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rees beside Tore。 He hit the hairy； ape…like creature with the hardest cross…body block he could throw； and the sword swinging to decapitate Tore was deflected away。
Sprawled flat with the breath knocked out of him； Dave saw the huge creature's other hand ing down。 He managed to parry with his left forearm； and felt a numbing sensation from the contact。 God； he thought； staring into the enraged red eyes of what had to be the urgach； this sucker is strong！ He didn't even have time to be afraid： rolling clumsily away from the urgach's short…range sword thrust； he saw a body hurtle past him。
Tore； knife in hand； had hurled himself straight at the creature's head。 The urgach dropped its awkward sword； and with a terrifying snarl； easily blocked Tore's arm。 Shifting its grip； it threw the Rider bodily away； to smash into a tree； senseless for a moment。
One on one； Dave thought。 Tore's dive had given him time to get to his feet； but everything was moving so fast。 Whirling； he fled to where Tore's tethered horse was neighing in terror； and he grabbed the sword resting by the saddle…cloth。 A sword？ he thought。 What the hell do I do with a sword？
Parry； like crazy。 The urgach； weapon reclaimed； was right on top of him； and it levelled a great two…handed sweep of its own giant blade。 Dave was a strong man； but the jarring impact of blocking that blow made his right arm go almost as numb as his left； he staggered backwards。
〃Tore！〃 he cried desperately。 〃I can't…〃
He stopped； because there was suddenly no need to say anything more。 The urgach was swaying like a toppling rock； and a moment later it fell forward with a crash； Tore's dagger embedded to the hilt in the back of its skull。
The two men gazed at each other across the dead body of the monstrous creature。
〃Well；〃 said Tore finally； still breathing hard； 〃now I know why I didn't kill you。〃
What Dave felt then was so rare and unexpected； it took him a moment to recognize it。
Ivor； up with the sun and watching by the southwest gate； saw Barth and Navon e walking back together。 He could tell…it was not hard…from the way they moved that they had both found something in the wood。 Found； or been found by； as Gereint said。 They had gone out as boys and were ing back to him； his children still； but Riders now； Riders of the Dalrei。 So he lifted his voice in greeting； that they should be weled by their Chieftain back from the dreamworld to the tribe。
〃Hola！〃 cried Ivor； that all should hear。 〃See who es！ Let there be rejoicing； for see the Weaver sends two new Riders to us！〃
They all rushed out then； having waited with suppressed excitement； so that the Chieftain should be first to announce the return。 It was a tradition of the third tribe since the days of Lahor； his grandfather。
Barth and Navon were weled home with honor and jubilation。 Their eyes were wide yet with wonder； not yet fully returned from the other world； from the visions that fasting and night and Gereint's secret drink had given them。 They seemed untouched； fresh； which was as it should be。
Ivor led them； one on either side； letting them walk beside him now； as was fit for men； to the quarters set apart for Gereint。 He went inside with them and watched as they knelt before the shaman； that he might confirm and consecrate their animals。 Never had one of Ivor's children tried to dissemble about his fast； to claim a totem when there had been none； or pretend in his mind that an eltor had been an eagle or a boar。 It was still the task of the shaman to find in them the truth of their vigil； so that in the tribe Gereint knew the totems of every Rider。 It was thus in all the tribes。 So it was written at Celidon。 So was the Law。
At length Gereint lifted his head from where he sat cross…legged on his mat。 He turned unerringly to where Ivor stood； the light from outside silhouetting him。
〃Their hour knows their name；〃 the shaman said。
It was done。 The words that defined a Rider had been spoken： the hour that none could avoid； and the sanctity of their secret name。 Ivor was assailed suddenly by a sense of the sweep； the vastness of time。 For twelve hundred years the Dalrei had ridden on the Plain。 For twelve hundred years each new Rider had been so proclaimed。
〃Should we feast？〃 he asked Gereint formally。
〃Indeed we should；〃 came the placid reply。 〃We should have the Feast of the New Hunters。〃
〃It shall be so；〃 Ivor said。 So many times he and Gereint had done this； summer after summer。 Was he getting old？
He took the two newest Riders and led them into the sunlight； to where all the tribe was gathered before the door of the shaman's house。
〃Their hour knows；〃 he said； and smiled to hear the roar that went up。
He gave Navon and Barth back to their families at last。 〃Sleep；〃 he urged them both； knowing what the morrow would be like； knowing he would not be heeded。 Who slept on this day？
Levon had； he remembered； but he had been three nights in the grove and had e out； at the last； hollowed and other…worldly。 A difficult； far…voyaging fast it had been； as was fitting for one who would one day lead the tribe。
Thinking so； he watched his people stream away； then ducked back into the darkness of Gereint's house。 There was never any light in that house； no matter which camp they occupied。
The shaman had not moved。
〃It is well；〃 Ivor said； hunkering down beside the old one。
Gereint nodded。 〃It is well； I think。 They should both do； and Barth may be something more。〃 It was the closest he ever came to giving the Chieftain a hint of what he had seen in the new ones。 Always Ivor marvelled at the shaman's gift； at his power。
He still remembered the night they had blinded Gereint。 A child； Ivor had been； four summers from his hawk； but as Banor's only son； he had been taken out with the men to see it done。 Power for him all his life would be symbolized by deep…voiced chanting and torches weaving on the night plain under the stars of midsummer。
For some moments the two men sat quietly； each wrapped in his own thoughts； then Ivor rose。 〃I should speak to Levon about tomorrow's hunt；〃 he said。 〃Sixteen； I think。〃
〃At least；〃 the shaman said in an aggrieved tone。 〃I could eat a whole one myself。 We haven't feasted in a long time； Ivor。〃
Ivor snorted。 〃A very long time； you greedy old man。 Twelve whole days since Walen was named。 Why aren't you fat？〃
〃Because；〃 the wisest one explained patiently； 〃you never have enough food at the feasts。〃
〃Seventeen； then！〃 Ivor laughed。 〃I'll see you in the morning before they go。 It's up to Levon； but I'm going to suggest east。〃
〃East；〃 Gereint agreed gravely。 〃But you'll see me later today。〃
This； too； Ivor had grown accustomed to。 The Sight es when the light goes； the Dalrei said。 It was not Law； but had the same force； it seemed to Ivor at times。 They found their totems in the dark； and all their shamans came to their power in blindness with that ceremony on midsummer night； the bright torches and the stars suddenly going black。
He found Levon with the horses； of course； tending to a mare with a bad fetlock。 Levon rose at his fa