Toward this light Mayam led them, until Arin and her companions were close enough to see carved in the red stone lintel above the doorway the words:

??? ????

"Ah, luv!" cried Delon, grabbing Ferret about the waist. "You were right!"

And he took her up and spun 'round and 'round and kissed her soundly on the lips.

Of a sudden he stopped turning and set her down, puzzlement in his eyes. And then he kissed her again, this time gently and long. Surprised, at first she stood rigid, then less so, then melted into his embrace and clasped him tightly. Finally, lingeringly, he released her, and held her at arm's length and looked at her in wonderment, just as she looked stunned at him.

And in that moment there came a horrid, prolonged howl, as if some hideous creature were loose within the bounds of the great basin.

Alos screamed and bolted for the doorway, and Aiko's swords flashed into her hands. Egil drew his axe from his belt and turned this way and that, seeking the direction of the yowl but failing as echoes slapped and reverberated among the high rock faces. Delon gripped his rapier, and a dagger was in each of Ferret's hands. Arin held her long-knife, her eyes searching for foe.

"Oh, my," declared Mayam, as the drawn-out juddering cry diminished, the echoes dying as well, "I should have warned you."

"Warned us?" hissed Aiko, yet searching for foe.

"Put away your weapons. There is nothing to fear. It is just our demon."

Arin looked at the abbess, the Dylvana's eyes wide. "Your demon?"

"Indeed. Though its roots are true, the demon itself is entirely false. Its terrible roar nothing but a many-chambered horn blown by great bellows driven by a rather large weight raised by a windlass and dropped. Twice a day we sound it: at eventide and in the mid of night." The abbess glanced at Arin and winked. "It keeps the zealots of Rakka out of the maze altogether… as well as others."

Arin sighed and sheathed her weapon, as did the rest. Then the Dylvana said, "Would that we had known the peril was false."

Aiko shook her head and tapped her chest. "The peril is not false, Dara."

The abbess looked at the Ryodoan and said, "Indeed, I do agree. Yet it cannot enter here."

They followed Mayam through the doorway and into the temple, Burel coming last. They passed through an entrance hall-a narthex-and stepped into a large oval nave, a high-vaulted ceiling above the chamber of worship, a polished floor below, the place aglow with the soft yellow light of sconced candles ringing 'round. Benches sat against the smooth curve of wall, arcing to left and right. At the far end they could see a high altar, a circle of life carved upon its outward face-the symbol of Ilsitt, of Elwydd in her many names. In the center of the floor another circle of life was inset into the stone. Mayam paused at the entrance and bowed in obeisance, her forefingers touching her thumbs to make small circles. Beyond the altar, two acolytes knelt at each side, their voices low, pleading. Mayam started across the space, stepping wide of the circle of life embedded in the polished stone, as did those who followed her. As they approached the altar, they could hear someone hissing and babbling: it was Alos, huddled down against the floor behind, gibbering of demons and monsters and Trolls, while the acolytes speaking in Sarainese tried in vain to soothe him.

"Well, someone should have told us it was nothing but a horn," snapped Alos, glaring 'round the great stone table. "Scaring people half to death like that, springing such a thing upon them unannounced."

They waited in an alcove somewhere beyond the sacristy behind the altar and nave. Egil and Arin sat side by side, his fingers interlaced with hers, both gazing about, surveying the room, though there was little to see. Aiko sat opposite Alos, staring impassively at the oldster, her disgust lying just below the surface of her gaze.

Ferai and Delon also sat on opposite sides of the table from one another, their eyes would meet and then glance away, avoiding contact, as if frightened by what a kiss had revealed.

And drifting through the stone passageways, they could hear the evensong carols as the followers of Ilsitt celebrated their faith.

Egil smiled and looked at Alos and shook his head. "It was a startlement, indeed, Alos, coming unexpected as it did."

"Unexpected?" said Burel, entering. From the nave the sound of singing went on.

"The demon horn," replied Egil.

"Oh, that. As Mayam said, it keeps the Fists of Rakka at bay." He stepped from the chamber into a side room, and they could hear a dipping and pouring of water, and the clang of a kettle on a grate. Above these sounds he called out, "But horn or no, it did not stop you from coming." Shortly he returned, bearing a tray of cups, only to disappear again.

"How did you create such a device?" asked Delon, raising his voice.

"We didn't," Burel called back. "The abbess tells me it was here when the Order of Ilsitt first came. When they discovered what it did, they put it to use at need."

Delon looked at the others 'round the table and raised his hands in question. Arin murmured, "No doubt the abbess or someone will tell us how this came to be."

Still the evensong caroling came drifting inward, and now Burel began to sing in underharmony, his voice a deep baritone.

When the song came to an end, silence fell. The ceremony ended. Burel stepped back into the chamber, this time bearing a second tray on which rode a steaming pot of tea and a jar of honey. He set the tray down and began filling cups and passing them around the table. As he passed a cup to Alos, he said, "I am sorry the demon horn frightened you, but it is our-how shall I say?-our unrevealed weapon. We carefully foster the rumors of a demon-haunted maze, and the horn gives credence to the tales."

"Well," grumped Alos, "you should have found a way to tell us."

Burel shook his head. "We did not know you were coming until our lookouts spotted you afar. Even then we knew not who you were-still do not, for that matter. Ordinarily, the only ones who know the truth, as well as the way, are our supporters outside."

"Supporters?" asked Ferret.

"Followers of Ilsitt, luv," said Delon, "or so I surmise."

At mention of Ilsitt, Burel's fingers formed the ritualistic circles. "Yes, worshippers of the Lady."

"Elwydd," murmured Arin.

Wide-eyed, Burel looked at the Dylvana. "Indeed, though it has been long since I've heard that name, and then only because it was the name given Her by my father, or so I was told."

The big man passed the honey 'round the table to sweeten the tea. Each took a small portion of this rare treat, except Alos, who glopped in three spoonfuls.

"You say your lookouts spotted us from afar," said Egil, "yet in this maze with all its twists and turns, how is that possible?"

Burel jabbed a thumb toward the ceiling. "From the rim above, there are places where sections of the trail can be seen, especially in the last few miles."

"Ah," said Egil, taking up his cup.

As they settled back to sip the brew, Burel said, "I meant to ask, did you erase all sign of your passage through the maze? It would not do if the Fists of Rakka or others of like mind could follow the path."

"We set no fires, pitched no tents," said Egil. "And camels' feet are soft on the land, and they left no track on the stone. I think we left no traces."

"Did you clean the way of your camel dung? Or that of your own? Bring it with you?"

Wordlessly, Egil shook his head.

"Then you must do so on your way out," said Burel. "That which now lies along the way as well as any new-made."

Egil glanced about at all the others and then nodded.