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is power became known by the seldom spoken name of seedling； because it sowed seeds of consciousness that were not one's own。
I could see that matters would eventually e to a head with the Setians； only the climax came more quickly and with a destructive force greater than I could ever have imagined。 Suzama was only nineteen when I received a personal invitation from Ory。 He wanted to meet me alone in the desert so that we could discuss our differences and try to put an end to our conflict。 This was only six days after I had slain ten of his people who had stolen into the Temple of Isis in the middle of the night。 Ory had never sent so many before and I had been lucky to kill them all； had he sent twice the number both Suzama and I would have died。 Actually； I wondered why he had not； which should have served as a warning to me。
I sent back a messenger saying I would be happy to meet him。
He planned to kill me as surely as I planned to kill him。
Before heading to the desert I met with Suzama to tell her my plans。 She was in her inner chamber in the temple and in a particularly reflective mood。 She was writing when I entered but put aside the papyrus so that I could not see it。 Her usual warm greeting was missing。 Before I could speak； she wanted to know why I was dressed for the desert。
〃You are wrong to think your enemies possess any virtues；〃 I say。 〃I tire of our always having to be on guard。 I am meeting with Ory tonight deep in the desert。 He has chosen the spot but I know it well。 When the head vanishes； the body falls。 It will end tonight。〃
But Suzama shook her head。 〃This is not my will。 You have not asked my permission。 Tonight the stars are particularly inauspicious。 Cancel the meeting right now。〃
I sat beside her。 She almost seemed to disappear in the large silk cushions。 Dressed in a simple white robe； she wore a blue scarf around her neck。 Woven inside it were threads of gold that outlined all the constellations in the sky； even those seen from the bottom of the world。 The latter； Suzama said； she had seen in visions。 I had no doubt they were correct； even though I would not listen to her when it came to Ory。 It was my turn to shake my head。
〃I never told you how many of his people I slew last week；〃 I said。
〃How many？〃
〃Ten。〃
She grimaced。 〃In here？〃
〃I was able to deal with most of them outside。 But there will be more if I don't destroy Ory now。〃
〃But you don't know Ory。 You don't know what he is。〃
〃Of course I do。 He is a Setian。〃
Suzama spoke gravely。 〃He is a real Setian。 Just as you are no longer human； he is not one of our kind。 Those he sent to kill us before were mere students。〃 She paused。 〃I suspect he is not from this world。〃
〃I don't care；〃 I say。 〃If he es alone； I can deal with him。 And if he doesn't； then I will know and decide what to do。 But I know I must face him。 It is foolish to wait。〃
Suzama was reflective。 〃Wisdom is not always logical。〃
〃Lacking your wisdom； I can only decide based on what I see and know。〃
She stroked my leg； which was bare beneath my robe。
〃You know； I foresaw this conversation；〃 she said。 〃Nothing I say to you right now will change your mind。 That is because of who you are and because of the stars above。 They pretend to be your stars but they're not。〃 She paused and spoke as if she were far away。 〃They are arranged as they were the night you were transformed into a vampire。〃
I am shocked。 〃Is this true？〃
She nods solemnly。 〃The serpent walked the forest。 The lizard crawls in the sand。 It is the same difference。〃 She squeezed my leg and her eyes were damp。 〃Tonight is a time of transformation for you。 Do you understand what I'm saying？〃
〃Yes。 Death is the biggest transformation。 Ory might kill me。〃
〃Yes。 It is possible。〃
〃You don't know for sure？〃
She was a long time answering。
〃No。 The Divine Mother does not show me。〃 She shook herself and came back to Earth； for a moment。 She kissed the side of my face。 〃Words are useless tonight； even written words。 Go then； and go with tight I will wait here for you。 I will be here when you return；〃
I hug her。 〃I owe you a great deal。 Tonight； perhaps I can repay you。〃
There was a place twenty miles from the city； deep in the desert； called the Bowl of Flies。 In the late spring the flies would be so thick there during the day that it would be hard to breathe without inhaling them。 Yet at night they would all but vanish； and there was no reason to explain why they came at all。 There was nothing for the flies to eat； unless a small animal chanced to die there。 But then again； an unusual number of animals did collapse in that spot Even a bird could seize up in midflight and fall dead into the place。
Ory wanted to meet me in the bowl。
I arrived early to see if he had assassins hidden。 The area appeared empty for far around。 There was no moon but I didn't need it。 My eyes were not drawn to the sky as they usually were when the stars were so bright Suzama's words continued to haunt me。 She had ended our good…bye almost in midsentence。 Words are useless now。
Ory was suddenly there； sitting on a camel。
It was strange how I hadn't heard him approach。
He got down off his animal and slowly moved toward me。 I had also e on a camel but had sent my beast off。 For me to run twenty mites across the desert at night was nothing。 On the way home I hoped to be carrying Ory's head。 Like me； he wore a long naked sword in his belt； along with his sharp dagger。 Listening closely； I could still detect no others； and I thought him a fool to meet me under such circumstances。 Yet he smiled as he approached； his huge bald head shiny even in the faint starlight。 It smelled as if he had oiled his skull before ing； a disgusting ointment smell。
〃Sita；〃 he said。 〃I thought maybe you would not e。〃
I mocked him。 〃It is not often I am granted an exclusive audience with such a renowned spiritual figure。〃
〃Do you know whence our spiritual power es？〃
〃An unhappy place。 A place without love or passion。 I do not know the name of this place； but I do know I never want to go there。〃
He stood close； yet his hands stayed clear of his sword。 He gestured to the sky。 〃This world is not the only one。 There are many kingdoms for us to rule； and I can gain you safe passage to these other places； if you will join me。 I have watched you closely these last two years； Sita； and I know you are one of us。 You have power； you take what you wish。 You kill as a matter of course to satisfy your hunger； to satisfy your lust for life。 You move without the burden of conscience。 Yet you hide behind the dress of that slave fortune teller。 This I do not understand。〃
〃I hide behind no one。 Suzama is much more than a seer of the future。 She sees into the hearts of men and women。 She brings peace where there is pain； healing where there is sickness。 The Setians do none of these things。 They are interested in power for power's sake。 Nothing could be more boring to me； or more offensive。 You think we are alike only because I am strong。 But that is the only thing we have in mon； and before this night is over； even t