The little beast ambled along serenely, sure-footed as all its mountain kind, and docile to darkness and guidance.
Then, an arm about Ruth, floated Norhala.

Now she was beside us; dropped her arm from Ruth; glided past us.

On for a hundred yards or more we went, and then she drew us a little toward the unseen canyon wall.
She stood before us, shielding us.

One golden call she sent.
I looked back into the darkness.

Something like an enormous, dimly shimmering rod was raising itself.