In a flash of intuition, Ula saw at once he was more frightened than hurt; he was afraid of the effect of this strange revelation upon his own reputation for supreme godship.

With every mark and gesture of deprecatory servility the woman sidled back to his side like a whipped dog.

For a second she looked down on the floor at the drops of blood; then, without one word of warning or one instant's hesitation, she bit her own finger hard till blood flowed from it freely.
"I will show this to Fire and Water," she said, holding it up before his eyes all red and bleeding.

"I will say you were angry with me and bit me for a punishment, as you often do.

They will never find out it was the blood of a god.