especially a major god, but won to happiness in the end because they had the
blessing of another. He decided that future attempts to propitiate Ils would
only draw the attention of that august personage; however, Savankala would be
pleased, and, yes, as for native deities, he would by all means fervently
cultivate Eshi.
A few times, which felt ghastly long, he took a wrong turning and must retrace
his steps after he had discovered that. Presently, though, he found a staircase
which seemed to zig-zag over the inside of an exterior wall. Landing after
landing passed by –
The last was enclosed in a very small room, a booth, albeit richly ornamented –
He opened the door and stepped out –
Wind searched between the pillars that upheld the dome, through his clothes and
in towards his bones. He saw stars. They were the brightest in heaven, for the
entry booth was the pedestal of a gigantic lantern. Across a floor tiled in
symbols unknown to him, he observed something large at each cardinal point – an
altar, two statues, and the famous Thunderstone, he guessed; they were shrouded
in cloth of gold. Before the eastern object was stretched a band, the far side
of which seemed to be aglow.
He gathered his courage and approached. The thing was a parchment, about eight
feet long and four wide, hung by cords from the upper corners to a supporting
member of the dome. The cords appeared to be glued fast, as if to avoid making
holes in the surface. The lower edge of the scroll, two feet above the floor,
was likewise secured; but to a pair of anvils surely brought here for the