Cuil and his companions had no idea how they had left the cliffside. Even after they were far away, their hands and feet were still trembling.
They returned to Cuil's home, and several young people who had never left the mountains in their lives immediately began asking excited questions.
"Cuil, are those people really that scary? Can they really eat that much?" "Cuil?" "What's wrong with you?"
Seeing the returning group's ashen, shell-shocked faces, the youngsters received no answers. Cuil, bringing up the rear, glanced at the young man who had spoken. He had not quite forgotten everything he needed to do, and shook his head.
"Little Gait, help us pass on a message. Tell everyone not to worry about the food from now on. Just provide ten times an ordinary person's portion. This is the money they paid. Give it to the elders to distribute."
"All of you go. Tell everyone not to worry. We're going to rest for a while. Hurry."
The youngsters exchanged looks, then could only nod and leave. Once they were gone, Cuil and his companions went inside. After closing the door, every one of them collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath.
Each could see the complicated emotions in his companions' eyes: fear, but also a strange exhilaration.
"That lord... he is..."
If they had put the information together correctly, if that feeling was right, if their instincts were right, then that lord might well be the ultimate object of worship of the former Quinas Civilization!
Before Cuil could even say the name, a shock seemed to run through them all, raising goosebumps instantly. An instinctive fear kept them from saying it aloud, even by an indirect name.
Even the Raven Church, the Revivalists among the Kordel People, dared not mention that being. At