Tanith Lee by Death Dances

Author:Death Dances
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-12-12T02:17:02+00:00

It was suns’ set. First the Great Sun sank down behind the western bank of the river, in a murky glory of red, russet, and amber. The Sun-Star followed like a lover. The sky turned to walnut brown, resembling an expanse of highly-polished table, then went black. The stars appeared, in complex patterns, such as the Sphynx, the Lion, the Lyre. The most intricate of all was that of the Winged Woman, which stretched for a quarter of the night across most of the eastern horizon, and was easily discernible, even by a child—body, limbs, wings, hair, drawn in blots of diamond. The air over Idradrud was thickly crusted with stars. So many that, even lacking a moon, which it always did, night was always also very nearly bright as day, except if there should be overcast.

Darkness being present then, punctually Death knocked at Bitza’s door.

Bitza reclined in or upon a black couch like a coffin. The room was hung with black cerements and had generally been made to imitate a tomb. Bitza herself wore a translucent shroud, and bone combs in her hair.

“It is a woman,” hissed Bitza’s maid. Bitza raised her brows. “Very well.” And so Death was shown up to the tomb-room, and Bitza looked at her with disfavour.

“I do not as a rule deal with women,” said Bitza. “But if you will meet my price, I will consider your desires.”

Death smiled.

When she did so, Bitza realized she had been mistaken. “Then,” she said, “it is a fact?”

Death nodded.

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