15/40 I stumbled, nearly fell, over a brown-faced, leather-cuirassed body that lay half over, legs barring the threshold. We were within that chamber of the pool. About it lay a fair dozen of the armored men. Ruth's defense, I thought with a grim delight, had been most excellent--those who had taken her and Ventnor had not done so without paying full toll. Close to the pool wherein we had first seen the white miracle of Norhala's body, two immense, purple fired stars blazed. |