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punishment, to my way of thinking. The charges against her were just—I had seen enough to know that. Though charges might never have been brought had she not been meddlesome as well, or had certain power-craving kings not desired to strike down Sakeema through her. For Sakeema gazed on me in farewell, and I knew well enough that his was the blood that would be shed. He loved and honored his mother, and he would not stray from justice. In only one way could he serve both justice and love: by taking her punishment upon himself.
    The penatly was death.
    Still faintly smiling, Sakeema rose, and I sprang up to stand before him, grasping at him in a panic. My sudden movement startled the deer, sending them bounding away into the forest beyond the lodge.
    The den where death waited, sharp of tooth and claw.
    â€œDo not go in there!” I begged, though I knew well enough that he must, and I did not take pause for him to say it. I swallowed instead, squared my shoulders, trying to still my own quaking. “I will come with you,” I said.
    He shook his head—not to forbid me, but because he knew, even then, that I could not. “Set yourself no such task, son of earth. You will fail.”
    â€œI would never fail you!”
    â€œI ask nothing. It is yourself you would fail, saying so. Mortal courage has limits.”
    â€œYou—you cannot face them alone!” For his mother had long since fled, westward, somewhere.
    His face went bleak. He looked around him, taking in all the world with that look. I remember white wool of clouds in the sky, flicker of birdflight, somewhere the hoarse song of frogs. Mountains. Treetops. Somewhere there were small hiding creatures, and roots deep in earth.…
    His gaze returned and was for me alone.
    â€œDo not be so willing to give up life. The plenum of life, it is all I can give you. Life in beauty, in plenty—it is the only gift, but love, and it is love, the very gift of love. Son of earth, as you love me …”
    â€œYes,” I whispered, though I could barely speak for sorrow.
    â€œCherish the deer. Cherish all creatures, all things that live, even the earthworms … and you will cherish me. I live—in all creatures. Be still sometimes and see the creatures and know that I am yet with you … if you feel so much as the flying of a midge in the night, I am yet with you.”
    Mutely I nodded. He looked at me, then bent and brought up loam with his fingers, offering it to me in cupped hands, as he had on the first day we met. “For you, my friend,” he said softly. And it turned into a songbird as red as his blood, and flew away.
    And he walked away after he had embraced me, toward his doom. Toward the doorway that opened on darkness.
    I could not bear it. I let out a sound that was half shout, half sob, and ran after him. But he was right, of course. My courage failed me at that entry—I could go no farther. I stood outside and wept, and railed at myself.
    Time jumped, as it will, in visions. Perhaps a quarterday had passed, and somehow I had shamed and threatened myself into moving, or in my despair I no longer cared about my own life. I went in, found the inner chamber where the council sat in a wide circle. They looked like six figures of dark clay, sitting there in the gloom. At the center of their circle stood Sakeema, naked except for a breechclout, hands tied to shame him. Blood on his back—he had been flogged. On his face, nothing yet but calm.
    â€œThis man has done nothing to deserve punishment!” My voice shook like my knees, yet I managed to say the words and make them be heard. “He is blameless, as innocent as a rainbow. What charge can you make against him?” And I strode into the circle to stand beside him.
    Then truly my courage was gone. For the kings looked at me, and their faces showed that they saw only more meat for their killing. The giant Blue Akabu of the Cragsmen grinned like a