An Axe for Men. Summary

Sais is a Priestess-bride of the Temple in a city called Great Saloe. She remembers how the waters recently turned to salt and overran the fields. The people were forced to move out of the city or die of starvation. The Lady of Saloe orders the city's sacred bulls to be killed in sacrifice to the goddess Tar'atha. Sais knows this isn't according to ritual. The bulls can be sacrificed, but the Twin Kings must dance with them first. Their death is carried out anyway. The people loaded up their belongings and took the image of Sleeping Tar'atha with them as they left through the mud.

The people settle to camp for the night and Sais dreams. She shouldn't be able to dream because she is still a virgin, yet she does. She sees a king full...