by Andre Norton
Then the spokesman looked-again to Sigmun.
“Trade,” he said, once more and this was uttered as half order, half promise. Turning again a little from the captain he once more gazed full-eyes at me and added.
“To Asbrakas, High One—” It was not quite an Order but it was certainly a summons which he did not expect to have refused.
We had talked of Yarn before we had sailed. Since the Sulcars had found it to be most southern of all the lands they knew in which there was a native Civilized people, it had been decided that if we could we must learn what was known there which could pertain to the mystery we sought. Did the Vars know of the derelicts? Had they any tales of volcanos or any other strange things about the sea? That I should not refuse this invitation was plain.
“I come—” I agreed.
Orsya caught at my sleeve. “Not alone!”
I looked at her and at Kemoc, who was frowning as he watched the speaker. Had I any right to involve others if this was a trap of a kind, if that speaker had meant not my amulet but me when he had said “Trade"?
“She is right.” That was Kemoc. “After all, they have tested us and I believe that we have passed some ordeal. They cannot object to three of us when they have a whole city to face us down.”
So I pointed to Orsya and then to Kemoc and I said. “With these—we come.”
For the first time I saw the Vars leader blink but he did not refuse. Kemoc spoke to Sigmun:
“Let my father know what we do.”
The captain eyed each of us, and the gaze he turned on me was as chill as an ice-dotted northern sea. It was plain that he was yielding against his own will when he nodded and stood aside. The Vars also made way for us so that we descended first into their boat, they following after.
Oars flashed, sending the light craft shooting for the quay from which it had earlier come with nearly the speed of a dart. That rainbow of a city loomed higher and higher above us as we approached the shore so that now we were able to see that it had not really been erected on any level ground but arose by tier as if each line of colorful buildings was a step in a great stairway. We landed and walked along the wharf to the width of pavement which separated the first line of buildings from the curling waves.
There was not only the color to set those apart from other cities I knew. This close we could see that doorways and every window opening were surrounded with a wide band of intricate carving. The base was a pattern of vines but what sprang on stems from that innermost representation were circular designs—not like flowers but rather discs very closely engraved with lines which could be runes.
There were no streets as we knew them in Es City, rather steepish ramps which had a landing at each level of the buildings and then ran as a level way from each side of that central rise. Here were indeed people but We moved as if we were invisible, none turning their heads, or pausing to watch us pass. All we saw were men. It was as if this was some Falconer Eyrie in which no female dared ever set foot.
Windows facing the Way of Our climb were curtained. Yet I saw one of those curtains twitch: as if there were the watchers who were indeed interested in strangers.
At weary length, for the necessity of climbing those steep ramps wore at our muscles so long had we been at sea, we came to the topmost level. Here were buildings three times or more the size of those below and their walls might have been of burnished gold, for the paint here gave back a glitter.
Two, Which were the largest, fronted the space at the top of the ramp. We were pointed to that on the left-hand side, once more to face steps, a wide flight of them rising to a columned space. Those columns also were entwined with the same intricate carving we had seen below, these, if it were possible, even more tightly designed. Between such was an open doorway for which there appeared to be no gate nor guard.
The spokesman of the party which had brought us hither stood aside indicating that from here on we were to go unescorted. So we climbed, not hurrying our pace, in fact taking time to look about from side to side.
I had none of that warning which comes to those in the battered northern lands where, through centuries, the Light and the Dark have battled. There was none of the sickish effluvia which assaulted nose and nerves when the Dark was near.
Longing very much to release a probe of mind send I came to stand before that opening. Though the sun gave us a full light here there was no light ahead—perhaps some curtain denying that hung there. Yet I could see no hint of such. To be sure I drew the amulet once more into the open. As it had when confronted by the stone; of the spokesman it began to glow.
Then—the suddenness of it nearly sent me stumbling back—there sounded a-single great brazen note. I have heard the small gongs which the Sulcar seeresses use when they call upon a favoring wind after a ship has been too long becalmed. However this sound was the gathering of a multitude of such notes, combining them all into one mighty burst.
Kemoc was shoulder to shoulder with Orsya. His hand was on the hilt of his sword in reaction to that sound which must have shattered all calm in the city. I saw the Krogan girl's hands move in. a suggestion of waves upon the surface of a stream. We did not even exchange glances but I was aware that they were one with me here and now. Three abreast we approached the cavern of the entrance.
There was indeed dark—not a tangible curtain such as one could grasp with the hands and hold aside—rather one like water into which one had dived—swallowing us up to keep on going blindly ahead.
We had taken perhaps four strides when we stepped out of the dark as easily as we had entered it.
There was light enough, though not as clear and bright as the sun outside. It hinted of the moon rather than the sun but still it awakened brilliant beams of rainbow light from all about us. For we stood in a single huge hall or room, and, surrounding us, was the work in glass which had made Varn famous ever since the first Sulcar trader had brought evidence of it back to the north.
The w:alls had niches and in each of these was some wonder, while the shaded colors of the city Without were reflected like gem lustre from each piece. In addition to these embowered along the walls there were pillars scored with color, around which wound vines with leaves here and flowers seeming so delicate that they might be shattered by a very breath on them. I thought that all the best which could be produced by the workers of Varn was here visibly enshrined.
At the far end of the huge chamber was something unlike all else which kept it company. We found ourselves hurrying, for there was something about the glimpse we had of that which drew us. Then we came to a halt and I think that all of us gave an exclamation of wonder.
Here a throne of green-blue glass, transparent in spite of its rich color, stood high-backed. It was occupied by a figure which was enwrapped in bands such as formed the headgear of the Vars we had seen. These were of silver-grey and soft enough to show the contours of the figure they were intended to conceal. It was plainly that of a woman, but-even the head and face were wound about and its blindness was somewhat daunting as we looked upon it.
Only the hands were free, and those were held level with the breast of the enwrapped one. .On the side-by-side palms there rested a stone four, six times larger than that used to test us on shipboard. It was crystal clear at first, then small swirls of color moved in it as if it were a vessel holding water and that water answered to some disturbance.
7
During my wanderings I had seen other statues which might once have represented the Power for forgotten peoples. Still this one, so enveiled from sight, gave an impression, not of being fashioned by the hands of others, but rather of a living thing entrapped and hidden. Certainly that which sat there could not be alive so bound with only long, slender hands bare, slightly greenish perhaps because of the reflection of its throne, remaining as still as if they, too, were indeed carven.
Why we had been sent to observe this goddess or ancient ruler, or whatever the seated one represented, we had been given no hint. I glanced
at my companions and saw Kemoc's lips moving, though I heard nothing, and I did not try to make mind contact. He might have been calling upon some Power which he had known in Escore. Orsya continued to move her hands in the pattern of the gliding current of a stream.
As for me—here my limited tialents gave me no chance at learning what we might face. Farseeing and foreseeing—neither were of use. However, Once again I brought forth Gunnora's amulet and fire blossomed in the heart of it. While that swirl of color within the great stone the enthroned figure held grew brighter, and Wove a faster pattern within the boundaries which contained it.
I might well be holding one of the ancient light balls of Es City so did Gunnora's gift glow. Always that was matched by the glory of the huge gem the hidden one held.
Once more, out of the very air about us, sounded that great boom of some gigantic gong—a sound strong enough to make our ears ring. The surface of the strange gem was certainly expanding, or else we had been subtly ensorcelled to see it so. Out of its heart burst a fountain of rainbow light which trembled, rose and fell as might the water which fed the fountains we knew. Up and up, now a portion of it was directly opposite the band-hidden face of the sitter; It climbed again, and spread as it climbed; a constant flowing light which was nearly akin in girth to the columns of the hall behind us.
Then it leaped!
The beam faced Kemoc for a dazzling instants swept on to confront the Krogan girl, and last of all fronted me. But there was no danger in it—rather a welcoming as if something long banished from all it knew stood now before the entrance to its own place and joyfully came home.
A tendril of that blue-green flame was outflung, the very tip of it touching for only a breath space of time my amulet. Within that I felt movement, not that Gunriora's gift wished to be free to leave me, but rather that a part of it hailed something akin. My pendant stone might be lips sucking at liquid Which was not only new to it but which promised nourishment beyond any it ever hoped to have.
While I—sight entered my brain, not because I summoned it but because I was the vessel made to hold certain Power. Much of what I saw I could not understand for it came in the form of waves of color, whirling, self-knitting, self-loosening again. What I did know was that this was truly of the Light though of another kind, which on this earth had been in exile and which now had found heart-kin.
The fountain leaped again, up and up. Our heads went back on our shoulders drawn by the rise. Up and up—About us the glass enhancement of the hall beamed out in answer.
Then—
It was gone! As a flame might be blown out by a gust of wind, the fountain vanished. Only where before Gunnora's gift had gleamed gold when awakened, it now rippled with added hues—green, blue. While from it there poured into me sensations I could not set name to. For the first time wariness, the shadow of fear, pricked at me. I was too ignorant; this was too alien to find easy berth in me. Both physically and mentally I flinched. For a moment or two I wanted to turn and flee from this place, to shed my amulet and leave it with the silent one, refusing what it might have now to offer me.
For the third time the gong note sounded. This time it was followed by a reverberating echo which I dimly felt must ring through all Varn. That gem which the seated one held was colorless, not even the reflection of the throne could how tinge it slightly.
Around us there was a dimming, deadening of the glitter from the glass. But there was more, too. That figure on the throne—the bands which cloaked it were looser, or else that which those covered was losing substance. The body outlined only moments earlier had had the seeming of concealing firm flesh, youthful contours. Now there was a shriveling as if age had suddenly struck Where it had been long refused touch.
The two hands suddenly fell to the lap though they did not loose hold upon the gem. Now the ball of the head nodded forward until that which must mark the chin rested on the breast.
Who was I watching that change? I was disoriented, confused. Taking two steps forward I was how within touching distance of that figure. Was it about to crumble into nothingness? If so what penalty would be wracked upon the three of us for the dissolution of what or who must be an awe-producing figure to Varn?
I grasped the amulet, tightly and ducked my head to loose its cord. Then, guided by something outside any conscious act, I held out Gunnora's gift and allowed it to dangle down, to lie upon the surface of the deadened gem.
Instantly within me I knew that what I had done so. unconsciously had been necessary, a gesture desired, a last test perhaps, set by that I might, never be able to understand.
From where the amulet and gem touched there flashed a spark of vivid blue fire. Down into the gem it swirled, bringing with it life. Only the original color was now crossed and entwined with Gunnora's harvest gold. When I drew back, the gem lived once more, but was changed. However, the amulet showed no reduction of its own life. I half expected that we might again see a change in the hidden one, but that was not to be. It still sat, head forward, its bands loosened, its head turned downward as if blinded eyes could see, could search out what might be in the heart of that which it still held.
There came a light wind out of nowhere, wrapping us about, tugging at my. short hair, raising Orsya's loosed locks. Softly it brushed against us. The breeze brought scents of growing things, all the richness of high summer. Such had I smelt within Gunnora's shrine; here it was even richer, caressed the closer. Then it was gone and its going seemed to have released us from that spell which had lain upon us since we had first been brought into Varn's shrine.
We turned to retrace our way between those columns. I looked over my shoulder. She who was seated on the throne still nursed her gem and that held the mingled color which had entered it on the touch of the amulet.
When we came put of that palace, or temple, or place of Power, whichever it was to Varn, we saw that our escort from the Ship had been augmented. There was Lord Simon, helm on head, his fingers laced in his sword belt. Beside him the Lady Jaelithe, in mail and riding dress, her hair bundled into silver net after the fashion of the Witches. With them were more of the men of Varn—and I thought I could see a far greater number of people on the ways which separated the tiers of the city.
I had not returned the amulet into hiding but held it up against my breast as had the hidden one once held her gem. The colors which had come into it did hot this time fade, but swirled to the Outmost edge of the stone hungrily, as if that light wanted forth into full freedom. I heard from below a murmur of speech and the crowd of Vars divided, leaving standing there in plain sight a robed and cowled one, face as hidden as had been that of her in the temple.
Arms raised and wide sleeves fell back, showing the same long and narrow hands which held the gem, and above them rounded arms, so I could not help but believe that this hidden one was also female.
“thrice blessing.” Into my mind came that greeting. “Power calls to power, Light to light, even as the Dark can call shadows. Peace is not yet won, but there is now a beginning—”
“Well to Varn.” I made do with the best I could think of then. “Nothing have I done, only through me, through this.” I held the amulet a little away from me, turned down my fingers so that all might see the light still within it.
“We are all but servants of the Greater Ones.” The hands against the rich blue of the other's cloak were moving back and forth as if waving to me some tangible blessing. “That which is planted cannot grow, not even continue to live unless it receives nourishment and tending. We have been long without that which you have brought to us.”
Now she put her hands together, bowing her cowled head, giving me such reverence as one of the Council would expect. Only that made me uncomfortable. Would she address me so if she knew what our coming had done to the hidden one within?
“To everything its season,” she answered me as if my mind were fully open to her reading. “The guardian has kept watch for lifetimes, weariness is not alone for us.”
&
nbsp; We descended that last flight of stairs. Those of Varn, save for the cloaked one, drew back.
Lady Jaelithe's gaze was for the amulet. She traced a sign in the air. There were lines as blue as those of the throne within and they held for all of us to see. She looked now to me.
“There is a burden.” Her voice sounded troubled, as if she saw wrong instead of right in what had happened.
“From any act comes consequences,” I said aloud. Yet I was aware that, in a fashion I could not find words for, the amulet was becoming, with every breath that I drew, a weight of which I was most aware.
The cloaked one put forth her hands as if she held them toward a fire for warmth. Though she did not presume to actually touch what I held. Once again she spoke to us.
“For every trade there must be something offered in return. What will you ask for out of Varn?” Now her hands gestured as if she would include the Whole of the rainbow city in her offering.
While I was moved, without any prompting I was aware of, to answer her. “What we would have is news—from the south.”