Galligantus had been watching his reaction, a cunning smile on his mean features. But he was astute.
«I see greed,» he said, «and I do not understand. How do you gain of it, of this stone? But to make an image and persuade Loth that you can work magic with it? Which mayhap you can. I do not deny it-yet, though I have my own thoughts as to it. But you gaze on this useless stone as a man might on a woman or a fine weapon.»
«The images,» said Blade. «I must see them.»
Galligantus drew his sword. He had a brief whispered talk with his men and then gestured to Blade. «Walk ahead of me. We will go to the place of Kings and Queens alone. These commoners are not permitted to see.»
There was a narrow opening to one side of the diamond face. Galligantus prodded Blade through it with his point. «Walk well ahead but not too far. Do not tempt me, Prince Blade. I would as lief kill you and take my chances with Loth. I admit it. But I will not unless you force me.»
Blade carried a torch. The passage was short and ended on a wide ledge. There was a chasm, wide and deep and black, and across the chasm was another ledge, smaller, narrower, a gallery of glinting figures.
Blade advanced to the brink of the chasm and raised his torch to see better. It guttered and smoked, and the yellow flame wavered in a fetid draft from the pit, but he saw well enough. He stood dumfounded, locked in awe and near disbelief, for here some artisan had wrought close to the quick of life.
There were dozens of them close-packed along the gallery. Men in armor and women in robes or breeches or kilts. All were life-size and all appeared to move and breathe in the uncertain light. Blade moved along the ledge on his side of the chasm, peering, trying to catch his breath.
«Mind you the edge.,» said Galligantus behind him. «If I am not to have the pleasure of killing you I would not have the pit take you.»
He picked up a chip of diamond and flung it into the chasm. «Listen, and tell me what you hear.»
Blade heard nothing. He gazed into the chasm and over it. At the narrow point he reckoned it to be fifteen feet across. He drew back a little and wandered farther down the ledge. And saw her.
She stood a little alone, on a natural plinth that jutted out over the chasm. She was naked and her arms were outstretched in welcome. Her glittering diamond smile seemed to welcome the torch, the light brought into the pit, and as Blade gaped she appeared to move. Warmth glowed in that perfect body. She spoke to Blade across the chasm and the years and he knew he must have her. From that moment on he reckoned himself a little mad and must live with it. But only half of him was mad.
Galligantus was close behind him now. Blade felt the swordpoint against his flesh. When the man spoke, Blade knew that he too felt the spell of this diamond goddess.
«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.»