"I get them after I marry Kolano!"
Rok and Old Ledo stared. But the portals were swinging. Alota and the
cortege was waiting. Toka had to play his part out--it was the fastest
way.
Toka sped back up the Hall Of Life. A new scene had been added--Toka
awakening Rok and Old Ledo and his explanatory discussion with them.
The great entry portals were swinging and Kosanna's exalted gonging
and choraling flooded about Toka as he ran down the long stairway. The
massed Kosannans in the square formed a lane to the altar where Kolano
was waiting.
"I've never killed any woman," Rok offered loyally, "but--"
"Save it for the Dragon Men!" Toka leaped to the altar and strode for
the edge. The gonging and choraling was so tremendous that the very
stonework vibrated underfoot.
* * * * *
With a gaze of coming passion, Kolano turned. "O Great Prince Toka--it
is the moment."
"Let's get on with it!" Toka snapped.
Kolano raised a jeweled arm to the Kosannans. The gonging and choraling
abruptly silenced. The door between the feet of the colossal statue
swung away and the black-robed Old Ones marched out in a double line to
Toka and Kolano. The leading two ceremoniously carried deeply fringed
black pillows, one goldenly embroidered GREAT PRINCE TOKA, the other
GREAT QUEEN KOLANO. All twelve Old Ones began a sing-song chant in
anciently quavering voices.
"O Great Prince Toka! O Great Queen Kolano! Take up your ring! Take up
your ring!..."
As did Kolano from hers, so Toka took up the fiery jeweled ring from
his pillow.
"Face each other! Face each other!" the Old Ones chanted as all Kosanna
listened.
Toka fought his features expressionless.
"... Extend left hands! Extend left hands!..."
Kolano's silvery eyes smouldered possessively at Toka.
"... Extend third fingers! Extend third fingers!..."
The cold sweat was bathing Toka again. But no immobility held him--only
desire to get his great battle weapons and go for Roya!
"... Place your rings! Place your rings!..."
Where was his ax and knife!
"... On the other's finger! On the other's finger!..."
Toka thrust his ring on Kolano's marriage finger and received her
brilliant band.
"... You are one! You are one!..." The Old Ones paused. "It is done!"
At once all Kosanna was gonging and choraling to the heights of joy.
The air beat with it. The stone trembled with it. Rok and Old Ledo were
muttering savagely. Kolano was trying to embrace Toka.