beast
men. Of that monstrous mating came the Black Ones. They live but for the
evil they may do, and the power which they acquired is debased and used
to forward cruelty.

"At first their sin was not discovered. When it was, the others would
have slain the offspring but for the law which forbids them to kill.
They must use their power for good or it departs from them. So they
drove the Black Ones to the southern end of Tav and gave them the Caves
of Darkness. Never were the Black Ones to come north of the River of
Gold--nor were the Ancient Ones to go south of it.

"For perhaps two thousand years the Black Ones kept the law. But they
worked, building powers of destruction. While matters rested thus, the
Ancient Ones searched the world, seeking men by whom they could renew
the race. Once there came men from an island far to the north. Six lived
to penetrate the mists and take wives among the Daughters. Again, they
called the yellow-haired men of another breed, great sea rovers.

"But the Black Ones called too. As the Ancient Ones searched for the
best, the Black Ones brought in great workers of evil. And, at last,
they succeeded in shutting off the channels of sending thought so that
the Ancient Ones could call no more.

"Then did the Black Ones cross the River of Gold and enter the land of
the Ancient Ones. Thran, Dweller in the Light and Lord of the Caverns,
summoned the Folk to him.

"'There will come one to aid you,' he told us. 'Try the summoning again
after the Black Ones have seemed to win. Thrala, Daughter of the Light,
will not enter into the Room of Pleasant Death with the rest of the
women, but will give herself into the hands of the Black Ones, that they
may think themselves truly victorious. You of the Folk withdraw into the
Place of Reptiles until the Black Ones are gone. Nor will all the
Ancient Ones perish--more will be saved, but the manner of their
preservation I dare not tell. When the sun-haired youth comes from the
outer world, send him into the Caves of Darkness to rescue Thrala and
put an end to evil.'

"And then the Lady Thrala arose and said softly, 'As the Lord Thran has
said, so let it be. I shall deliver myself into the hands of the Black
Ones that their doom may come upon them.'

"Lord Thran smiled upon her as he said: 'So will happiness be your
portion. After the Great Mists, does not light come again?'

"The women of the Ancient Ones then took their leave and passed into the
plac