elieved, and the bold dream of governing their
warriors and their kings by the wisdom of deceit had never dared to
cross men thus worn and gray with age.

The son of Osslah entered the vast pile with a fearless step, and
approached the place at the upper end of the hall where the old men sat
in conclave.

"How, base-born and craven-limbed!" cried the eldest, who had been
a noted warrior in his day, "darest thou enter unsummoned amidst the
secret councils of the wise men? Knowest thou not, scatterling! that the
penalty is death?"

"Slay me, if thou wilt," answered Morven, "but hear! As I sat last night
in the ruined palace of our ancient kings, tending, as my father bade
me, the sheep that grazed around, lest the fierce tribe of Alrich should
descend unseen from the mountains upon the herd, a storm came darkly on;
and when the storm had ceased, and I looked above on the sky, I saw a
star descend from its height towards me, and a voice from the star said:
'Son of Osslah, leave thy herd and seek the council of the wise men
and say unto them, that they take thee as one of their number, or that
sudden will be the destruction of them and theirs.' But I had courage
to answer the voice, and I said, 'Mock not the poor son of the herdsman.
Behold, they will kill me if I utter so rash a word, for I am poor and
valueless in the eyes of the tribe of Oestrich, and the great in deeds
and the gray of hair alone sit in the council of the wise men.'

"Then the voice said: 'Do my bidding, and I will give thee a token that
thou comest from the Powers that sway the seasons and sail upon the
eagles of the winds. Say unto the wise men this very night if they
refuse to receive thee of their band, evil shall fall upon them, and the
morrow shall dawn in blood.'

"Then the voice ceased, and the cloud passed over the star; and I
communed with myself, and came, O dread father, mournfully unto you; for
I feared that ye would smite me because of my bold tongue, and that ye
would sentence me to the death, in that I asked what may scarce be given
even to the sons of kings."

Then the grim elders looked one at the other, and marvelled much, nor
knew they what answer they should make to the herdsman's son.

At length one of the wise men said, "Surely there must be truth in the
son of Osslah, for he would not dare to falsify the great lights of
Heaven. If he had given unto men the words of the star, verily we
might doubt the truth. But who would b