"You still seek vengeance against him?"
"No longer. He was merely an instrument of Arioch. But he will not forget his hatred of me, Rhalina."
The sky cleared and was blue and golden. A warm breeze blew.
"Are we then, Corum, to have no peace?"
"We shall have some, I think. But it will be merely a pause in the struggle, Rhalina. Let us enjoy that pause while we may. We have won that much, at least."
"Aye." Her tone became merry. "And peace and love that are won are more greatly appreciated than if they are merely inherited!"
He held her in his arms.
The sun was strong in the sky. Its rays struck a jeweled hand and a jeweled eye and it made them b.u.m brightly and flash like fire.
But Rhalina did not see them burning, for she slept again in Corum"s arms.
Moidel"s Mount came in sight. Its green slopes were washed by a gentle blue sea and the sun shone on its white stone castle. The tide was in, covering the causeway.
Corum looked down at Rhalina"s sleeping face. He smiled and gently stroked her hair.
He saw the forest on the mainland. Nothing threatened.
He glanced up at the cloudless sky.
He hoped the pause would be a long one.
This ends the First Book of Corum 176.