a haze of memories; and the King leaning forward and staring before him
saw in the haze no more his palace walls, but saw a valley with a
stream that wandered through it, and woods upon either hill, and an old
castle standing lonely to the south. And the harper, seeing a strange
look upon the face of Khanazar, said:

"Is the King pleased who lords it over Averon and the mountains, and,
if there be aught beyond them, over all such lands as are?"

And the King said:--

"Seeing that I am a child again in a valley to the south, how may I say
what may be the will of the great King?"

When the stars shone high over Ilaun and still the King sat staring
straight before him, all the courtiers drew away from the great palace,
save one that stayed and kept one taper burning, and with them went the
harper.

And when the dawn came up through silent archways into the marble
palace, making the taper pale, the King still stared before him, and
still he sat there when the stars shone again clearly and high above
Ilaun.

But on the second morning the King arose and sent for the harper and
said to him:--

"I am King again, and thou that hast a skill to stay the hours and mayest
may bring again to men their forgotten days, thou shalt stand sentinel
over my great to-morrow; and when I go forth to conquer Ziman-ho and