“I killed some of t’Tefur’s men,” said Kurt, sick at heart. He looked at Kta. “Was that it? Was that what caused it?”

“You know there were other reasons,” said Kta grimly. “This was only her public excuse, a means to pass blame.—My lord Gan, was that the sum of the message?”

“In sum,” said Gan, “that Elas is outlawed in all holdings of Nephane; that all citizens must treat you as enemies; that you, Kta, and all with you, are to be killed,—excepting lord Kurt, who must be returned alive and unharmed to the Methi’s justice.”

“Surely,” said Kta, “Hnes will not comply.”

“Indeed not. Irain knew that; I doubt even they would execute that order, brought face to face with you.”

“What will you, sir? Had you rather we spent the night elsewhere? Say it without offense. I am anxious to cause you no inconvenience.”

“Son of my friend,” said Gan fiercely, “there are laws older than Nephane, than even the shining city itself, and there is justice higher than what is writ in the Methi’s decree. No. Let her study how to enforce that decree. Stay in Acturi. I will make this whole island a fortress against them if they want a fight of it.”

“My friend, no, no, that would be a terrible thing for your people. We ask at the most supplies and water, in containers that bear no mark of Hnes. Taviwill clear your harbor at dawn. No one saw us come save only Ilev, and they are house-friends to us both. And I do not plan that any should see us go. Elas has fallen. That is grief enough. I would not leave a wake of disaster to my friends where I pass.”

“Whatever you need is yours,—harbor, supplies, an escort of galleys if you wish it. But stay, let me persuade you, Kta,—I am not so old I would not fight for my friends. All Acturi’s strength is at your command. I do not think that with war against Indresul imminent, the Methi will dare alienate one of her possessions in the Isles.”

“I did not think she would dare what she did against Elas, sir, and Shan t’Tefur is likely hard behind us at the moment. We have met him once, and he would act against you without hesitation. I know not what authority the Methi has given him, but even if she would hesitate, as you say, an attack might be an accomplished fact before she heard about it. No, sir.”

“It is your decision,” said Gan regretfully. “But I think even so, we might hold them.”

“Provisions and weapons only. That is all I ask.”

“Then see to it, my sons, quickly. Provide Taviwith all she needs, and have the hands start loading at once.”

The two sons of Hnes rose and bowed their respects all around, then went off quickly to carry out their orders.

“These supplies,” said Gan, “are a parting gift from Hnes. There is nothing I can send with you to equal the affection I bear you, Kta, my almost-son. Have you men enough? Some of mine would sail with you.”

“I would not risk them.”

“Then you are short-handed?”

“I would not risk them.”

“Where will you go, Kta?”

“To the Yvorst Ome,—beyond the reach of the Methi and the law.”

“Hard lands ring that sea, but Hnes ships come and go there. You will meet them from time to time. Let them carry word between us. Ai,what days these are. My sight is longer than that of most men, but I see nothing that gives me comfort now. If I were young, I think I would sail with you, Kta, because I have no courage to see what will happen here.”

“No, my lord, I know you. I think were you as young as I, you would sail to Nephane and meet the trouble head-on as my father did. As I would do, but I had Aimu’s life to consider, and their souls in my charge.”

“Little Aimu. I hesitated to ask. I feared more bad news.”

“No, thank heaven. I gave her to a husband, and on his life and honor he swore to me he would protect her.”

“What is her name now?” asked lady Na.

“My lady, she is Aimu t’Elas e Nym sh’Bel t’Osanef.”

“T’Osanef,” murmured Gan, in that tone which said: Ei, Sufaki,but with pity.

“They have loved each other from childhood,” said Kta. “It was my father’s will, and mine.”

“Then it was well done,” said Gan. “May the light of heaven fall gently on them both.” And from an Indras of orthodoxy, it was much. “He is a brave man, this t’Osanef, to be husband to our Aimu now.”

“It is true,” said Kta, and to the lady Na: “Pray for her, my lady. They have much need of it.”

“I shall, and for you, and for all who sail with you,” she answered, and included Kurt with a glance of her lovely eyes, to which Kurt bowed in deep reverence.

“Thank you,” said Kta. “Your house will be in my thoughts too.”

“I wish,” said Gan, “that you would change your mind and stay. But perhaps you are right. Perhaps someday things will be different, since the Methi is mateless. Someday it may be possible to return.”

“It is possible,” said Kta, “if she does not appoint a Sufaki successor. We do not much speak of it, but we fear there will be no return—not for our generation.”

Gan’s jaw tightened. “Acturi will send ships out tonight, I think.”

“Do not fight t’Tefur,” Kta pleaded.

“They will sail, I say, and provide at least a warning to Edrif.”

“When Djan-methi knows of it—”

“Then she will learn the temper of the Isles,” said Gan, “and the Chosen of Heaven will perhaps restrain her ambition with sense.”

“ Ai,” murmured Kta. “I do not want this, Gan.”

“This is Hnes’ choice. Elas has its own honor to consider. I have mine.”

“Friend of my father, these waters are too close to Indresul’s. You know not what you could let loose. It is a dangerous act.”

“It is,” said Gan again, “Hnes’ choice.”

Kta bowed his head, bound to silence under Gan’s roof, but that night he spent long in meditation and lay wakeful on his bed in the room he shared with Kurt.

Kurt watched him, and ventured no question into his unrest. He had enough of his own that evening, beginning to fit together the pieces of what Kta had never explained to him, the probable scene in the Upei as Nym demanded justice for Mim’s death, while the Methi had in the actions of Elas’ own guest the pretext she needed to destroy Elas.

So Nym had died, and Elas had fallen.

And Djan could claim he had made it all inevitable, his marriage with Mim and his loyalty to Elas being the origin of all her troubles.

—Excepting lord Kurt, who must be returned alive and unharmed to the Methi’s justice.

Hanan justice.

The justice of a personal anger, where the charges were nothing she would dare present in the Upei. She would destroy all he loved, but she would not let him go. Being Hanan, she believed in nothing after. She would not grant him quick oblivion.

He lay upon the soft down mattress of Hnes’ luxury and stared into the dark, and slept only the hours just before dawn, troubled by dreams he could not clearly remember.

The wind bore fair for the north now, warm from the Tamur Basin. The blue sail drew taut and Tavi’s bow lanced through the waves, cutting their burning blue to white foam.

Still Kta looked often astern, and whether his concern was more for Gan t’Hnes or for t’Tefur, Kurt was not sure.

“It is out of our hands,” Kurt said finally.

“It is out of our hands,” Kta agreed with yet another look aft. There was nothing. He bit at his lip. “ Ei, ei,at least he will not be with us through the Thiad.”

“The Necklace. The Lesser Isles,” Kurt knew them by repute, barren crags strung across the Ome Sin’s narrowest waters, between Indresul and Nephane and claimed by neither side successfully. They were a maze by fair weather, a killer of ships in storms. “Do we go through it or around?”

“Through if the weather favors us. To Nephane’s side—wider waters there—if the seas are rough. I do not treat Indresul’s waters with the familiarity the Isles-folk use. Well, well, but past that barrier we are free, my friend, free as the north seas and their miserable ports allow us.”