pictures had not prepared him for the reality. They were so much larger than he had thought they would be.
And the noise. The cage had ever been as silent as the grave save for the sound of his mother's voice before they took her away, but now he heard the bleating of sheep, the warbling of a lark, the caw of a crow, the lowing of cattle.
He longed to stop, to run his hands over the grass, to touch the animals, to speak to the shepherd, but his guards urged him onward, refusing to let him explore the wonders that surrounded him.
The building was much larger than he had thought. Up close, the smooth white stones seemed to glow in the light of the sun. There were half-moons and stars, sunbursts and comets carved on each of the two heavy wooden doors.
Four men wearing long black hooded robes stood in front of the massive portal.
They drew back asNavarre approached.
One of the black-robed men opened the door on the left and whenNavarre hesitated, one of the guards gave him a push andNavarre stumbled into the building.
For a moment, he could only stare at what he saw. The walls were at least twelve feet high. The domed ceiling was covered with gold leaf. The inside walls were made of luminous white stone. Brightly colored tapestries, woven with the same suns and moons that decorated the outer doors, were hung at intervals. He saw dozens of tall golden candelabra. The light and scent of a thousand candles overwhelmed him.
They led him down a long narrow hallway. Soft carpets muffled his footsteps. Paintings of stern-faced priests and kings lined the walls. An occasional window let in the sun's golden light.
At last, they reached a large round room that was decorated in muted shades of blue and saffron. A man in a long white robe sat behind a small desk, his face hidden in his cowl.
The guards made deep obeisance before the hooded man. "Your Eminence, we have brought the sacrifice, as ordered," said one.
Navarrefelt the hooded man's gaze move over him, as cold as ice, as palpable as a touch.
"He will do," the High Priest replied. "Unchain him and take him below. See that he is bathed and fed, then take him to his cell."
"It shall be as you command, Your Eminence."
One of the guards took hold ofNavarre 's arm, but he shook him off.
"Wait, I want to know..."Navarre grunted as two of the guards twisted his arms behind his back and forced him to his knees.
"You will not speak to the High Priest unless spoken to," the guard onNavarre 's right hissed. "You will beg His Eminence for forgiveness."
Navarrehad been taught from childhood to be obedient in all things, at all times. He had accepted the fact of the cage; he had accepted his fate; but now, from somewhere deep inside himself, sprang the first seeds of rebellion.
"I will not."
The guard onNavarre 's left grabbed a handful of his hair, jerked his head back, and slapped him across the face, hard.
Navarregasped, startled more by the fact that the guard had struck him than by the faint burning pain in his cheek. In all his life, no one had ever laid a hand on him in anger or violence.
"You will beg His Eminence to forgive you for your impertinence!" the guard demanded.
Still stunned by the fact that the man had struck him,Navarre shook his head. "No."
The High Priest leaned forward, andNavarre caught a glimpse of a face so gaunt, it appeared skeletal; eyes so pale, they seemed colorless.
The High Priest lifted his hand in a faint gesture, and one of the guards drove his fist intoNavarre 's face.
Navarregroaned as blood spurted from his nose and filled his mouth. He was stunned by the pain, and by the sudden urge to retaliate. He felt his hands curl into fists, and he wondered what it would feel like to strike out, to loose the anger and frustration building within him.
"Apologize," the guard commanded.
He knew it was foolish to defy them, but anger and pain fueled his resistance. Staring at the hooded man,Navarre shook his head. "No."
Again, that faint wave of the hand.
Navarretried to shield his head as the guards began to beat him, their fists driving into his ribs, his face, his back, until his whole body was throbbing with pain and he fell to the floor, trembling convulsively.
"Enough. He will be of no use to us if you damage him."