, the other Arrillians in the room fastened
the same look of reverence upon Tyndall which they had formerly reserved
for the Rhal.

Tyndall chose his words carefully. "But there were many aboard my
vessel. Why did you, Dheb Rhal, select me as the emissary of Xheev?"

"Xheev selected you, I recognized you, as of all your companions, you
and you alone have the sun-colored hair, which is the sacred color of
Xheev."

Tyndall was able to question the Rhal almost coolly, the trap was
already sprung, the ship was gone. Now, he only wanted to know the how,
and the why. An accident of pigmentation, only that had brought him to
this. Sun-colored hair!

"But, Dheb Rhal, did my friends and I not often tell you of ourselves,
of the place from which we came? A world, a world like your own?"

The old man smiled. "Do not think me naive, Tyn-Dall. I am quite aware
that you are but a man, a man from another world, although quite an
incredible world it must be. I know also that you were, until this hour,
unaware of your destiny. I knew that when my priest reported that you
ignored the Ritual Of The Time, until literally forced to obey. That is
why we had to use ... devious means to make certain that your companions
would not prevent the fulfillment of the prophesy. Now, of course, you
understand.

"I do not think the priestess Lhyreesa will make you unhappy, Tyn-Dall."

* * * * *

This was not Earth and these people were not Earthmen. The thought now
did not bring the bitter pain it had at first, right after the ship
left. Earth already was becoming hazy in Tyndall's mind, a lovely globe
of green somewhere ... somewhere far, and home once, a long time ago.

No, the Arrillians were not Earthmen, but they were human, and an
attractive, gracious race. Life would not be bad, among the Arrillians,
especially as the espoused of the ranking priestess of Arrill. Tyndall
fingered the rich material of his Arrillian robe; he thought of the
food, the wine, the servants. No, he decided, not bad at all. One
thing, though--this priestess Lhyreesa ...

"I have, then, but one request to make, Dheb Rhal, I would like to see
the priestess Lhyreesa."

The old man almost chuckled, "That is understandable, Tyn-Dall, but it
is not yet The Time."

Tyndall, reveling in the strength of his position, grew bolder. "I would
like very much, Dheb Rhal, to see her now."

The Rhal's face darkened. "Very well, Tyn-Dall, but I