She listened closely and suddenly she laughed. "Now are you as Jasor!" she exclaimed. "It was so he talked concerning his devices before the Zollarian war against which he planned."
"Always have I been as I am now," Jason told her. "Even as Naia of Aphur has always been the same."
"Always?" she questioned and turned searching eyes upon him.
"Aye, always, and ever will be," he answered, "until Jason and Naia shall be one."
She quivered. Her astral body glowed. Its fires leaped and flamed before him, white and purple and gold. Croft knew that he himself was swayed by a similar emotion and sought to check it lest he overtax her as yet not fully awakened understanding. "Come," he said again, "come," and led her south along the western mountains, exploring them, pointing out their beauties as they passed along.
It was thus he found an outcropping barrier of coal. He spied it and sank upon it, and bent to assure himself that he was not mistaken, and straightened with a radiant face. Here was energy stored for the furnaces he meant to raise across the land ere long. Until now charcoal had been used mainly in the metal trades. But—here—he had a vision of vast smelters once this coal was mined. And the Tamarizians were miners experienced for generations in the handling of ores.
He pointed to his find and explained to Naia that here was fuel.
"Zitu!" she cried in wondering half comprehension. "Would Jason burn a stone!"
"Nay," he said, and made plain the nature of the substance they discussed.