At this, Bel-ghirá’s captain stamped his foot. “There now!” he barked. “There is money many years. You do not take it, this is bad to Lord Governor. There! You speak to him!”
Varrinil got to her feet, holding her grisly bundle. She turned to face Bel-ghirá, looking for a moment into the empty fish-eyes and, almost calmly, said, “Governor, I take your gold, and may you soon go to the darkness, you and these thurech who think they are men and do things that shame a beast. My sisters and I, we see where the truth is. Now we go.” Then, fiercely, “I take my son his gift.” Varrinil put an arm tightly round the boy, turned her back, and strode down among the people.
Even as the crowd parted for her, there was a great gasp of fright and cries of warning. Varrinil turned to see Bel-ghirá’s captai
