They drank tea in rebuked silence, none saying aught.

Moments later, however, Mayam strode into the chamber, the abbess bearing a tray of breads and a steaming tureen of soup, spoons and bowls on the tray as well.

Soon all were served and as they ate, Mayam said, "Vespers tonight were particularly suffused with joy. Visitors to this temple always create such a stir, though they are usually adherents and not strangers such as you."

"This temple," said Delon, "it has always nurtured your faith?"

Mayam canted her head. "It was created in a time no one remembers and crafted by unknown hands for purposes unrevealed. Centuries agone, some adherents of my order discovered it. It had been long abandoned. Yet the symbols of the Lady were in the floor of the nave as well as on the high altar when we found it.

"At the time of the bloodletting, we retreated here."

Aiko frowned. "Time of the bloodletting?"

"Slaughter of the worshippers of Ilsitt," Burel growled.

Aiko's eyes narrowed, but she said no more.

"You say that there are yet adherents who live outside the maze?" asked Ferret.

Mayam smiled. "Indeed. Without them, we would be hard-pressed to live here. They bring us supplies to help see us through. Our gardens can only provide so much."

"Gardens?" said Ferret. "But what do you do for water?"

"Ah, that." Mayam smiled. "There is a lake hidden in the stone, or so we deem, for our wells never run dry."

"Ah, I see."

They ate in silence for long moments, and then Delon said, "Except for you, Burel, I've seen no other men. Are they-?"

"I am alone," said Burel.

Delon smiled. "With all these women…"

Burel shrugged.

"Ordinarily," said Mayam, "there would be no men whatsoever. But Burel is a special child. Raised here in the sanctuary of the labyrinth."

"But surely, Burel, you have been elsewhere," said Ferret. "To the city of Aban, or the like."

Burel shook his head. "I have never been beyond the iron of the portcullis."

Egil glanced from Burel to the abbess and back. "There is a tale here for the telling."

"Indeed," replied Mayam. "Yet although it is Burel's tale, I think I must do some of the telling, for I was a witness, whereas he was not yet born. But it will wait until after your own tale is told. How did you learn of the trail through the labyrinth? And what is it that brings you here?"

Arin sighed. "It is a long twisting path we have followed, and not just the one through the Demon's Maze. Let me begin at the beginning, at a campfire in Darda Erynian when I first beheld the green stone."

"Green stone!" exclaimed Burel. A look of surprise passed between Mayam and him.

"Know you of this thing?" asked Arin.

Mayam turned up a hand. "Perhaps we do. Tell your tale and we shall see."

It was near mid of night when Arin finished her accounting of all that had befallen, starting with her vision in Darda Erynian, and ending with the journey through the labyrinth.

Mayam sat in silence for a while. Then she looked at Alos asleep, the oldster's head cradled in his arms on the table, his snores sounding softly in the alcove. "It is late," said the abbess, "and you have journeyed far. Tomorrow will be soon enough for us to tell you what we know. Yet this I will say: Burel would seem to be the one you seek- the cursed keeper of faith in the maze. And the green stone of your vision is the cause of his bane."

CHAPTER 53

In spite of her late bedtime, Aiko arose just ere the first light of day. She donned her leathers and boots and helm, and took up her swords and shiruken and stepped from the acolyte cell assigned to her last night by the abbess. Like the small chamber and all else in this place, the hallway beyond was cut through red rock, and she turned leftward for the archway leading outside. Emerging into the great basin, she made her way toward a place where the light would fall whenever the sun cleared the eastern rim, for she would have its golden rays discover her drilling in the way of the sword. But she found she was not alone in her desire, for Burel was already there, dressed in a metal breastplate and helm and breeks and boots, his great sword cutting the cool shadowed air of the dawn.

Aiko stood in the semidarkness and watched awhile as the big man, light on his feet, danced and whirled and thrust at imaginary foe or cut in great rounding sweeps, wielding his weapon as if he had been born to the steel. Even so, Aiko frowned at his exercise, for it spoke of ignorance of battle. He seemed adept at handling the blade, but not in the ways of war.

So as not to take him unawares, Aiko began whistling a tune as she strode out across the flat toward him, and Burel stopped his spinning and stood awaiting her.

As she came before him she said, "I thought that only I would be up early to drill at kinmichi, yet I find you already at practice."

"Kinmichi? "

"The way of the sword."

"Oh."

Aiko stretched and turned and moved her head from side to side while Burel watched. "It would not do to pull a muscle or have a cramp in mere practice," she said. "In war, one does not always have the luxury of loosening up, but drill is an altogether different matter."

Burel grunted noncommittally, though he watched carefully, as if noting each and every detail.

Finally, Aiko stood still, her eyes closed, her breathing deep and regular. "I am now visualizing the drill," she murmured, as if speaking any louder would break her concentration.

Burel nodded, but remained silent.

Then Aiko exploded into action, her swords appearing in her hands as if they had somehow been there all the while. And she spun and whirled, her blades humming through the air, cutting high and slicing low, thrusting and backing and cross-blade blocking, driving forward in running fleches, battering, parrying, retreating, crouching, leaping, striking, ducking, dropping to her knees and all the while her steel singing hissing songs of death- swords, daggers, shiruken, appearing, disappearing, lethal weapons always in hand…

Whuff! The air exploded from Burel's lungs with the wonder of it all, and he watched in awe as she gyred and fled and charged and stood, her blades but a blur.

At last she stopped, her steel once again tucked away.

Burel drew a deep, shuddering breath. "That was magnificent," he said. Then he looked at his great sword. "I could never do such."

Aiko nodded. "Your weapon is meant for battle against heavily armored foe and generally in single combat."

Burel nodded. "Have you experience with such weapons?"

Aiko turned up a hand. "They were part of my training."

Burel frowned. "Even though I can easily handle my father's sword, I have had no mentor to tell me whether what I do is right or wrong. -Will you teach me what you know?"

Aiko smiled. "I will do more than that, Burel. I will teach you other weapons as well."

"I already know the bow," said Burel. "The women here have taught me, albeit my skill can be honed. And though I would gladly learn other weapons, I need especially to learn this sword, for I have a task to do."

"But a quick foeman can defeat such a sword."

"Surely," said Burel, nodding. "By arrow cast or thrown dagger, by sling or dart or perhaps even by one of those star-blades you bear."

"Yes, Burel. A missile weapon will indeed do in a swordsman, if the missileer gets the chance and has the skill. But I am speaking of single combat with hand-held blades, neither foe casting. More often than not, quickness and craft will defeat your blade."

"Oh?"

"Let me show you. -Take up the sword."

Aiko drew one of her daggers as Burel hefted his blade.