Maia (Beklan Empire 1)

Maia laughed. "Yes, we're new. What's your name?"

"Melathys," said the child. She skipped again. "My name's Melathys. I knew you were new, knew you were new!" She was plainly gratified to find herself right. "You weren't at Orthid, were you?"

"Where's Orthid?"

"Where we were before the soldiers came." She sat down beside Maia. "The soldiers killed Snekkeron, and then they took us all away."

"Who was Snekkeron?"

"The dog-man--the top man at Orthid. He used to walk about with a big, white dog. Then anyone did anything he didn't like, he used to tell the dog to bite them."

"Did the soldiers kill the dog, too?"

"I don't know," said Melathys. "What's your name?"

"Maia."

"And where are you going?"

"I don't know."

"Oh, haven't they told you yet? When are they going to?"

"How d'you mean?" asked Maia.

"Well, we're all going to different places. But you see--" and here the little girl, bending forward, looked at Maia bright-eyed, with the obvious self-satisfaction of one about to impart something which will establish her as superior and enviable. This must have been why she had raised the subject. "I'm going to a special place--a holy place. They chose me to go!"

"How marvelous for you!" said Maia. "Where is it?"

"It's called Quiso," replied Melathys. "Quiso of the Ledges. So I shall be a Ledge myself when I'm grown up."

"You mean a priestess, don't you?"

"Bria's going too," said Melathys quickly (to avoid accepting the correction, or so it seemed to Maia).

"We're going with Captain Muzarkalleen. He was hurt in the fighting, but they'll make him better at Quiso, you see."

She looked at Zen-Kurel, lying supine on the grass near-by.

"You belong to him, don't you?" she asked.

"No," answered Maia. To her annoyance she felt herself coloring once more.

"To him, then?" asked the child, looking at Bayub-Otal.

"No."

Melathys looked puzzled. "She does belong to you, doesn't she?" she asked Zen-Kurel. "She's pretending, isn't she?"

"Here," said Maia desperately, "I'll teach you a new game if you like."

"Standing up, she took the little girl in her arms and as best she could--for she was quite a weight--began tossing her up and down.

"Bring me my dagger and bring me my sword.

Melathys the lady to go by my side.

I'm off to Bekla tomeet the great lord --"

But at this point, as once before, she was interrupted. Tolis had come out of the hut and the others were on their feet. She kissed Melathys and put her down.

"I'll have to go now. Good-bye: I hope you'll be very happy at Quiso."

The little girl ran off through the sunset light. Maia, looking back as she went towards the door of the hut, saw her turn and wave before she disappeared round one of the shelters.

92: ELLEROTH EXPRESSES AN OPINION

Immediately inside the hut was a kind of miniature ante-room or lobby, its walls made of thin, wooden partitions. Here weapons, shields, cloaks, boots, belts and every kind of military gear were hanging on nails or laid out on the floor. It was all neatly disposed, however; the floor was sanded and clean and the general impression was of preparedness rather than disorder. On the far side of this improvised antechamber was another entrance, covered with a curtain made of old cloaks stitched together. This had been half drawn aside by a tall young man, who was standing in the aperture and regarding them intently, though with a cordial smile.

This personage immediately made a strong impression on Maia. Since she was at the rear of their little group and he was not for the moment directing his attention to her, she was able to look at him closely.

He was tall--slightly taller, indeed, than Anda-Nokomis--and clean-shaven (which was unusual in the Beklan Empire at this time). His fair hair was cut rather shorter than was fashionable in the upper city. He had blue eyes, a short--indeed, rather a stubby--nose and very even, white teeth, which made his smile attractive. He was wearing a very well-fitting, spotlessly clean, gray veltron and over this a blue robe elaborately embroidered--weeks of work, thought Maia-- in gold thread. Round his neck was a fine chain, from which hung a corn-sheaves emblem in wrought silver. Not only his dress but his manner was strikingly elegant, reminding her a little of Elvair-ka-Virrion; yet for all his youth he had an experienced, seasoned, responsible look which--as she could now appreciate--Elvair-ka-Virrion had never possessed. Despite this, however, he struck her as a man with whom humor and amusement were prevalent, so that even his elegance seemed a kind of joke, an act deliberately put on the better to deal with the world and keep it in a good temper.

Elleroth--for it was he--stepped forward and took Bayub-Otal's hands.

"Are you really Anda-Nokomis of Suba? Do you know, I can only just manage to believe that you've really appeared out of the forest like a benevolent wood-spirit? Still, fortunately that's belief enough. This is an honor and a great pleasure. Santil-ke-Erketlis told me he thought you were dead, you see. It's rather refreshing, don't you think, to find that even he can be wrong from time to time? I mean, it restores one's faith in universal human fallibility. I'm very glad to welcome you and your friends. Come inside and have some wine for a few minutes before you go to your quarters, so that I needn't wait to begin enjoying your company. They're heating some water for you now and I've told them to find you all some fresh clothes. You'll be tolerant of our emergency wardrobe, won't you? We've all been running about a good deal just recently, you know."

As he talked he was conducting them through the inner entrance into the main body of the hut beyond. It was rough-and-ready enough--three trestle tables, four or five benches and a kind of dresser or sideboard which the camp carpenter must have knocked together from such materials as he had been able to come by. On this stood a few dishes and goblets of bronze and a good many more of wood and horn, together with some knives and two or three wooden trenchers containing fruit and black bread. A group of four or five young officers stood up as the strangers entered, their eyes moving immediately to Maia and Meris.

Elleroth himself poured and served the wine, handing it round from a tray carried behind him by a soldier servant.

"We ought to have a nice, popular toast, don't you think, that everyone can drink with unbridled enthusiasm?"

"To heldro victory?" suggested Zen-Kurel, smiling and raising his cup.

"Heldro victory!" echoed Elleroth. "And no heeltaps!"