Its been arranged. There will be six candidates, the minimum permitted. There will be one high priest, his assistant, one jamadar as chief Strangler, with orders to strike down any chanter who raises his eyes from the floor. You may pick those three men yourself if you like.

Odd. Why so thoughtful?

Narayan whispered, I shouldnt tell you. Opinion is divided about whether youre the true Daughter of Night. Those who do believe expect you to have the priest, his assistant, and the chief Strangler put to death after Kina bestows her favor. They want to risk the minimum number of men.

What about the other candidates?

They wont remember.

I see.

Ill be among the chanters as your sponsor.

I see. I wondered what would happen to him if I failed. I dont care who the priests and Strangler are.

He grinned. Excellent, Mistress. You must prepare. Ram. Help me put the screen up again. Mistress, this is the robe youll wear till you stand before the goddess. He handed me a white bundle. The robe looked like it had been used for generations without having been mended or cleaned.

I got ready.

Chapter Sixty-Five

Chapter Sixty-Five

The temple had changed inside. Fires burned, dull and red, around the perimeter. Their light sent shadows skulking over ugly carvings. A huge idol had materialized. It was a close representation of the thing from my vision, although equipped with an ornate headdress loaded with gold and silver and gemstones. The idols eyes were cabochon rubies, each a nations ransom. Its fangs were crystal.

Three heads lay under the idols raised left foot. Priests were dragging a corpse away when my group of candidates entered. The dead man had been tortured before he had been beheaded.

Ten men lay on their faces to the right, ten more to the left. A four-foot aisle passed between groups. I recognized Narayans back. The twenty chanted continuously, Come O Kina unto the world and make Thy Children whole we beseech Thee Great Mother, so swiftly the words ran together. I was last in line. The chief Strangler stepped into the aisle behind me, black rumel in hand. I suspect his main function was to stop a candidate who developed cold feet, not to eliminate chanters who peeped.

Twenty feet of clear space lay between the chanters and the dais where the goddess stood. The three heads lay at eye level. Two appeared to watch our approach. The third stared at the sole of Kinas foot, clawed toes inches from its nose.

Two priests stood to my right, beside a tall stand supporting several golden vessels.