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guarding their powers in seclusion. Conversely, there was no need for them to be deferred to, near-worshipped.
    Callina smiled wryly, guessing my thoughts. “That’s true,” she said, “and I’m not greedy for power. But,” she met my eyes steadily, “you know why I’m against this alliance, Lew. I don’t want to bring it out in council, because it’s your affair really. I don’t like to ask you this, but I must. Will you tell them about Sharra and the Aldarans?” I bowed over her hand, unable to speak. For the sake of my sanity, I tried never to think or to speak about what the Aldarans, and their horde of rebels, had done to me—or to Marjorie.
    But now I must. I owed Callina a debt I could never pay. At the awful end, when I had fled with Marjorie—both of us wounded, and Marjorie dying—it had been Callina who opened the Hidden City to us. That night, when the swords of Darkover and the blasters of the Terrans had hounded us, alike, Callina had dared exposure to the radioactive site of the ancient starships, and risked a terrible death herself, to give Marjorie a bare chance of life. It had been too late for Marjorie; but I could never forget.
    Just the same—to drag it all out before the Council again— I felt the sweat break out on my forehead.
    Regis said quietly, “You’re the only chance we have, Lew. They might listen to you.”
    I swallowed. At last I said, “I’ll—try.”
    “Try to do what? Stay sober long enough to welcome us all?” Derik Elhalyn thrust his way gaily between Regis and Callina, and gripped my shoulders. “Lew, old fellow, I didn’t know you were on Darkover at all, until you popped up like one of those toys your father used to make for us! Dyan said it, but I’ll say it again—welcome home!” He stood back, waiting for me to return the clasp, then his eyes fell on my empty sleeve. He said quickly, trying to cover up the awkward moment, “I’m glad you’re back. We had some good times once.”
    I nodded, upset by his confusion but glad of a pleasanter memory. “And well have more, I hope. Are the Elhalyn hawks still the finest in the mountains? Do you still climb the cliffs to take your own nestlings?”
    “Yes, though Tve not so much time now,” Derik laughed. “Do you remember the day we climbed the north face of Neversin, hanging on by our eyebrows?” Once again he cut himself short, all too obviously remembering that L at least, would never climb again. For my part, I was wondering what would happen to the Comyn when this scatterbrained lad assumed the place rightfully his. Old Hastur was a statesman and a diplomat. But Derik? For once I was glad of the telepathic dampers which kept them from following my thoughts.
    Derik moved me toward the high seat, a hand on my shoulder. He said, “It was all arranged before your father died, you remember. But Linnell’s refused even to talk about setting a day for the marriage, until you were home again! So I have two reasons for welcoming you back!”
    I returned his affectionate grin. I wasn’t wholly alone, after all. I had kinsmen, friends. That marriage had been in the air since Linnell put away her-‘dolls, yet it waited for my consent. “I haven’t even seen Linnell yet,” I said. “Though I thought I had.”
    I wondered if Linnell knew she had a double in the Terran Zone. I’d have to tell her that; it would amuse her. But Hastur was calling us all to order again, and I took a seat between Regis and Derik. I was shocked at the small number of those who could claim blood-right in the Comyn; counting men and women alike, there were not three dozen. Yet they looked like a hostile army when, at Hastur’s signal, I rose to face them.
    I began slowly, knowing I must plead my cause without heat.
    “If I understand this, you want to ally with Aldaran, to restore the old Seventh Domain to the Comyn. You’re counting on this alliance to make peace with his mountain lords, and choke off all the outbreaks of