But Cherkis smiled with evil understanding, shrugged his shoulders and whispered to him.

Sullenly Kulun stepped back.

The ring of the archers lowered their bows; they leaped to their feet and stood aside to let him pass.
Quick as a serpent's tongue a pyramid tipped tentacle flicked out beneath us.

It darted through the broken circle of the bowmen.
It LICKED up Ruth and Ventnor and--Kulun! Swiftly as it had swept forth it returned, coiled and dropped those two I loved at Norhala's feet.
It flashed back on high with the scarlet length of Cherkis's son sprawled along its angled end.
The great body of Cherkis seemed to wither.
Up from all the wall went a tempestuous sigh of horror.
Out rang the merciless chimes of Norhala's laughter.
"Tchai!" she cried.

"Tchai! Fat fool there.