He remembered Blade's words:
«The Emperor wanted to bring down the city of Mashom-Gad. It was growing too wealthy and too powerful from selling the Blood of Hapanu. Its nobles and merchants were becoming ambitious, and the Emperor feared these ambitions.
«About five hundred years ago, Mashom-Gad was a powerful independent city. When the Empire of Kylan was founded, the city came under its rule, but was never happy about this. The people of Mashom-Gad sent their ships across the ocean and founded Gerhaa to get back some of their old power. They got back even more when they discovered the Blood of Hapanu and became wealthy through it.
«A few years ago the nobles of Mashom-Gad and other nobles who also hated the Emperor sent the Protector here to Gerhaa. With the soldiers of his Guard, he was to conquer the Forest People. Then there would be a second empire here in the Forest, under the rule of Mashom-Gad instead of the Emperor of Kylan. In time, perhaps the second empire would make Mashom-Gad strong enough to overthrow the Emperor himself.»
«They look far ahead in Mashom-Gad.»
«Either that, or perhaps far into the past,» said Blade. «But you can see why the Emperor became the Protector's enemy as soon as he knew what the Protector was doing in Gerhaa.»
«I do. And-the Emperor sent Ho-Marn to Gerhaa to watch the Protector?»
«Exactly. He was also to watch for any weapon for striking at the Protector. He found me.»
Swebon pulled his mind back to the present. The Prince had just finished speaking, and now Ho-Marn was translating what his chief said into the tongue of the Forest People.
«-a small garrison of the Emperor's troops, to protect those of his people who wish to do business here in Gerhaa.»
«How many?» asked Kuka.
«We can talk of that later.»
«How many?» asked Blade, in a somewhat harsher voice. Ho-Marn saw that Blade would not be put off.
«Not more than a thousand will be needed,» said Ho-Marn.
Blade and Kuka exchanged glances, then both looked at Swebon. The chief nodded. One thousand of the Sons of Hapanu could not do much against the Forest People, not if they were all busy in Gerhaa. Perhaps they could be dangerous with the help of the people of Gerhaa, but Swebon did not think they would have that help. In Gerhaa, the people were not of the Forest or of Kylan. They were of Gerhaa and only of Gerhaa. They would not be the enemies of the Forest People unless they had reason to fear the Forest People-and Swebon would do his best to make sure that Gerhaa would have no reason to fear the Forest People.
Ho-Marn was still speaking. «A small amount in taxes will be paid in the Blood of Hapanu. This will satisfy the temples of Hapanu in Kylan. Otherwise, the Emperor wishes that the trade in the Blood of Hapanu be open to all free subjects of the Empire. You may sell or not sell to anyone, as you wish.»
Swebon was delighted. If the Blood of Hapanu could now be sold to the Sons of Hapanu, the Forest People would never need to fear an enemy again. They could buy all the weapons they could not learn to make themselves. He did not think here was the time or place to say this, however. He would first speak to all the other chiefs and hear their wisdom on the question. He was now Swebon, First Chief of the People, but he was not the only chief and never would be.
Blade nodded. «Is the Prince ready to sign an agreement covering all these terms?»
«I do not think-«began Ho-Marn.
«I do think it would be wise. The sooner we put our agreement in writing, the less chance of any trouble later on. I trust the Emperor, but I do not trust the Emperor's enemies to be silent forever. Mashom-Gad has lost a battle, but that does not mean that it has lost the war. Even if we think they have, they may think otherwise.»
Ho-Marn spoke to the Prince in the tongue of the Sons of Hapanu. The Prince laughed and nodded, then replied to Ho-Marn. «He thinks Blade is wise,» said the captain. «We will sign for the Emperor, if Blade and Kuka will sign for Free Gerhaa and Swebon for the Forest People.»
«I will,» said Swebon, and then noticed Meera coming up the stairs to the balcony. She still wore men's clothing, but instead of a bow and quiver carried two gourds filled with the Shield of Life. Blade rose from the Protector's seat to greet her. She held out one of the gourds and he took it.
«I must ask you people to let Swebon and me go for a few hours,» he said. «Now we are both chiefs among the Forest People, and must give the Shield of Life to the wounded.» He tied the gourd to his belt and picked up the Protector's staff of office.
«Kuka, take this and put it somewhere safe. It's too valuable to leave lying around where anyone can steal it, but I certainly don't want to carry it myself. I-«He frowned, hesitated, then sat down again.
«Blade, are you-?»
«I'm-I'm all right, Swebon. The call-the call has come to return-«He frowned again, apparently in pain. Then he said, «To return to England,» in a steady, clear voice, and he was gone. Where he'd been was only empty air, and the staff was gone with him.
Swebon was the first to recover his voice, because he was the only one Blade had told of what was going to happen. «He had a vision,» the chief said quietly. «He told me that when Gerhaa was free he would return to England.»
Ho-Marn nodded slowly. «Yes, but-did he tell you that the gods would carry him there? It can be nothing else but the work of the gods we've seen here.»
Kuka and Meera nodded. Swebon noticed that Meera was shaking, and took her in his arms until she was calm. Then all five of them prayed, each to what he worshipped and each in the manner of his own people.
Chapter 24
The secure telephone in J's office rang. He wasn't surprised to hear Lord Leighton on the other end.
«Ah, J. Good news. Nearly the best, in fact. Richard's not only back, but he had a fairly straightforward trip and a very easy transition.»
«Both ways?» asked J. He would have liked to be on hand for Richard's return himself, but for once he hadn't been able to make it. As chief of security for the Project, he was still tying up loose ends left over from the Ngaa affair.
«Yes. There wasn't any of the usual psychedelic display on the way out, and no trauma to speak of on the way back. I would say the physiological stress was equivalent to-oh, his running five or six miles on a good track.»
J's eyebrows rose. «So-something well within the capacity of anyone in good physical condition?»
«I would say yes. Mind you, I'm only going on the doctor's first report. But it seems as if my hypothesis about the KALI capsule's reducing the stress of the transition may have something in it.»
A year ago Lord Leighton might have been claiming complete vindication. But the Wizard of Rentoro and the Ngaa seemed to have taught him what J considered badly-needed and long-overdue lessons in caution.
«What about the trip itself? You called it 'straightforward', I recall?»
«Quite. It was very much the sort of thing Richard once called 'Inter-Dimensional social work'-helping people solve a problem they didn't quite have the knowledge to solve themselves. The sort of thing he can do on his head.»
J caught the hint in the scientist's voice and said with gentle firmness, «That doesn't mean anyone else can do the same, Leighton.»
«Certainly not. And we can't really expect to predict what sort of problems our people will find in Dimension X until we can predict where they're going to end up. However, I'm quite willing to put off trying to repeat trips until we've solved the problem of sending other people besides Blade.