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any attention, but they are wonderful, like you say." "They are yours, and if ever you give them up this will be a land of blacks and grays. But that's not what I brought you here to tell you. Nor did I bring you to explain Gylf." "Where is he?" Toug looked around. "Where he was. I brought you so I could tell you about the Valfather." I sighed. "He's very kind and very wise, and in his kindness and his wisdom he's a man who stands on two legshis wisdom makes him kind and his kindness makes him wise. I told you I'd been in Skai for twenty years, even though it seemed a few days to you." "It was hard to believe," Toug mumbled. "I guess it was. It wasn't exactly true, since years are things of Mythgarthr; but twenty years takes us as near the truth as we're likely to get. After twenty years the Valfather spoke to me privately, something he hadn't done since I came. He began by asking about my first life, and he saw that even when we talked about my battle with Grengarm, I recalled very little. The mead of his hall has that effect, and it spares us a lot of pain. He asked me then whether I wanted those memories restored, and I said no. The Valfather is wiser than we are." Slowly, Toug nodded. "From the way I had answered him, he knew there was something more, and he asked whether I'd go back to your world if he let me. I couldn't remember Disiri, but I was haunted by her name and the feelings I got when I said it, and said I would." I stopped talking; but Toug did not say anything more though minutes passed, only watching the clouds of Dream fly overhead, and a castle like a star that flew among them. "We went to the spring Mimir," I said at last. "I drank its water and remembered you and Gylf, and a lot of other things. I visited myself, watching myself drink water in the ruins of Bluestone Castle. Afterward the Valfather laid his condition on me. You're a god to Baki and all the Aelf. You know that now." "They don't like us being gods, and I don't blame them." "Nor do I, because the fault is ours. There's evil and folly even among the Overcyns; but it's less, much less, than ours." I stopped again to think. "Baki sacrificed herself to me. Did we tell you?" "I don't think so." "She did. I drank her blood and was made well. That should have showed me how things stood, but it didn't. I didn't want to believe I was a god to anybody." "I understand," Toug told me fervently. "In the same way the Aelf have refused to be gods to the world below theirs, preferring to give them the worship they owe you. But that's not the point. The point is that the Valfather bound me not to use the authority that is mine. I was not to return as an Overcyn from Skai." "You mean you have to act like one of us?" Toug asked. "No. I mean I have to be less than one of you. I no longer have the authority of Mythgarthr. That can never be mine again. My authority's that of Skai. I swore not to use it, and if I break my oath I have to go back at once." Poor Toug could only gape. "I think it better if you know." I tried to keep my voice level. "From time to time I may need youneed somebody who can wield the authority of Mythgarthr for me, the way you did tonight. You need to understand why I need you." Toug swallowed. "In the meantime, you're not to sacrifice to me unless I ask. Neither are you to treat me differently in any way." "N-no, sir." "I'm glad you understand. Don't tell anyone. This is only a dream, after all." "Uns is coming, Sir Able. See there?" Toug pointed; Uns' bent figure was only just visible as it topped a rise, hurrying along crab wise, but making good time for all that. "We must go," I said, and the green hills of Dream, crowned with poplars and drooping cypress, were visible only as the reflection of the sun in water. Toug blinked and sat up. The fire was scarcely more than embers. Cloud stood over Uns' twisted form, her noble head bent until their lips nearly touched. A moment more and Cloud had faded to mist and was gone. Toug rose and put