With the Ana perched on his shoulder and the green rod of destruction in his hand, Garin strode into the gloom of Tav—pledged to bring the Daughter out of the Caves of Darkness....
"This is the Place of Ancestors," he announced as he stepped within.
They were at the end of a colossal hall whose domed roof disappeared into shadows. Thick pillars of gleaming crystal divided it into aisles, all leading inward to a raised dais of oval shape. Filling the aisles were couches and each soft nest held its sleeper. Near to the door lay the men and women of the Folk, but closer to the dais were the Ancient Ones. Here and there a couch bore a double burden, upon the shoulder of a man was pillowed the drooping head of a woman. Urg stopped beside such a one.
"See, outlander, here was one who was called from your world. Marena of the House of Light looked with favor upon him and their days of happiness were many."
The man on the couch had red-gold hair and on his upper arm was a heavy band of gold whose mate Garin had once seen in a museum. A son of pre-Norman Ireland. Urg traced with a crooked finger the archaic lettering carved upon the stone base of the couch.
"Lovers in the Light sleep sweetly. The Light returns on the appointed day."
"Who lies there?" Garin motioned to the dais.
"The first Ancient Ones. Come, look upon those who made this Tav."
On the dais the couches were arranged in two rows and between them, in the center, was a single couch raised above the others. Fifty men and women lay as if but resting for the hour, smiles on their peaceful faces but weary shadows beneath their eyes. There was an un-human quality about them which was lacking in their descendents.
Urg advanced to the high couch and beckoned Garin to join him. A man and a woman lay there, the woman's head upon the man's breast. There was that in their faces which made Garin turn away. He felt as if he had intruded roughly where no man should go.