Garan the Eternal by Andre Norton Page A

to be discovered.
    Somewhere on Krand there was a center of disturbance responsible for every frontier outbreak, every rising of the city mobs, even for the infrequent air accidents, of that fact I was firmly convinced. But — proof? What man may summon a shadowy feeling to testify in his behalf?
    That thought brought curiosity in its wake. Why had Thran of Gorl, whom to my knowledge I had never before set eyes on, come at the exact moment when his speech in my favor could most aid me? I had thought that I was familiar with all the Lords of the Learned Ones, but he was a stranger. And yet a man of his personal magnetism and powers should be widely known. Gorl was a rocky island far to the north; it contained no cities of any importance and its population was mostly made up of needy fishermen. Who was Thran of Gorl?.
    Intent upon this and other problems, I had wandered deeper into the gardens than I had intended. And now I came upon a wide, smooth lawn of thick yellow moss where were gathered a group of ladies watching the antics of a pair of those tiny creatures called Anas. I would have retreated at once but one of the maids, catching sight of me, called out:
    “My Lord, take pity on our plight. San-san’s Ana has fled into the bushes and will not come out because these two evil ones have pulled its fur. There it lingers crying. Will you rescue the poor thing for us?”
    It was Analia who so called to me, Anatan’s younger sister, the daughter of an old and noble military family. Now, at her asking, I dropped my hindering cloak and doffed my helmet before, encouraged by their cries, I pushed into the thick bushes.
    The Ana came to me without urging and I brought it out in triumph, my hair sadly ruffled and a couple of long scarlet scratches across my forearm. These Analia was pleased to exclaim over and nothing would do but I must beborne off into a neighboring glade where there was a fountain and my trifling hurts could be looked to.
    In their artless company I forgot something of my ever- present worries. I had never really been young or enjoyed the delights of thoughtless youth. On my fifteenth name day I had assumed the place and troubles of a man, and since that day I had never relaxed for a single hour my vigilance against a world which I knew by hard-won experience to be a difficult place in which to exist. But now, for a short half hour, in the company of the court maidens, I recaptured a slender portion of that unexperienced youth.
    It was ended all too soon. But I did not begrudge it because of that ending. Through the slender fronds of the fern trees came one I knew well.
    Thrala of the Learned Ones stood smiling at us.
    Every ripple of her black hair seemed to net itself about my heart and the wonder of her held me numb. I was content to stand and watch the play of expression on her face as her ladies with cries of joy-filled pleasure gathered about her.

Chapter Three
    The Sotan Pleasure Palace
    “Greetings, my Lord Garan.” She smiled into my eyes.
    “And to you, Flower of Yu-Lac.” I touched the hand she held out to me to lips and forehead.
    “You have neglected us, my Lord. Do the cares of your office weigh so heavily upon you that you cannot grant us an hour or two of your company?”
    I stood agape, unable to summon my wits in quick reply to this gentle mockery. “I am, as always, at your command, royal Lady,” I stammered.
    “Then you will obey me now,” she countered swiftly. “Attend me to the Blue Pool, my Lord. I have need of another pair of hands to aid me there. Nay, little ones, stay you here.”
    So dismissing her maids she led me away with her. But instead of following the path to the Blue Pool, she sought a tiny rockery and there took her place upon the stone bench.
    “Sit down, Garan; I have much to say and little enough time in which to say it. First — let me look at you. How long? Three years, is it not? I can even tell you the number of hours in the days. Why were you not born