“How think you of that, Ywain of the proud head, who have always loathed and scorned us?”
“I think,” said Ywain, “that I will fall upon my own sword first.”
Hishah shrugged. “Fall then.” He turned to Garach. “And you?”
But Garach had already crumpled to the stones in a dead faint.
Hishah turned again to Carse. “And now,” he said, “you shall see how we welcome our lord!”
Boghaz moaned and covered his face with his hands. Carse gripped the futile sword tighter and asked in a strange, low voice:
“And no one ever knew that Rhiannon had finally turned against you Dhuvians?”
Hishah answered softly, “The Quiru knew but nevertheless they condemned Rhiannon because his repentance came too late. Other than they only we knew. And why should we tell the world when it pleased our humor to see Rhiannon, who hated us, cursed as our friend?”
Carse closed his eyes. The world rocked under him, and there was a roaring in his ears, as the revelation burst upon him.
Rhiannon had spoken the truth in the place of the Wise Ones. Had spoken truth when he voiced his hatred of the Dhuvians!