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minute； remote； yet more remote。 The cavern must be immense； high and broad； yet not empty： something in its darkness； surfaces of invisible objects or partitions； broke the echo into a thousand fragments。
〃Here we must be beneath the Stones；〃 the girl said whispering； and her whisper ran out into the hollow blackness and frayed into threads of sound as fine as spiderweb； that clung to the hearing for a long time。
〃Yes。 This is the Undertomb。 Go on。 I cannot stay here。 Follow the wall to the left。 Pass three openings。〃
Kossil's whisper hissed （and the tiny echoes hissed after it）。 She was afraid； she was indeed afraid。 She did not like to be here among the Nameless Ones； in their tombs； in their caves； in the dark。 It was not her place； she did not belong here。
〃I shall e here with a torch；〃 Arha said； guiding herself along the wall of the cavern by the touch of her fingers； wondering at the strange shapes of the rock； hollows and swellings and fine curves and edges； rough as lace here； smooth as brass there： surely this was carven work。 Perhaps the whole cavern was the work of sculptors of the ancient days？
〃Light is forbidden here。〃 Kossil's whisper was sharp。 Even as she said it； Arha knew it must be so。 This was the very home of darkness； the inmost center of the night。
Three times her fingers swept across a gap in the plex； rocky blackness。 The fourth time she felt for the height and width of the opening； and entered it。 Kossil came behind。
In this tunnel； which went upward again at a slight slant； they passed an opening on the left； and then at a branching way took the right： all by feel； by groping； in the blindness of the underearth and the silence inside the ground。 In such a passageway as this； one must reach out almost constantly to touch both sides of the tunnel； lest one of the openings that must be counted be missed； or the forking of the way go unnoticed。 Touch was one's whole guidance； one could not see the way； but held it in one's hands。
〃Is this the Labyrinth？〃
〃No。 This is the lesser maze； which is beneath the Throne。〃
〃Where is the entrance to the Labyrinth？〃
Arha liked this game in the dark； she wanted a greater puzzle to be set her。
〃The second opening we passed in the Undertomb。 Feel for a door to the right now； a wooden door； perhaps we've passed it already…〃
Arha heard Kossil's hands fumbling uneasily along the wall； scraping on the rough rock。 She kept her fingertips light against the rock； and in a moment felt the smooth grain of wood beneath them。 She pushed on it； and the door creaked open easily。 She stood for a moment blind with light。
They entered a large low room； walled with hewn stone and lighted by one fuming torch hung from a chain。 The place was foul with the torch…smoke that had no outlet。 Arha's eyes stung and watered。
〃Where are the prisoners？〃
〃There。〃
At last she realized that the three heaps of something on the far side of the room were men。
〃The door isn't locked。 Is there no guard？〃
〃None is needed。〃
She went a little farther into the room； hesitant； peering through the smoky haze。 The prisoners were manacled by both ankles and one wrist to great rings driven into the rock of the wall。 If one of them wanted to lie down； his chained arm must remain raised； hanging from the manacle。 Their hair and beards had made a matted tangle which； together with the shadows； hid their faces。 One of them half lay； the other two sat or squatted。 They were naked。 The smell from them was stronger even than the reek of smoke。
One of them seemed to be watching Arha； she thought she saw the glitter of eyes； then was not sure。 The others had not moved or lifted their heads。
She turned away。 〃They are not men any more；〃 she said。
〃They were never men。 They were demons； beast…spirits； who plotted against the sacred life of the Godking！〃 Kossil's eyes shone with the reddish torchlight。
Arha looked again at the prisoners； awed and curious。 〃How could a man attack a god？ How was it？ You： how could you dare attack a living god？〃
The one man stared at her through the black brush of his hair； but said nothing。
〃Their tongues were cut out before they were sent from Awabath；〃 Kossil said。 〃Do not speak to them； mistress。 They are defilement。 They are yours； but not to speak to； nor to look at； nor to think upon。 They are yours to give to the Nameless Ones。〃
〃How are they to be sacrificed？〃
Arha no longer looked at the prisoners。 She faced Kossil instead； drawing strength from the massive body； the cold voice。 She felt dizzy； and the reek of smoke and filth made her sick； yet she seemed to think and speak with perfect calm。 Had she not done this many times before？
〃The Priestess of the Tombs knows best what manner of death will please her Masters； and it is hers to choose。 There are many ways。〃
〃Let Gobar the captain of the guards hew off their heads。 And the blood will be poured out before the Throne。〃
〃As if it were a sacrifice of goats？〃 Kossil seemed to be sneering at her lack of imagination。 She stood dumb。 Kossil went on； 〃Besides； Gobar is a man。 No man can enter the Dark Places of the Tombs； surely my mistress remembers that？ If he enters； he does not leave。。。〃
〃Who brought them here？ Who feeds them？〃
〃The wardens who serve my temple； Duby and Uahto； they are eunuchs and may enter here on the services of the Nameless Ones； as I may。 The Godking's soldiers left the prisoners bound outside the wall； and I and the wardens brought them in through the Prisoner's Door； the door in the red rocks。 So it is always done。 The food and water is lowered from a trapdoor in one of the rooms behind the Throne。〃
Arha looked up and saw； beside the chain from which the torch hung； a wooden square set into the stone ceiling。 It was far too small for a man to crawl through； but a rope lowered from it would e down just within reach of the middle prisoner of the three。 She looked away again quickly。
〃Let them not bring any more food or water； then。 Let the torch go out。〃
Kossil bowed。 〃And the bodies； when they die？〃
〃Let Duby and Uahto bury them in the great cavern that we passed through； the Undertomb；〃 the girl said； her voice being quick and high。 〃They must do it in the dark。 My Masters will eat the bodies。〃
〃It shall be done。〃
〃Is this well； Kossil？〃
〃It is well； mistress。〃
〃Then let us go；〃 Arha said； very shrill。 She turned and hurried back to the wooden door； and out of the Room of Chains into the blackness of the tunnel。 It seemed sweet and peaceful as a starless night； silent； without sight； or light； or life。 She plunged into the clean darkness； hurried forward through it like a swimmer through water。 Kossil hastened along； behind her and getting farther behind； panting； lumbering。 Without hesitation Arha repeated the missed and taken turnings as they had e； skirted the vast echoing Undertomb； and crept； bent over； up the last long tunnel to the shut door of rock。 There she crouched down and felt for the long key on the ring at her waist。 She found it； but could not find the keyhole。 There was no pinprick of light in the invisible wall before her。 Her fingers groped over it seeking lock or bolt or handle and finding nothing。 Where must the key go？ How could she get out？
〃Mistress！〃
Kossil's voice； magnified by echoes； hissed and boomed far behind her。
〃Mistress； the door will not open from inside。 There is no way out。 There is no return。〃
Arha crouched against the rock。 She said nothing。
〃Arha！〃
〃I am here。〃
〃e！〃
She came； crawling on hands and knees along the passage； like a dog； to Kossil's skirts。
〃To the right。 Hurry！ I must not linger here。 It is not my place。 Follow me。〃
Arha got to her feet； and held onto Kossils robes。 They went forward； following the strangely carven wall of the cavern to the right for a long way； then entering a black gap in the blackness。 They went upward now； in tunnels； by stairs。 The girl still clung to the woman's robe。 Her eyes were shut。
There was light； red through her eyelids。 She thought it was the torchlit room full of smoke again； and did not open her eyes。 But the air smelt sweetish； dry and moldy； a familiar smell； and her feet were on a staircase steep almost as a ladder。 She let go Kossil's robe； and looked。 A trapdoor was open over her head。 She scrambled through it after Kossil。 It let her into a room she knew； a little stone cell containing a couple of chests and iron boxes； in the warren of rooms behind the Throne Room of the Hall。 Daylight glimmered gray and faint in the hallway outside its door。
〃The other； the Prisoner's Door； leads only into the tunnels。 It does not lead out。 This is the only way out。 If there is any other way I do not know of it； nor does Thar。 You must remember it for yourself； if there is one。 But I do not think there is。〃 Kossil still spoke in an undertone； and with a kind of spitefulness。 Her heavy face within the black cowl was pale； and damp with sweat。
〃I don't remember the turnings to this way out。〃
〃I'll tell them to you。 Once。 You must remember them。 Next time I will not e with you。 This is not my place。 You must e alone。〃
The girl nodded。 She looked up into the older woman's face； and thought how strange it looked； pale with scarcely mastered fear and yet triumphant； as if Kossil gloated over her weakness。
〃I will e alone after this；〃 Arha said； and then trying to turn away from Kossil she felt her legs give way； and saw the room turn over。 She fainted in a little black heap at the priestess' feet。
〃You'll learn；〃 Kossil said； still breathing heavily； standing motionless。 〃You'll learn。〃
Dreams and Tales
Arha was not well for several days。 They treated her for fever。 She kept to her bed； or sat in the mild autumn sunlight on the porch of the Small House； and looked up at the western hills。 She felt weak and stupid。 The same ideas occurred to her again and again。 She was ashamed of having fainted。 No guard had been set upon the Tomb Wall； but now she would never dare ask Kossil about that。 She did not want to see Kossil at all： never。 It was because she was ashamed of having fainted。
Often； in the sunlight； she would plan how she was going to behave next time she went into the dark places under the hill。 She thought many times about what kind of death she should mand for the next set of prisoners； more elaborate； better suited to the rituals of the Empty Throne。
Each night； in the dark； she woke up screaming； 〃They aren't dead yet！ They are still dying！〃
She dreamed a great deal。 She dreamed that she had to cook food； great cauldrons full of savory porridge； and pour it all out into a hole in the ground。 She dreamed that she had to carry a full bowl of water； a deep brass bowl； through the dark； to someone who was thirsty。 She could never get to this person。 She woke； and she herself was thirsty； but she did not go and get a drink。 She lay awake； eyes open； in the room without windows。
One morning Penthe came to see her。 From the porch Arha saw her approach the Small House with a careless； purposeless air； as if she just happened to be wandering that way。 If Arha had not spoken she would not have e up the steps。 But Arha was lonely； and spoke。
Penthe made the deep bow required of all who approached the Priestess of the Tombs； and then plopped down on the steps below Arha and made a noise like 〃Phewph！〃 She had gotten quite tall and plump； anything she did turned her cherry pink； and she was pink now from walking。
〃I heard you were ill。 I saved you out some apples。〃 She suddenly produced a rush net containing six or eight perfect yellow apples； from somewhere under her voluminous black robe。 She was now consecrated to the service of the Godking； and served in his temple under Kossil； but she wasn't yet a priestess； and still did lessons and chores with the novices。 〃Poppe and I sorted the apples this year； and I saved the very best ones out。 They always dry all the really good ones。 Of course they keep best； but it seems such a waste。 Aren't they pretty？〃
Arha felt the pale gold satin skins of the apples； looked at the twigs to which brown leaves still delicately clung。 〃They are pretty。〃