The Gathering Page 4

on his right, and Marita on his left. He bowed slowly to Mantu who bowed in return. When the two male leaders straightened their frames to the upright positions, The Silent One extended the hilt of the sword to Mantu with both hands. Mantu received the sword in silence and the two female leaders moved to his side, Marita on his right and She Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken on his left. Nothing was spoken. The folk now knew what to do. The folk from the domain of The Silent One handed their swords to the Opposers by their sides. An awesome silence descended on the meadow. It clung to the folk and their leaders. She Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken sang a note of beginning, and movement returned to the gathered folk.

  “Let us begin again,” said The Silent One in a voice with the Menace of the leader of the Opposers.