Lydana followed the girl's glance downward. No, she must go more respectably dressed for a council. But Esma must have read her thought as she was already, throwing back the window draperies, going to the wardrobe. Lydana ate hungrily to the last crumb, and then dressed as befitted a formal occasion.

She did not hurry so that her haste was marked, but she reached her goal in good time, though Adele was already in her cushioned chair, looking, Lydana thought with a pinch of concern, even more wraithlike. Shelyra stood by the table, the flush of what must be temper on her smooth cheeks.

"I won't--" she was saying when her aunt entered, but the rest of her words were drowned out by the brazen boom of the great gong. Subdued, the girl dropped into her own place on Lydana's left when the great doors were flung open for the guildsmen.

They did not come with their customary ceremony today, but rather crowded forward together, and hurried to take their seats after their bows to the three women.

"There is a herald at the gate, Your Grace." That was Totas, guild master of the silk merchants, his small gray chin-beard wobbling up and down as he spoke.

So--so little time! Lydana did not look at Adele, but she felt the flow of energy in the other, released in her direction.

"He is to be received, given guest rights--and he is to wait," Lydana said calmly.

She was watching the company before her as one of the officers hurried from the chamber to obey her orders. In some of the younger ones she could sense anger, but it was overlaid by despair. No man in his right senses would suggest that Merina attempt to stand against the might of the emperor's army. And with some of the elders--well, she wondered if there might not be even a touch of sly satisfaction, a belief that under the emperor they might even prosper the more--fools that they were!

"Listen," Lydana raised her voice with the crack of an order. "We all know well what our enemy covets--we are rich, we are ripe for his plucking, and there are two choices. Balthasar might well be reluctant to storm Merina--he wants what we have, not the dregs of a bespoiled city. If we open our gates to him freely, that means no killing. We shall speak with this herald and this we shall say: This is the city of the Heart, here is the innermost shrine of the Temple. Balthasar is still of the Temple--at least he follows the forms when it suits him.

"Thus let him, through his herald, swear at the high altar that he will offer no harm where there is no opposition and Merina will be his."

That raised their voices. Lydana let fall her hand once more upon the table, with force enough to rise above the jangle of their speech.

"You are the people of Merina, it will be your decision. We shall leave you now to make it."

She was on her feet, her arm out to give Adele support and Shelyra beside her. Together they went through the curtains to the small ruler's closet. Once there, the girl raised her voice again.

"You give away all. We are of the Tiger--where are your fangs, your claws now, Aunt?"

"Listen--" it was Adele who held up her hand "--I bade you all think, plan, and what have you to offer?"

"This," Lydana said quickly. "You, Reverend One, will enter the cloister, though earlier than we planned. Since we have learned that part of the forces turned against us are of the Dark, you can best judge what can be done there. Also, listen: though we may all disappear, yet we can keep word with one another--"

Adele was before her. "The confessionals!" Her eyes were bright, perhaps too much so. "We can pass word through the confessionals to each other."

"The third confessional from the Heart," Lydana responded.

Adele nodded. "I shall arrange to have someone trust worthy there during the hours of confession, if I myself cannot be there."

"What of me?" Shelyra's flush grew stronger. "I do not go into the Temple--I will not!" She lifted a fist in the air and shook it.

"No," agreed Lydana, "you have a place, and one which will help us fight the battle we are forced to--one of hidden ways and unseen attacks. Shelyra, in other years you have visited with the Horse People--it is near time for them to come again. Remember, no army moves without supplies. Perhaps the chiefs will deal with Balthasar, perhaps not. But they will not be his liegemen. You know them, you can talk to their war chiefs--suggest mischief--" She was trying to find the right words.

Shelyra's flush was fading. Her hand was on the hilt of her long belt knife. She slid that out, and then thrust it back into its sheath with force.

"Yes--" She was like a child facing some treat.

"And you, daughter?" asked Adele.

"Balthasar will seek a queen. He will find none. If there is a small trader in gems and the like in the poorer marketplace, I do not think they will note her very much."

Adele shook her head. "Do not be too sure, daughter. But I understand that you must play your own game."

"Shelyra, as soon as this council is over, go to my chamber. You will find Skita and another. No one goes into battle without a skilled man for one's back. I am now giving you one who is strange but who has those qualities which are needed. This I must order you, be guided by him--he knows what is to be done and he is blood-bound to a horse chief."

Just as the girl nodded there came a voice from beyond the curtains.

Lydana looked from her niece to her mother. "We are agreed?" she asked softly.

Once more they stood behind the council table. Slowly Lydana slipped the ring of state from her finger, laying it before her. It was plain the guildsmen had also agreed, for the symbolic gold key already lay there. Adele suddenly leaned forward and looked at the ring; she might have been bidding farewell to an office she, too, had once held.

Her whisper was the thinnest trace of sound. "Be careful, my daughter, as to what games you would play."

The herald, in all his stiff robes of presence, was ushered in and came to stand facing the queen. He was not smiling, but there was a smugness about him, as if he had been very sure what he would find.

"You have been told what Merina requires?" Lydana asked.

The man nodded his head so the plumes of his hat fluttered.

"His Imperial Majesty is always thoughtful of the people. He wishes no warring when there is no cause. As a chosen herald, I shall swear and it will be as if his Imperial Majesty spoke the words."

"Do you hear this, men of Merina?" Lydana asked. "Will you stand witness before the Heart to this promise and oath?"

There was an assenting murmur. Lydana indicated the ring and the key. "Here is the seal and there is the key. Take them to your ruler once the oath is given--"