hand, displaying a small golden circlet. “You rescued them
from the crow,” she said, and Riverwind saw that she had
woven the strands of her hair which he had rescued into a
lacy ring. She laid it in the warrior’s palm, where it
glistened golden in the sun.
Riverwind was silent for many long moments staring
down at the gift. When he finally slipped it around a finger,
Goldmoon let out the breath she found she’d been holding
for fear he would reject it.
Drawing a chain from his shirt and removing it over his
head, Riverwind said, “I would like you to have this.”
Goldmoon quickly shook her head. “You don’t have to
give me anything in return.”
“You must take it,” Riverwind insisted. “I have already
accepted two gifts from you.”
“Two?”
Riverwind reached up and placed a hand over the pole
strapped to his back. “This was not Wanderer’s weapon.”
“Well, I’m afraid his weapon was . . .” Goldmoon
paused confusedly – “damaged.”
“I thought as much. Why did you replace only mine?”
“It was the only one I knew about. I wanted the contest
to be judged by the gods, not by mortals.”
Riverwind nodded. “I see.”
“But I am not displeased that you were one of the
victors,” Goldmoon assured him.
Riverwind smiled at her, the smile of a friend. “Then
please,” he said, “accept this.”
Taking the chain from him, Goldmoon saw that it was
made of common brass, but the charm hanging at the end –
two circles joined together – was of brilliantly polished
silver-blue steel, so valued a metal among the Que-shu that
it was never used to make jewelry.
“It’s called an infinity sign or a forever charm. But it is
more than a decoration – it will protect you, keep you from
harm.”
Looking slightly puzzled, Goldmoon ran her fingers
around the steel circles. “This has something to do with the
ancient gods, doesn’t it?” she asked.
Riverwind nodded. “It is the symbol of a goddess, but
her name was lost to the memory of our people as were all
the names of the true gods. I suspect Loreman knows them,
but he will not say.”
On first hearing that the charm was a symbol of a strange
goddess, Goldmoon was tempted to reject the gift.
However, if Loreman does not like it, she thought, perhaps
there is some good to it. She slipped the chain over her head
and tucked the amulet into her shirt.
Riverwind, too, let out his held breath and smiled gently
at his princess.
They sat quietly, giving in to their fatigue. Goldmoon’s
eyes closed.
The sound of galloping hooves startled Goldmoon
awake. While she slept Riverwind must have tucked her fur
cloak around her. He stood alert, his bow at the ready. But it
was Hollow-sky who rode up, his face flushed with
excitement.
“This must be the right path. It leads to a road like none
I have ever seen before. Hurry, the sun is going down.”
Goldmoon and Riverwind mounted up and followed
Hollow-sky down the path he had scouted. About a quarter
of a mile along it suddenly turned into a broad road, at least
ten feet wide and paved with huge, flat stones, work never
seen among the tribes of the plains. Still, it seemed familiar
to Goldmoon, though she could not tell why.
Although the slope was steep, traveling was easier now,
for the way was quite smooth and they could let the horses
trot. There was still plenty of light in the sky when they
arrived at the landmark Arrowthorn had described to
Goldmoon – a large stone arch straddling the road.
“I recognize this stonework,” the princess said, relieved
to know they were on the right road. “It’s just like the
platform in our village.”
Riding underneath the arch, she halted her horse where
she could touch the cool rock. Looking up, she saw symbols
carved on the underside of the arch. Many were
unrecognizable, but the largest, carved at the apex of the
arch, consisted of two circles joined together. Goldmoon
drew out the amulet Riverwind had given her and gasped
softly. The steel charm glowed with a soft blue light in the