There had passed two nights and this was the third day.  Kelsie climbed from the green bowl of the Valley into its guardian heights and crouched in a huddle between two rocks facing that stretch of the unknown.  She had to force herself to accept what Simon Tregarth had told her, that she and the wildcat had come through some mysterious gate in time and space to another world - and, as far as Simon knew, there was no going back.  She was not ready to accept the rest of it - that she had been somehow summoned or kidnapped and brought by the Gate to answer some need here.  It was far easier to accept that chance had entrapped her.

If there was no going back then it was best that she prepare herself for this country.  She worked hard at the lilting tongue of the Green Silences people, even picked up words from the other race who shared this outpost of safety, for such Tregarth assured her that the Valley was.  It was only because she had been able to pass by certain symbols when they brought her here that she was judged to be worthy of the refuge at all.  Even then she had been closely questioned concerning both the black rider and the dying witch several times over.

That other witch - the cold gray pillar frightened her more than anyone she had met - even the Rider and his hound.  Mainly, Kelsie thought, it was because the woman was here on equal terms and could influence minds against her if she so chose.  That was a chance she would be likely to take on the first sign of any weakening on the part of Dahaun and her people.  Kelsie avoided her with determination though she believed that twice at least that other had made an effort to approach her.

Thoughts - or were they threats in the form of thought? - had crawled along the edges of her mind and she had fought them fiercely.  She had discovered that fixing her attention full upon some object and concentrating intently seemed to baffle that crawling, creeping invasion of her mind.  Twice she had been driven to inner battle to defend herself, both times when Dahaun and Tregarth were not there, nor even the gray woman so far as she could tell - only that pressure in her mind.  Both times she had been able to banish such a ravishment of her inner self by thinking of the dying witch, by saying the name which had passed between them as a kind of talisman of protection.

Each time she had detected that pressure she sensed that the impotent anger grew colder and more menacing.  At least the other had not obtained the jewel which seemed her great desire.  For the wildcat had taken it to the small lair Dahaun had caused to be made for her and her kittens, and she had not brought the gem into the light again.

Resolutely now Kelsie began again to turn over and examine the facts she had learned.  Not all within this place of safety were even of human form - yet they all appeared to share intelligence and a common purpose.

There were those who went armed like Tregarth and others of his kind, both men and women.  There were the people of Dahaun whose ever-changing color seemed to draw strength from the belts and arm bands they wore.  These were made of bright blue-green gems which might have life - of a kind.