«That is Janina,» he said softly. «First Queen of the Hitts a thousand years ago. What a woman she was.»

«And is still,» Blade breathed. «And is yet. She is not dead. She lives far more than you or me, Galligantus.»

After a brief silence the Hitt said, «I see your reasoning, Prince Blade, and do not dispute it. But we cannot linger here all night. You have seen the images and can guess their measurement. What more do you want?»

A plan formed in Blade's mind. It was his death if matters went wrong, but he meant to do it if he could. He must hold Galligantus in talk.

He pointed over the chasm. «I must have a closer view. I would have one of the images for study, to compare and to show the artisan who will work it. If I am to make an image of a warrior it must be exact, or the magic will not work.»

Galligantus began to laugh. «You ask too much. Even if it were possible, it could not be done-it is forbidden to touch the images once they have been placed on that ledge. In any case, we cannot come at them. Unless,» and his voice held mockery, «unless you would leap over and fetch it back.»

Blade gazed at the narrowest point. About fifteen feet. He might leap that far. But not now. He moved a little farther back from the edge.

«They were placed there,» he said. «And what is placed can be fetched back.»

Galligantus could not resist the temptation. «I will tell you how that goes,» he said. And prodded Blade in the buttocks with his sword.

«When a king or queen dies, an image is made. It is brought to this place. So are all the young and strong men, or women, who would be king or queen of the Hitts. They draw lots for it-to see who leaps the chasm first. Do you begin to understand?»

Blade moved along the ledge until he was at the narrowest point. Fifteen feet. It was a challenge to numb the brain, an incredible dare. Below him the black pit gaped. He remembered that he had never heard the diamond chip strike bottom.

«Do many fail?»

«Many, Prince Blade. They fall and that is an end to them.» Galligantus was closer now. Blade did not look at him. He held the torch away from his face. He did not want the man to see his eyes.

«Did Loth Bloodax come to the crown this way?»

«He did. He was the tenth to try. Loth made it and then lines were thrown and nets laid and the image lifted across. It was of his father. See yonder.» Galligantus pointed to a statue just across from them, bearded and glowering and bearing a marked resemblance to Bloodax.

Blade moved a little toward Galligantus. The Hitt did not notice.

«And then? How did he get back?»

Something happened to the Hitt's voice. It grew surly, whiny, envenomed.

«He leaped back. It is required that a Hitt king make the leap twice.»

Blade made a closer inspection of the ledge over the way. It was so narrow! No running room, no place to maneuver. The gallery was barely five feet deep and packed with statues. He remembered the thick legs of Loth Bloodax. Fat now, but they had been all muscle when he leaped.

Blade saw the truth then and recognized it and spoke it, for it came readily to hand and fitted his plan. He instilled disdain and contempt into his voice.

«You and Bloodax are of an age,» he said. «Or nearly so. You were young then and no doubt the son of a leader. How was it that you did not leap, Galligantus?»

Blade heard a catch of breath behind him. The man was close. Blade waited for the swordstroke that did not come. He hurried on. He was into it now, the chance was there, and he must be careful not to be cut. There must be no wound or he would never live to tell his lie.

«I do not blame you,» Blade said with just the right amount of derision in his tone. «It is a fearful leap. I would not do it. But cowards live longer than brave men. Yet it must have galled you all these years-«

Galligantus made a strangled noise in his throat. He leaped and swung his sword.

«No man or god speaks so to me! I will-«

Blade ducked low and caught Galligantus between the ankles and knees. The sword whispered over him. Blade straightened and flung the Hitt over his shoulder and into the chasm.

Galligantus screamed once and there was no echo. Blade lingered, listening, but heard no sound.

He examined his body carefully in the light of the torch. He bore no wound other than the battle scratch, and that was near healed and accounted for. Lisma herself had bathed and anointed it. He began to make his way out of the place, then went back to gaze once more at the naked woman on her plinth.

Janina. What did a name matter? Or a thousand years. She was not dead. She lived. For Blade she lived, and he meant more than ever to have her. How he did not know, or when, but have her he must. She gazed back over the dark pit and held out her arms. It was then he saw her move and beckon. Her lips moved. The words came hauntingly sweet across the abyss. «Come to me.»

Blade raised the torch in salute. «In time, Janina. In time.»

Chapter 13

Blade told his lie, that Galligantus had slipped-mayhap a swoon or fit? — and fallen into the abyss. The junior officer did not believe it and Blade would have died then but for the order of Bloodax that he return safely. Galligantus had passed the order on and so his men dared not slay Blade now. They took him back, bound and with a halter about his neck, and he was once again imprisoned on the tower of rock. Lisma was forbidden to visit him.

But visit him she did, creeping in the dead of night after having bribed the guards. Blade did not ask how. She brought him a long dagger and minced no words as she handed it to him. She would not let him touch her.

«My father broods on this matter,» she told him. «It is not his way to act suddenly. He keeps apart, even from me, and when he comes to a decision it is never changed. In the end, Blade, I think he will find you guilty of killing Galligantus.»

«And what of you, Lisma? Do you think me guilty?»

She sat in the chair, tense, her hands nervous. «Yes. I think you slew Galligantus. Because of what he did to your friend Thane. I can understand that-any Hitt can. And to my thinking it is no great loss-his widow Sariah is not weeping overmuch. But that is not the point-Galligantus was a Hitt chief and a friend of my father. They were boys together. Galligantus was mean and envious, a man not much liked, but he was loyal. My father cannot let the matter pass as nothing, cannot ignore it, for there would be trouble with the tribes. He will punish you in-the end, Blade.»

Blade, seated on his cot, toyed with the dagger she had given him. It had a curved eight-inch blade and was razor sharp. The haft was of polished wood.

«What manner of punishment, Lisma?»

Her blue eyes were soft and moist. A sudden tear ran down her cheek. Yet buried somewhere in those eyes he detected a hardness, an unforgiving hatred, and found it also in her voice when she spoke.

«You will be taken to a mountain top and staked out for the vultures. It will be a slow death and a terrible one. We are quits, Blade, and I have been your fool. But I do not wish you such a death. That is why I gave you the dagger.»

He regarded the weapon with a half smile. «You think I should use it on myself?»

«If you have the courage. It will be better than the vultures.»

Blade nodded. «Yes. I agree to that.»

Lisma left the chair and came to within a foot of him. «I will go now, Blade, and will not come again. It may be that I will have your child. I hope not, for I will have to kill it, god or no.»

He was shocked and let it show. Of all things, he had not expected this. «Kill our child?»

Her blue eyes narrowed and her cold smile sent a chill up his back. He had near forgot that she was a Hitt-and a woman.