"How is he chosen?"
Gornom explained. When he had finished, a silence thick as velvet descended upon the room. Then, very suddenly, all the elders spoke at once.
"May the masters live forever."
Cadnan, by this time, was nearly paralyzed with fright. He sat very still. The elders continued, in a slow, leaden chorus:
"May the masters live forever.
"May the words live forever.
"May the lessons live forever.
"May the truths live forever."
Then the velvet silence came down again, but the words rang through it faintly until Gornom broke the spell with speech.
"The young one has come to learn. He has come to know the truths." He looked around at the others and then went on: "His name is Cadnan. He wishes to have your names. Let him have your names."