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〃What was I to say？〃 asked Mael。 〃Finally I tried to reason with some of them。 'To make a god； surely he needs strength；' I explained。 'And he himself is burned from the Terrible Fire； and perhaps the blood helps him and heals him。 Why not give him sacrifice？ Surely you have a condemned man in one of the villages or settlements who can be brought to the oak？'
〃They drew back altogether； and they stared at the tree and its door and its locks。 And I realized they were afraid。
Then a dreadful thing occurred； which changed me utterly。 There came from the oak a stream of enmity that I could feel as though someone full of rancor were staring at me！
〃I could feel it as though the being looked upon me with all his rage； his sword raised to destroy me。 Of course it was the power of the god； using his mind to flood mine with his hatred。 But so strong was it that I could not think of what it was； or what to do。
〃The other priests ran。 They had felt this anger and hatred as well。 I couldn't run。 I couldn't move。 I stared at the oak。 I think the old magic had caught me。 God； poems； songs； sacrifice…those things did not matter to me suddenly。 But I knew a powerful creature was inside the oak。 And I didn't run from it。 And at that moment my evil plotting soul was born！〃
Mael gave another very dramatic sigh。 He was silent； his eyes fixed on me。
〃How so？〃 I asked。 〃What did you plot？ You had spoken through the mind with the gentle god of your own grove。 You had seen him at the full moon take sacrifice； both before and after the Terrible Fire。 You saw me when I was changed。 You've just said so。 What struck you so about this god？〃
He looked overwhelmed for a moment。
Finally； gazing ahead of him again as if he had to； he continued。
〃This god was more than angry； Marius。 This god meant to have his way！〃
〃Then why weren't you afraid？〃
A silence fell in the room。 I was truly a bit perplexed。
I looked at Avicus。 I wanted to confirm： Avicus was this god； no？ But to ask such a question was crude。 It had been said earlier that Avicus gave the Dark Blood to Mael。 I waited； as it was proper for me to do。
Finally Mael looked at me in the most sly and strange fashion。
His voice dropped； and he smiled venomously。
〃The god wanted to get out of that oak；〃 he said； glaring at me； 〃and I knew that if I helped him； he would give me the Magic Blood！〃
〃So；〃 I said smiling； because I couldn't help it。 〃He wanted to escape the oak。 But of course。〃
〃I remembered you when you escaped；〃 Mael said； 〃the mighty Marius； blooming from blood sacrifice； running so speedily from us！ Well； I would run like you！ Yes； and yes； and as I thought these things； as I plotted； as I thought； I heard the voice from the oak again； directed soft and secretive； only to me：
〃 'e closer；' it manded me； and then as I pressed my forehead to the tree it spoke。 'Tell me of this Marius； tell me of his escape；' it said。 'Tell me and I will give you the Dark Blood and we will flee this place together； you and I。' 〃
Mael was trembling。 But Avicus looked resigned to these truths as though he had pondered them many times。
〃It does bee clearer；〃 I said。
〃There is nothing that is not connected with you；〃 Mael said。 He shook his fist at me。 It reminded me of a child。
〃Your own doing；〃 I said。 〃From the moment you stole me from the tavern in Gaul。 You brought us together。 Remember that。 You kept me prisoner。 But your unfolding story calms you。 You need to tell us。 Tell more。〃
It seemed for a moment he would fly at me； desperate in his rage； but then there came a change in him。 And shaking his head a little； he grew calm； scowling and then went on：
〃When this confirmation came to me from the god's own mind；〃 he said； 〃I was fatally set upon my course。 I told the other priests immediately that they were to bring a sacrifice。 We had no time for quarreling； and that I should see that the condemned man was given to the god。 I should go into the tree with the condemned man。 I had no fear to do it。 And they must hasten with all things； as the god and I might need the night for our magic to be done。
〃It seemed an hour passed before they found the wretched man who was to die in the tree； but at last they brought him forward； bound and weeping； and very fearfully they unlocked the mighty door。
〃I could feel the mounting rage of the god inside。 I could feel his hunger。 And pushing this poor condemned wretch before me； I entered； torch in hand to stand inside the hollowed chamber of the tree。〃
I nodded with a small smile to say only I know。
Meantime Mael's eyes had shifted to Avicus。
〃There stood Avicus much as you see him now；〃 Mael said； still looking at his panion。 〃And at once； he fell upon the condemned man。 He drank the blood of this piteous victim with merciful speed； and then he cast the body away。
〃Then Avicus fell upon me； taking the torch from me； hanging it up on the wall so that it seemed dangerously near the wood； and grasping me tight by the shoulders he said；
〃 'Tell me of Marius； tell me how he escaped the Sacred Oak。 Tell me the story or I'll kill you now。' 〃
Avicus listened to all this with a calm face。 He nodded as if to say； that was how it took place。
Mael turned away from him and looked forward again。 〃He was hurting me；〃 Mael said。 〃If I hadn't said something quickly he would have broken my shoulder； so I spoke up； knowing how well he might search my thoughts； and I said； 'Give me the Dark Blood and we shall escape together as you have promised。 There is no great secret to what I know。 It is a matter of strength and speed。 We take to the tree limbs； which they cannot do so easily who follow us； and then we move through the trees。'
〃 'But you know the world；' he said to me。 'I know nothing。 I have been imprisoned for hundreds of years。 I only dimly remember Egypt。 I only dimly remember the Great Mother。 You must guide me。 And so I'll give you the magic and do it well。'
〃He was true to his promise。 I was made strong from the start。 Then together； we listened with minds and ears for the gathered
Faithful of the Forest and the Druid priests； and finding them quite unprepared for our departure； we forced the door with our united strength。
〃At once we took to the treetops； as you had done； Marius。 We put our pursuers far behind us； and before dawn we were hunting a settlement many many miles away。〃
He sat back as though exhausted by his confession。 And as I sat there； still too patient and too proud to destroy him； I saw how he had woven me into all of it； and I wondered at it； and I looked to Avicus； the god who for so long had lived in the tree。 Avicus looked calmly at me。
〃We have been together since that time；〃 Mael said in a more subdued voice。 〃We hunt the great cities because it is simpler for us； and what do we think of Romans who came as conquerors？ We hunt Rome because it is the greatest city of all。〃 I said nothing。
〃Sometimes we meet others；〃 Mael continued。 His eyes shot towards me suddenly。 〃And sometimes we are forced to fight them； for they will not leave us in peace。〃 〃How so？ 〃