Maia

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!"

They drank the toast. Maia was startled by the quality of the wine. During the past year she had, of course, learned a great deal about wine; and to be perfectly honest, she thought, she could not remember to have tasted better, even at Sencho's. Just as she was thinking this, Zirek corroborated it.

"By Shakkarn, sir, that's a drop of the real stuff, all right! That ought to make victory certain enough for anyone, I'd say!"

"It comes up from Ikat," said Elleroth. "The vintner follows us about at enormous risk; to make his fortune, you know. He's caused more casualties than the enemy so far. Perhaps we should all have some more; what do you think?"

No one refused. Maia, silent, had the impression that Elleroth, under cover of this urbane drollery, was weighing them up and forming his conclusions. After a few moments he went on, "Anda-Nokomis, of course I know very well where you fit into our wicked schemes. In fact, I've already taken the liberty of sending a messenger to Santil to tell him you're with me." (For a moment Maia wondered how he could feel so certain, until she recalled that of course he would know about the withered hand.) "But tell me, now, about your friends." He looked genially from one to another. "Tolis says that apparently two of you are really and truly the hero and heroine who killed Sencho. You ought to be rewarded with a kingdom: two kingdoms. You, was it?" he said to Zirek. "And you, saiyett? May I have the honor of embracing you both?"

Maia thought it highly probable that this was the first time in her life that Meris had been addressed as "saiyett." It must also surely have been the first time that she had blushed, which she did as Elleroth embraced her and kissed her on both cheeks.