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clean swept cloister。 This was the supreme dream； for its colors were rich and I could see all the mountains around us。 I am immortal； I said。
The garden dissolved。 I could see colors washed from a wall。
Then I stood in a midnight forest。 In the light of the moon； I beheld a black carriage ing down the road； drawn by many dark horses。 It passed me； its huge wheels stirring up the dust。 There came behind it a team of guards all clothed in black livery。
Pandora。
When I woke； I was lying against Akasha's breast； my forehead against her throat； my left hand clasping her right shoulder。 It was so sweet that I didn't want to move； and all the light of the shrine had bee one golden shimmer in my eyes； rather the way that light would bee in those long Venetian banquet rooms。
At last I kissed her tenderly and withdrew and then lay down and placed my arms around Bianca。
My thoughts were troubled and strange。 I knew it was time to find some habitat other than the shrine itself； and I knew as well that strangers were ing into our mountains。
The small city at the foot of our cliff was now thriving。
But the most dreadful revelation of this night was that Bianca and I could quarrel； that the solid peace between us could be violently and painfully ruptured。 And that I； at the first hard words from my jewel； could crumple into mental ruin。
Why had I been so surprised？ Could I not remember my painful quarrels with Pandora？ I must know that in anger； Marius is not
Marius。 I must know and never forget it。
30
THE FOLLOWING NIGHT we hunted down a pair of brigands who were traveling the lower passes of our mountains。 The blood was good； and from this small feast we went on to a little German town where we could find a tavern。
Here we sat； a man and his wife； one might presume； and over our mulled wine we talked for hours。
I told Bianca all I had ever known of Those Who Must Be Kept。 I told her the legends of Egypt…of how the Mother and Father had centuries ago been bound and ill used by those who would steal their Precious Blood。 I told her of how Akasha herself had e to me in a vision begging me to take her out of Egypt。
I told her of the few times Akasha had ever spoken to me in the Blood。 And I told her finally； finally； of what a pure miracle it had been that the Divine Parents had opened the door of the Alpine shrine when I had e to them too weak to budge it。
〃Do they need me？〃 I asked。 I looked into Bianca's eyes。 〃I can't know。 That's the horror。 Do they want to be seen by others？ I am in ignorance。
〃But let me make my final confession。 I became so angry last night because centuries ago when Pandora first drank the Mother's blood； she was full of dreams of bringing back to the Divine Parents the old worship。 By that I mean； a worship that included the Druidic Gods of the Grove； a religion that went back to the temples of Egypt。
〃I was furious that Pandora could believe in such a thing； and on the very night of Pandora's making I broke her dreams with my forceful logic。 And I went beyond that。 I pounded with my fist upon the Mother's very breast and demanded that she speak to us。〃
Bianca was amazed。
〃Can you guess what happened？〃 I asked。
〃Nothing。 The Mother gave no answer。〃
I nodded。 〃And there came no rebuke or punishment either。 Perhaps
the Mother had brought Pandora to me。 We could never know。 But please understand how I fear the very notion that the Divine Parents
might ever be worshiped。
〃Bianca； we are immortals； yes； and we possess our King and Queen； but we must never for a moment believe that we understand them。〃
To all this she nodded。 She weighed it all for a long time and then she spoke：
〃I was very simply wrong in what I said to you；〃 she told me。
〃Not in all of it；〃 I answered。 〃Perhaps if Amadeo had seen the King and Queen； he would have escaped the Roman blood drinkers and e back to us。 Yet there is another way of looking at it。〃
〃Tell me。〃
〃If he had known the secret of the Mother and the Father； he might have been forced to reveal it to Santino； and the demons would have returned to Venice； searching for me。 They might have found both of us。〃
〃Ah； yes； all this is true；〃 she said。 〃I begin to see all of it。〃
We were easy now with each other in the tavern。 The mortals around us took no notice。 I talked on in a soft voice； telling her the story of how Mael had once tried； with my permission； to drink Akasha's blood and Enkil had moved to stop him。
I told her the dreadful tale of Eudoxia。 I told her of how I had left Constantinople。
〃I don't know what it is with you； my love；〃 I said； 〃but somehow I can tell you everything。 It was never so with Pandora。 It was never so with Amadeo。〃
She reached out and put her left hand on my cheek。
〃Marius；〃 she said。 〃Speak freely always of Pandora。 Don't ever think that I shall fail to understand your love for Pandora。〃
I thought this over for many long moments。 I took her right hand in mine and I kissed her fingers。
〃Listen to me； my love；〃 I said。 〃With every prayer； I ask the Queen if you might drink。 But I gain no clear answer。 And after what I witnessed with Eudoxia and Mael； I cannot take you to her。 And so I shall continue to give you my blood in so far as it will make you strong； but…。〃
〃I understand you；〃 she said。
I leant across the table and kissed her。
〃Last night in my anger I learnt many things。 That I cannot live without you was one。 But I learnt another。 I can now cover greatdistances with ease。 And I suspect my other powers have also increased beyond recent measure。 I must test these powers。 I must know how easily I can defeat those demons if ever they e near to me。 And tonight I want to test my power of flight more than any other。〃
〃And so you are telling me that you want to take me back to the shrine now； and go off to England。〃
I nodded。 〃The moon is full tonight； Bianca。 I must see the isle of Britain in the light of the moon。 I must discover this Order of the Talamasca with my own eyes。 It's scarcely possible to believe in such purity。〃
〃Why don't you take me with you？〃
〃I must be swift；〃 I answered。 〃And if there's danger I must be swifter still to escape it。 These are mortals after all。 And Raymond Gallant is only one of them。〃
〃You will be careful then； my love；〃 she said。 〃You know now more than ever that I very simply adore you。〃
It seemed then we would never quarrel again； that such a thing was impossible。 And it seemed imperative that I never lose her。
As we went out into the darkness； as I wrapped her in my cloak； I pressed my lips to her forehead as I took her into the clouds and homeward。
When I left her； it was two hours before midnight； and I meant to see Raymond Gallant before morning。
Now； it had been many years since my meeting with him in Venice。 He had been a young man then； and perhaps middle…aged at the time that I wrote my letter to him。
So it did occur to me as I set out on my journey that he might no longer be living。
Indeed； it was a terrible thought。
But I believed in all he had told me about the Talamasca and so I was determined to approach them。
As I moved towards the stars； the pleasure of the Cloud Gift was so divine that I almost lost myself in the rapture of the skies； dreaming above the isle of Britain； plunging to where I could see the land perfectly against the sea； not wanting to touch the solid Earth so soon or roam it so clumsily。
But I had consulted many a map in recent years to find the location of East Anglia； and I soon saw below me an immense castle with ten rounded towers which I believed to be the very one engraved upon the gold coin which Raymond Gallant had long ago given me。
The sheer size of the castle gave me doubts； however； but I willed myself to set foot on the steep hillside quite close to it。 Some deep preternatural instinct told me that I had reached the right place。
The air was cold as I began to walk； indeed as cold as it had been in the mountains which I had left behind me。 Some of the woods had e back； which had no doubt been cut down once upon a time for the safety of the castle； and I rather liked the terrain and I enjoyed walking in it。
I wore a full fur…lined cloak which I had taken from one of my victims。
I had my customary weapons； a thick short broadsword； and a dagger。 I wore a longer velvet tunic than was favored at the time； but this did not matter to me。 My shoes were new and I had bought them from a cobbler in Geneva。
As for the style of the castle； I figured it to be some five hundred years old； built in the time of William the Conqueror。 I surmised that it had once had a moat and drawbridge。 But these elements had long been abandoned； and I could see a great door before me； flanked by torches。
At last I reached this door； and pulled the bell； hearing a loud clang deep within the courtyard。
It did not take long for someone to e； and only then did I realize
the curious propriety of what I'd done。 In my reverence for this Order of Scholars I had not 〃listened〃 outs