The Lady Aiee interrupted her son after a moment or two. “Ray, the Re Mu is like unto no other man of our world, nor, I believe, of yours. He is truly one set apart, the selected of the Sunborn, having undergone during his training such ordeals as no ordinary man can face. Our rule does not pass from father to son, as is sometimes true in the lesser kingdoms, but to the best man of the next generation, after careful selection, of all the Sunborn blood. He who sits on the Sun throne is indeed the one of us who had proved his right to hold all power in his two hands. Be not uneasy before him. He sees much deeper into truth and falsehood than other men, and the honest man of good heart is fearless in his presence.”
Was that again more than reassurance-a warning? Ray could not tell. But there was no retreat now, and, as far as he knew, he was honest. Ray was startled at his own thought. Why should he question his honesty? Warnings-witchery- push :them out of one’s mind, concentrate only on what had happened. He had a straight story, and every word of it was the truth.
They went in curtained litters, not a mode of transportation Ray fancied, but one that was dictated by custom. And there was an escort from the palace to clear a path and see their trip was made as quickly as possible. When their bearers at last put down the litters, Ray emerged in a courtyard where a fountain played. Before them was a flight of stairs up which the Lady Aiee led them, Ray falling in a step or two behind at her left, as
Cho walked to her right. To the sentry at the top, s’gave their names, and he stood aside before—the entrance to a hall.
At its far end hung an ivory-colored curtain and beside it a gong of beaten silver, with a mallet of the
same metal. The Lady Aiee struck the gong twice, and before the murmuring echoes had died away, a voice from beyond the curtain spoke.
“Enter, Aiee, my daughter, with the son of my brother’s son and the stranger from beyond.”
They came into a larger chamber where there was no use of jewels or metal to break the ivory walls and flooring. Above them the roof was a dome, its center open to the sky, and directly below that opening were four men. Instead of the brilliant silks Ray had seen before, three of them wore long white robes, such as he had seen on the Lady Aiee the night before, the cowls thrown back as capes. And they were aged, stooped, their hair as white as their robes.
The fourth man sat a little apart. His tunic was yellow, his belt of that reddish metal of the shields that had protected them in battle. On his head was a crown in the form of a sun disk surmounted by a nine-headed serpent.
The Lady Aiee went to one knee before him; Cho and Ray, less agile, followed her example.
“Greetings, Aiee. And to you, Cho.” The dark blue eyes of the man who ruled most of the world were now turned on Ray. “And to you, also, stranger, who has come so far a journey. Come you hither-” He arose from his chair and led them to the other end of the room, where benches of ivory were cushioned with silk. There he waved them to be seated facing him.
“The Lady Ayna had much to tell us-” he began.
Ray could not help staring at the Emperor. Those dark eyes-like the Lady Aiee’s, they seemed to see not what was directly before them but what lay behind outward appearances. They were old, very old, with wisdom, such wisdom as the American had never encountered in his own time and place. Yet the man could not be of more than middle years.
The Emperor was looking at Cho. “You felt that this raider was a strange ship?”
“After two of my crew were slain, we released the death-breather. Though it enveloped the ship, yet still it followed us. It was as if those aboard were not dead.” One of the Naacals had drawn nearer, and now he spoke. “In our knowledge that weapon has no defense. They must now possess wisdom we have not.”
“If so, I fear they have paid such a price for it as will lie heavily on them in days to come,” the Re Mu replied. “They are to be pitied-” He paused and then smiled faintly. “You-have done as was right, Cho. And now-” Once more those eyes were turned on Ray.
“I think you have already done us some service, man from the future, when you freed Cho from the Atlanteans. Perhaps you have powers beyond our knowledge, strengths strange to us. But why do you throw in your lot with Mu?”
“My own world is gone. As for aiding Cho, first he aided me. Otherwise-I do not know.” Then after a moment Ray added, “Is it possible for me to return to my own time?”
The Re Mu turned to the priest, and the Naacal answered in a high, thin voice:
“Had the youth come to us by dream, even as we ourselves visit other times in spirit, perhaps this would be so. But to go in body, that is a different matter. None of us who have ventured to do this have ever returned.”
“I believe that this truth you must accept,” The Re Mu said. But his eyes probed deeper, deeper, for a long moment before he added, “Your given name is Ray, which is like unto our word for the Sun power, a potent sign. Tell me, what thought you of this Atlantean ship that should have been a dead hulk, yet still came after?”
“That it was evil.”
“So agree all of you. I, too, believe that it contained evil. And to face new evil is a thing to think long on.” He fell silent, and when he spoke again, his voice held a formal note.
“Let this youth be numbered among the Sunborn, even as a son of our house. The duties of that station shall be his, for I say unto you now, my son, among us duties far outweigh rights. And it may be you will
discover our world a harsh one. Learn of it what you: can, even as it shall learn of you.”
It seemed that their audience was concluded and; they were free to go. Once more in the outer corridor,’ away from the actual presence of the Emperor, Ray tried to understand what had been the reason for the Re Mu’s impact on him. It was not the Murian’s physical bearing, fine though that was, nor any great wisdom in his words. It was rather what he did not do or say but what was ever behind him like a great, billowing cloak, which made him a figure of awe and veneration. .;
They returned to the litters and their waiting escort. The Lady Aiee was smiling.
“Since we are no longer on summons,” she said, “I have asked that we be taken to the marketplace that Ray may see the busy heart of the city.”
It appeared proper now to loop back the curtains of the litters, or so Ray assumed when Cho did so, and he could see more of the city. The streets were wide and well paved, with stone-rimmed beds of flowers and small trees ornamenting them at intervals. Then, at the edge of a circle, they came to a halt, and the Lady; Aiee dismissed escort and litter bearers with her thanks.
Ray saw some in the crowds more plainly dressed than he and his companions. But there were none in rags, nor did any appear to be less than well fed.
“The flower sellers-” Lady Aiee indicated a side.; way that was a riot of color. Cho went to one of the: booths and returned, after a moment or two of bargaining, with a small bouquet giving forth a sweet fragrance, which he presented to his mother. She sniff it appreciatively.
“Now why does not the spring’s breath ever grow in our garden? The Flame knows we have tried to raise
many times, tending and cosseting it. Yet always doe it shrivel and die. One of the mysteries no Naacal ca
solve. Now”-she placed her hand on Cho’s arm-“do I not owe homecoming gifts? What better time to choose them-”
“While we are still greatly welcome?” Cho laughed:’ “Ah, yes, by all means, let us profit by that. Where to, my lady?”
“Krafiti’s, I believe.”
They went past the alley of the flower sellers and came to a side way, where the street was lined by open-fronted shops. Sun struck in here and there to raise rainbow arcs from wares spread on display trays. Ray had never seen such an open showing of gems, arid he gaped, amazed, lingering behind the others. Many of the jewels were set in the red metal new to him, and he asked Cho what it was.