Li Sung said, "I believeI know a way to make the construction go faster."
"How?"
"By using theelephants," Li Sung said. "Our slowdown right now is because of theclearing problem. In Kasanpore, elephants were sometimes used forclear-ing."
"Wild elephants?"
"No, elephants that hadbeen trained for years by their handlers, theirmahouts.But I havetalked to Dilam about this and, if I can get Danor to clear the trees I wanthim to clear, she thinks the other elephants will follow him. Since they haveto consume such vast quantities of leaves anyway, we might as well guide themin the way that's most useful to us."
Ruel turned to Jane. "Doyou think it will work?"
"I'll have to think aboutit. This is as much a surprise to me as it is to you. Li Sung didn't mentionthe plan to me."
"I forgot," Li Sungsaid absently, and then went on. "If you and Jane combine crews, Dilam andI will be freed to take the elephants and go on ahead to clear the terrainalong the track route from here to the canyon wall."
"Just the two ofyou?"
"I'll need three Cinnidanelephant handlers to help me besides Dilam. It would be dangerous to have toomany people in the area with that many uncontrolled elephants millingaround."
Ruel turned to Jane."Well?"
"We could try it,"she said slowly. "If we can get the Cinnidan High Council to provide thesemahouts."
"They will." Li Sungsmiled confidently. "I visited Dilam's village last night and spoke tothem. The handlers will be here tomorrow."
"I'm surprised they gavein so easily," Ruel said. "They're very careful of the safety oftheir people."
Li Sung smiled. "I tookthe precaution of making a splendid entrance into the village on Danor's back.They were very impressed."
"Well, you seem to haveeverything under control." Jane smiled with an effort. "It's a fineidea. We'll have to see if it works."
"It will work." LiSung stood up. "I'll go tell Dilam you approve."
"Yes, do that." Ruelsmiled as he watched Li Sung walk away. He added in a lower voice to Jane,"Not that it matters. I have an idea he would have gone ahead and done itanyway. Our Li Sung is changing. You won't find him in your shadow these days."
"He was never in myshadow," she protested.
"Wasn't he?"
"I never meant—" Shestopped, appalled. "Did I make him feel that?"
Ruel shook his head. "No,he stayed there because he had no reason to step out... until now."
Jane watched Li Sung moveacross the clearing to where Dilam was sitting with a group of Cinnidans. Ruelwas right, Li Sung had changed enormously in the past two weeks. Even the wayhe moved was different. Though he still limped, his gait was quick andpurposeful and, when he stopped beside Dilam and began speaking, his expressionwas intent, alert, and held more humor and determination than she had ever seenin him. This Li Sung would never be content in anyone's shadow.
She looked down at the coffeein her cup. "The Cinnidans think he's some kind of magician when they seehim riding Danor."
"Power." Ruel's gazewas still on Li Sung. "I think the elephant shared his power with him, butnow Li Sung knows he doesn't need it."
"What do you mean?"
"He's found it inhimself." Ruel suddenly chuckled. "God, how smugly profound I sound.But it's true. At this rate, he may be invited to sit on their council before Ido."
"Perhaps." Janethrew the remainder of her coffee into the flames and abruptly stood up."I'm going to my tent."
Ruel's smile faded. "Youdon't have to run away from me. I'm too much an opportunist not to realize Ican't do anything more tonight. I would never have even started it if I hadn'twanted to find out why you were upset with me."
"I'm not upset withyou," she burst out. "Everything in my world doesn't revolve aroundyou. There are other things that—" She turned on her heel. "Goodnight."
