There
could be no denying the double reason for their meeting: the air was
charged with it, the mind echo of deja-vu all around it. Searching deep
within himself, he felt the autumn of his life full upon him. He felt
the world he had known growing old. He felt his own weariness, and
again the premonition of impending death..... But what did the Nameless
ask of him now? And how would he answer the man-child?
'You have given me much to consider, small one. But this decision
must be seasoned with time and careful thought. Now I must rest, as you
should well know. Go again to the place where I found you. Do not
leave it until I have summoned you with an answer. Do you understand my
words?'
'Yes, Monarch. Your kindness will not soon be forgotten.' Feeling
relieved but still pensive, Kalus started to leave. An upward thrust of
the Mantis' foreclaw stopped him.
'Yes, master?'
'How many summers have you known?
'Twenty-one, master.'
'And in what season were you born?'
'In mid-winter. Why do you ask it?'
'Twenty winters ago I saw a sign in the heavens and marked it well.
I saw the light of its second full moon surrounded by a misty halo which
seemed to reach down towards the earth. Another, smaller halo erupted
suddenly, and three stars passed through it as they fell from the sky,
all in the same direction, and each within a breath of the other.
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