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The Carnelian Throne
Silistra, Book 4
Janet Morris
1979

ISBN: 0-671-55936-2


to Perry Knowlton


THE SPIRIT GATE STOOD SIX TIMES THE HEIGHT OF A MAN
Its bars must have been driven deep in the riverbed itself, into the water far be-low the choppy
water. Where the shore reared up, the gate was fitted into a wall: featureless, towering undulant up the
banks, extending undiminished into the forest. Thunder roared and rippled to-ward us. Over the gate
danced lightning.
At that flashing signal the rain stopped. But the sound remained, redoubled. With querulous protest,
the lower half of the iron gate split, each section retreating into its wall of stone.
Chayin, with a grunt: ran. Sereth, mo-tioning me before him, followed. I stum-bled in the gaseous
mist, broke my fall with outstretched hands.
“Come on,” urged Sereth. “Look!”
I looked. And saw. And heard: the great gate, mysteriously as it had opened, had begun to close.
We ran, for it.
My numbed fingers grasped the slow-closing iron bars. I grabbed the lattice of body-thick, slimy iron
and pulled myself through. The gate’s sides rejoined, to pres-ent once more an impenetrable barrier.
“Estri, did you open the gate?” asked Chayin, touching my shoulder.
“No. I was going to ask you.”
“If you did not, and Ldid not, then who did?”

Also by Janet Morris
The Golden Sword
High Couch Of Silistra

Contents
I. The Spirit Gate
II. Deilcrit
III. Of Whelts and Wehrs
IV. The Eye of Mnemaat
V. Step-sister’s Embrace
VI. Nothrace By Night
VII. The Bowels of Dey-Ceilneeth
VIII. The Carnelian Throne
IX. Gardens of Othdaliee
 X. Imca-Sorr-Aat
Estri’s Epilogue
Glossary
I. The Spirit Gate
“Gate!” he bellowed over the storm, his dripping lips at my ear. The deluge had made us sparing of
words. Under leathers soaked to thrice their weight, I shivered in spasms. Arms clutched to my sides, I
stared into the rain. The driven sheets slashed me for my audacity. Lightning flared, illuminating the