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low of his chest； and clung to him。 Her tears stopped soon； but she held onto Manan as if she could not stand up。
〃Poor little one；〃 he whispered； and picking the child up carried her to the doorway of the house where she slept alone。 He set her down。
〃All right now； little one？〃
She nodded； turned from him； and entered the dark house。
The Prisoners
Kossil's steps sounded along the hallway of the Small House； even and deliberate。 The tall； heavy figure filled the doorway of the room； shrank as the priestess bowed down touching one knee to the floor； swelled as she straightened to her full height。
〃Mistress。〃
〃What is it； Kossil？〃
〃I have been permitted to look after certain matters pertaining to the Domain of the Nameless Ones； until now。 If you so desire； it is now time for you to learn； and see； and take charge of these matters； which you have not yet remembered in this life。〃
The girl had been sitting in her windowless room； supposedly meditating； actually doing nothing and thinking almost nothing。 It took some time for the fixed； dull； haughty expression of her face to change。 Yet it did change； though she tried to conceal it。 She said； with a certain slyness； 〃The Labyrinth？〃
〃We will not enter the Labyrinth。 But it will be necessary to cross the Undertomb。〃
There was a tone in Kossil's voice that might have been fear； or might have been a pretense of fear； intended to frighten Arha。 The girl stood up without haste and said indifferently； 〃Very well。〃 But in her heart； as she followed the heavy figure of the Godking's priestess； she exulted： At last！ At last！ I shall see my own domain at last！
She was fifteen。 It was over a year since she had made her crossing into womanhood and at the same time had e into her full powers as the One Priestess of the Tombs of Atuan； highest of all high priestesses of the Kargad Lands； one whom not even the Godking himself might mand。 They all bowed the knee to her now； even grim Thar and Kossil。 All spoke to her with elaborate deference。 But nothing had changed。 Nothing happened。 Once the ceremonies of her consecration were over； the days went on as they had always gone。 There was wool to be spun； black cloth to be woven； meal to be ground； rites to be performed； the Nine Chants must be sung nightly； the doorways blessed； the Stones fed with goat's blood twice a year； the dances of the dark of the moon danced before the Empty Throne。 And so the whole year had passed； just as the years before it had passed； and were all the years of her life to pass so？
Her boredom rose so strong in her sometimes that it felt like terror： it took her by the throat。 Not long ago she had been driven to speak of it。 She had to talk； she thought； or she would go mad。 It was Manan she talked to。 Pride kept her from confiding in the other girls； and caution kept her from confession to the older women； but Manan was nothing； a faithful old bellwether； it didn't matter what she said to him。 To her surprise he had had an answer for her。
〃Long ago；〃 he said； 〃you know； little one； before our four lands joined together into an empire； before there was a Godking over us all； there were a lot of lesser kings； princes； chiefs。 They were always quarreling with each other。 And they'd e here to settle their quarrels。 That was how it was； they'd e from our land Atuan； and from Karego…At； and Atnini； and even from Hur…at…Hur； all the chiefs and princes with their servants and their armies。 And they'd ask you what to do。 And you'd go before the Empty Throne； and give them the counsel of the Nameless Ones。 Well； that was long ago。 After a while the Priest…Kings came to rule all of Karego…At； and soon they were ruling Atuan； and now for four or five lifetimes of men the Godkings have ruled all the four lands together； and made them an empire。 And so things are changed。 The Godking can put down the unruly chiefs； and settle all the quarrels himself。 And being a god； you see； he doesn't have to consult the Nameless Ones very often。〃
Arha stopped to think this over。 Time did not mean very much； here in the desert land； under the unchanging Stones； leading a life that had been led in the same way since the beginning of the world。 She was not accustomed to thinking about things changing； old ways dying and new ones arising。 She did not find it fortable to look at things in that light。 〃The powers of the Godking are much less than the powers of the Ones I serve；〃 she said； frowning。
〃Surely。。。 Surely。。。 But one doesn't go about saying that to a god； little honeyb。 Nor to his priestess。〃
And catching his small； brown； twinkling eye； she thought of Kissil； High Priestess of the Godking； whom she had feared ever since she first came to the Place； and she took his meaning。
〃But the Godking； and his people； are neglecting the worship of the Tombs。 No one es。〃
〃Well； he sends prisoners here to sacrifice。 He doesn't neglect that。 Nor the gifts due to the Nameless Ones。〃
〃Gifts！ His temple is painted fresh every year； there's a hundredweight of gold on the altar； the lamps burn attar of roses！ And look at the Hall of the Throne… holes in the roof； and the dome cracking； and the walls full of mice； and owls； and bats。。。 But all the same it will outlast the Godking and all his temples； and all the kings that e after him。 It was there before them； and when they're all gone it will still be there。 It is the center of things。〃
〃It is the center of things。〃
〃There are riches there； Thar tells me about them sometimes。 Enough to fill the Godking's temple ten times over。 Gold and trophies given ages ago； a hundred generations； who knows how long。 They're all locked away in the pits and vaults； underground。 They won't take me there yet； they keep me waiting and waiting。 But I know what it's like。 There are rooms underneath the Hall； underneath the whole Place； under where we stand now。 There's a great maze of tunnels； a Labyrinth。 It's like a great dark city； under the hill。 Full of gold； and the swords of old heroes； and old crowns； and bones； and years； and silence。〃
She spoke as if in trance； in rapture。 Manan watched her。 His slabby face never expressed much but stolid； careful sadness； it was sadder than usual now。 〃Well； and you're mistress of all that；〃 he said。 〃The silence； and the dark。〃
〃I am。 But they won't show me anything； only the rooms above ground； behind the Throne。 They haven't even shown me the entrances to the places underground； they just mumble about them sometimes。 They're keeping my own domain from me！ Why do they make me wait and wait？〃
〃You are young。 And perhaps；〃 Manan said in his husky alto； 〃perhaps they're afraid； little one。 It's not their domain； after all。 It's yours。 They are in danger when they enter there。 There's no mortal that doesn't fear the Nameless Ones。〃
Arha said nothing； but her eyes flashed。 Again Manan had shown her a new way of seeing things。 So formidable； so cold； so strong had Thar and Kossil always seemed to her； that she had never even imagined their being afraid。 Yet Manan was right。 They feared those places； those powers of which Arha was part； to which she belonged。 They were afraid to go