Gate of Ivrel

She looked at him curiously, and then laughed softly. "Ah, then I have no friends left in Leth at all. There are none so old." She thumbed more pages, more and more rapidly. "… This sad day was funeral for Leth Tohme, aged seventeen yeares, and his Consort… lady Leth Jeme…

Indeed, indeed— at one burying."

"My grandmother hanged herself for grief," said Kasedre.

"Ah, then your father must have become the Leth when he was very young. And Zri must have had much power."

"Zri. Zri. Zri. Tutors are boring."

"Had you one?"

"Liell. Chya Liell. He is my counselor now."

"I have not met Liell," she said.

Kasedre bit at his lips. "He would not come tonight. He said he was indisposed. "I"— he lowered his voice— "have never known Liell indisposed before."

"…Liell of the Chya… has given splendid entertainments… on the occasion of the birthday of the Leth, Kasedre, most honorable of lords…

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two maidens of the… Indeed." Morgaine blinked, sca

"Liell is very clever," said Kasedre. "He devises ways to amuse us. He would not come tonight. That is why things are so quiet. He will think of something for tomorrow."

Morgaine continued to scan the pages. "This is interesting," she assured Kasedre. "I must apologize. I am surely wearying you and interfering with your scribe's recording of my visit, but this does intrigue me. I shall try to repay your hospitality and your patience."

Kasedre bowed very low, thoughtlessly necessitating obeisance by all at the immediate table. "We have kept in every detail the records of your dealings with us in this visit. It is a great honor to our hall."

"Leth has always been very kind to me."

Kasedre reached out his hand, altogether against propriety— it was the action of a child fascinated by glitter— and his trembling fingers touched the arm of Morgaine, and the hilt of Changeling.

She ceased to move, every muscle frozen for an instant; then gently she moved her arm and removed his fingers from the dragon blade's hilt.

Vanye's muscles were rock-hard, his left hand already feeling after the release of his nameless sword. They could perhaps reach the midpoint of the hall before fifty swords cut them down.

And he must guard her back.

Kasedre drew back his hand. "Draw the blade," he urged her. "Draw it. I want to see it."

"No," she said. "Not in a friendly hall."

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"It was forged here in Leth," said Kasedre, his dark eyes glittering. "They say that the magic of the Witchfires themselves went into its forging. A Leth smith aided in the making of its hilt. I want to see it."

"I never part with it," said Morgaine softly. "I treasure it greatly. It was made by Chan, who was the dearest of my own companions, and by Leth Omry, as you say. Chan carried it a time, but he gave it to me before he died in Irien. It never leaves me, but I think kindly of friends in Leth when I remember its making."

"Let us see it," he said.

"It brings disaster wherever it is drawn," she said, "and I do not draw it."

"We askthis."

"I would not—" the painted smile resumed, adamant— "chance any misfortune to the house of Leth. Do believe me."

A pout was on Leth Kasedre's features, a flush upon his sweating cheeks.

His breathing grew quick and there was a sudden hush in the hall.

"We askthis," he repeated.

"No," said Morgaine. "This I will not."

He snatched at it, and when she avoided his grasp, he spitefully snatched the book instead, whirled to his feet and cast it into the hearth, scattering embers.

The old scholar scuttled crabwise and sobbing after the book, spilling ink that dyed his robes. He rescued it and sat there brushing the little charring fire from its edges. His old lips moved as if he were speaking to it.

And Kasedre shrieked, railing upon his guests until the froth gathered at the corners of his mouth and he turned a most alarming purple. Ingratitude seemed the main burden of his accusations. He wept. He cursed.

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" Qujalinwitch," he began to cry then. "Witch! Witch! Witch!"

Vanye was on his feet, not yet drawing, but sure he must.

Morgaine took a final sip of wine and gathered herself up also. Kasedre was still shouting. He raised his hand to her, trembled as if he did not quite have the courage to strike. Morgaine did not flinch; and Vanye began to ease his blade from the sheath.

Tumult had risen in the hall again: it died a sudden death, begi

And incredibly this apparition, this new authority, walked forward to kneel and do Kasedre proper reverence.

"Liell," said Kasedre in a trembling voice.

"Clear the hall," said Liell. His voice was sane and still and terrible.

There was no noise at all, even from the bandits at the rear; the uyinbegan to slink away. Kasedre managed to put up an act of defiance for a moment.

Liell stared at him. Then Kasedre turned and fled, ru

Liell bowed a formal and slight courtesy to them both.

"The well-renowned Morgaine of the Chya," he said softly. Here was sanity. Vanye breathed a soft sigh of relief and let his sword slip back.

"You are not the most welcome visitor ever to come to this hall," Liell was saying, "but I will warn you all the same, Morgaine: whatever brought you back will send you hence again if you bait Kasedre. He is a child, but he commands others."

"I believe we share clan," she said, cold rebuff to his discourtesy. "I am adopted, kri Chya; but of one clan, you and I."

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He bowed again, seemed then to offer true respect. "Your pardon. You are a surprise to me. When the rumor came to me, I did not believe it. I thought perhaps it was some charlatan with a game to play. But you are quite the real thing, I see that. And who is this, this fellow?"

"It is all family," Vanye said, a touch of insolence, that Liell had not been courteous with Morgaine. "I am Chya on my mother's side.

Liell bowed to him. For a moment those strangely frank eyes rested directly upon him, draining him of anger. "Your name, sir?"

"Vanye," he said, shaken by that sudden attention.

"Vanye," said Liell softly. "Vanye. Aye, that is a Chya name. But I have little to do with clan Chya here. I have other work…. Lady Morgaine, let me see you to your rooms. You have stirred up quite a nest of troubles. I heard the shouting. I descended— to your rescue, if you will pardon me."

Morgaine nodded him thanks and began to walk with him. Vanye, ignored now, fell in a few paces behind them and kept watch on the doors and corridors.

"I truly did not believe it at first," said Liell. "I thought Kasedre's humors were at work again, or that someone was taking advantage of him. His fantasies are elaborate. May I ask why—?"

Morgaine used that dazzling and false smile on Liell. "No," she said. "I discuss my business with no one I chance to leave behind me. I will be on my way soon. I wish no help. Therefore what I do is of no moment here."