The cold sweat was bathing Toka again. But no immobility held him—only desire to get his great battle weapons and go for Roya!
"... Place your rings! Place your rings!..."
Where was his ax and knife!
"... On the other's finger! On the other's finger!..."
Toka thrust his ring on Kolano's marriage finger and received her brilliant band.
"... You are one! You are one!..." The Old Ones paused. "It is done!"
At once all Kosanna was gonging and choraling to the heights of joy. The air beat with it. The stone trembled with it. Rok and Old Ledo were muttering savagely. Kolano was trying to embrace Toka.
He thrust her from him. "My weapons—where are they?"
Disappointment was momentarily hot in Kolano's eyes. "They are here, O Great Prince Toka! And your canoe awaits beside the wharf!"
From beneath the voluminous robes of the second pair of Old Ones appeared Toka's weapons. Snatching his battle knife and buckling it on, Toka grabbed his great battle-ax and leaped from the altar. The wildly joyous Kosannans parted. Rok and Old Ledo fleet at his flanks, Toka raced across the square and down to the wharf. Only a long black canoe was awaiting. In a split instant Toka was kneeling at the bow thwart with black paddle in hand. Rok was as ready amidships, Old Ledo in the stern.