"I knew enough to save your skin!" she flared, and Balin smiled.
"She has you there, Stark. And speaking of skins...." He glanced up at
the belt. "Or better, speaking of talismans, which we were not. How did
you come by it?"
Stark told him. "He had a sin on his soul, did Camar. And--he was my
friend."
Balin looked at him with deep respect. "You were a fool," he said. "Look
you. The thing is returned to Kushat. Your promise is kept. There is
nothing for you here but danger, and were I you I would not wait to be
flayed, or slain, or taken in a quarrel that is not yours."
"Ah," said Stark softly, "but it is mine. The Lord Ciaran made it so."
He, too, glanced at the belt. "What of the talisman?"
"Return it where it came from," Thanis said. "My brother is a better
thief than Camar. He can certainly do that."
"No!" said Balin, with surprising force. "We will keep it, Stark and I.
Whether it has power, I do not know. But if it has--I think Kushat will
need it, and in strong hands."
Stark said somberly, "It has power, the Talisman. Whether for good or
evil, I don't know."
They looked at him, startled. But a touch of awe seemed to repress their
curiosity.
He could not tell them. He was, somehow, reluctant to tell anyone of
that dark vision of what lay beyond the Gates of Death, which the
talisman of Ban Cruach had lent him.
Balin stood up. "Well, for good or evil, at least the sacred relic of
Ban Cruach has come home." He yawned. "I am going to bed. Will you come,
Thanis, or will you stay and quarrel with our guest?"
"I will stay," she said, "and quarrel."
"Ah, well." Balin sighed puckishly. "Good night." He vanished into an
inner room. Stark looked at Thanis. She had a warm mouth, and her eyes
were beautiful, and full of light.
He smiled, holding out his hand.
The night wore on, and Stark lay drowsing. Thanis had opened the
curtains. Wind and moonlight swept together into the room, and she stood
leaning upon the sill, above the slumbering city. The smile that
lingered in the corners of her mouth was sad and far-away, and very
tender.
Stark stirred uneasily, making small sounds in his throat. His motions
grew violent. Thanis crossed the room and touched him.
Instantly he was awake.
"Animal," she said softly. "You dream."
Stark shook his head. His eyes were still clouded, though not with
sleep. "Blood," he said, "heavy in the wind."
"I smell nothing but the dawn," she said, and laughed.