Maia was speaking softly as we reached them. "My mistress, you are quite assured then that the Hupor Jason understands?"
"Aye." Naia bent her cheek to rest it against the head of the infant. "Be of good courage, Maia, and fear not."
"I fear not for myself, but for you and that one against your breast," the blue girl answered. "Had it been my part to do so, I had done as Mitlos and died in your defense."
"I know." Naia stretched out a hand and touched the girl upon the shoulder. "May Zilla bear Mitlos as tenderly as my thoughts shall hold him—and did I not name you my sister Maia, after you rendered me aid in preserving my lord—and did you not insist on coming with me, though these men did not desire to take you, saying you were the child's attendant?"
"I came gladly," the blue girl said quickly, "yet do I not understand these sleeps in which you lie as dead, and I remember once when Mitlos and I worked above you thinking Zilla had taken your spirit, before you were the Hupor Jason's bride—and it was even so with the Hupor himself in the camp of the Mazzerian army, when we went to save him—"
"Peace, girl," Naia interrupted, and paused and caught her breath sharply, as Jason bent the force of his presence on her.
She smiled, handed the child to Maia, and reclined her body on the warm sand of the beach. Then she let the fair astral tenant of her body steal forth!
"Beloved," said Jason Croft, and drew her close. "Beloved—woman of gold—we have heard your words, I and our friend of earth."
Naia turned her head toward me from the shelter of his arms.
"Once more," she addressed me, "you come to our aid, good friend. Did Jason, my lord, call you to him?"