t. Let me but remind you that the
choice is yours, and when the choice is made I shall not yea or nay
you, but think on this--a woman, too, must have her quiet strength,
and you spring of a race of queens. How shall the people look to the
Tanaids for strength in times of doubt and trouble, if a Tanaid cannot
meet the Trial? The choice is yours. But think on who you are."

* * * * *

The mother slipped away and left Juba alone in the quiet precinct of
Juno, watching how the little fire caught at the silver backs of
turned leaves when the wind blew.

Yes, Juba knew who she was, though they had never made it an important
thing to be a ruler. But ruler or not, she loved her land and her home
and her people, and even this ringed space of quiet where the spirit
of Juno burned safely. Life somehow had chosen for her to be born and
had made room for her in this particular place. Now _she_ must choose
_it_, freely. Otherwise she would never have in her hands the threads
of her own life, and there would be no life for her. Only the complete
loss of self that comes to the Watchers of the Holy Flame. And that is
a holy thing, and an honor to one's house, if it is chosen from the
heart. But if it is chosen from fear of crossing the passageways of
life--then it is no honor but a shame.

And Juba knew she could not bear such a shame, either for her house or
within the depths of her soul.

"Mother Juno," she prayed, "make clear the vision of my soul, and let
me not, in my vanity, think I find good what the goddesses see to be
evil."

So she rose with a strong and grateful heart, as though she had
already faced her trial and had been equal to it.

The rest of the night she slept warmly, so unaware are we of the
forces within us.

* * * * *

The first fingers of the sun pulled Juba from her cot, as they pull
the dew from the green things of the earth, and she pinned in her hair
the first Laesa she saw that the sun's fingers had forced.

The Man was standing beside his space ship again. It was a small
ship--indeed, from the angle of Juba's approach, and from the
glancings of the sun, it looked smaller than the Man.

Juba's decision held firm within her, for she saw there was no
humility in him. He stood there laughing at the dawn, as though he
were a very god, and were allowing the earth and sky to draw off their
shadows for him, instead of standing in awe and ful