have learned since the night the rat-wolves came, it would take me as many years to tell you as it has taken me to live it,” he said aloud. “See? The ice-eaters — that’s what they become. And the Great World — I’ve seen it, Thaggoran, and I know why it let itself die in peace. And the Bengs — let me tell you about the Bengs, Thaggoran, and about Vengiboneeza, and—” He clutched the amulet tightly. “I’ve not done so badly, have I, Thaggoran? I’ve learned a thing or two, eh? And someday, I promise you, you’ll hear it all from me. Someday, yes. But not soon, eh, Thaggoran? We’ll sit and talk as we did in the old days. But not soon!”

Hresh turned and began to walk back toward the City of Yissou. It would be time soon for the feast. He would sit with Taniane on his right hand, and Minbain on his left, and if these people of Harruel’s had any wine in their city he would drink all he could hold, and then some more, for this was a night of celebration such as had scarcely ever been seen. Indeed. He walked more briskly, and then he began to trot, and then to run.

Behind him, ten thousand thousand newborn ice-eaters, glistening with life, glided away to celebrate their birth into the New Springtime of the world.

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