The S’danzo rubbed at her forehead. “Right now I’ll be- f lieve in anything that might help us. I’ve been listening to the procession-it’s gone all around the city and must be nearly back to the ruins of the temple by now. We don’t have much time.” She lifted her head and stared at Gilla. “Will it help us? You both went out like doused candles, but were you asleep, or did you actually get somewhere?”
Lalo shuddered, and opened his eyes. “We got there. We saw the goddess-a goddess
…” He shuddered again. “She’s angry. She doesn’t want a sacrifice. She wants
Shu-sea and Prince Kittycat to get married!” He began to laugh with a soft edge of hysteria that had Gilla instantly on her feet and holding him until the tremors that shook him faded again. At last he pressed his face into her broad breast and groaned. “We’ve failed,” he whispered. “We’ve failed.”
Gilla held him against her and stared over his head, seeing in her mind’s eye the glorious young man with whom she had walked in the Otherworld. He had been as handsome as a king. She remembered how lightly she had moved beside him t and wondered suddenly. How did he see me? (
After a moment she focused on the still figure on the ‘ couch, and then on
Illyra again. “How has Latilla been?” she asked.
The S’danzo’s eyes were bright with tears. “She has passed the restless stage of the fever. The sleep she’s in now is deeper than yours was. I’ve tried to cool her, but the cloths dry from the heat of her body as soon as I put them on her.
I’ve tried, Gilla, I’ve tried!” She bowed her head and covered her face with her hands.