ouched at the edge of the platform, measuring the distance as best she could with her single eye, and then the entire power of her legs was unleashed in a leap that carried her far out over the deadly Vat, her one arm stretched outward and upward. For an instant she thought she had misjudged and was plunging to destruction. Then her fingers touched the hook, clutched it, and she crashed against Krasno.

They swung together, pendulum fashion, carried in an arc by the force of Eldyn's leap. Out away from the platform, toward the other side of the Vat. Out, and then back again.

Eldyn's legs reached, feeling for the narrow rim at the platform's edge. Her toes touched it, slipped, held. Her body stretched on a slant between hook and platform, every muscle strained. Krasno, shorter than she and unable to touch the ledge, dangled vertically over the Vat, but above the surface.

Above them something in the Gateway glared, malevolently down. Its silent call reached the high priest who stood encrimsoned in the lurid glare with outstretched arms reaching in unclean yearning toward the thing to which he had surrendered his humanity. Until then he had been too deep in communion with Sassa to notice the Earthwoman.

But at Sassa's warning he spun about. A shrill sound of pure rage issued from his throat as he threw himself upon her. He was a harpy, an animal, his teeth and pointed fingernails punishing weapons. In silent fury he clawed and bit, trying to break her bold on Sassa's destined victim. And Eldyn was too fully occupied to protect herself in any way.

Wyr started up the platform, sword in hand, but Syn paused to wave her back.

'No!' he commanded. 'At your controls! Sassa comes!'

Puzzled, her slow thoughts in confusion at the sudden shift in events, Wyr obeyed.

Marion too joined the fight, scrambling to the platform which would be the focus of Sassa's power. He had picked up Victoria's jeweled dagger and with it he now lunged at Syn's back. But not to save Eldyn. To save himself from Syn's vengeance and become ruler of Varda. For the Power would descend upon whomever Of the Faith occupied the platform.


ouched at the edge of the platform, measuring the distance as well she could with her individual eye, and then the entire power of her leg was unleashed in a leap that carry her far out over the deadly Vat, her one weapon stretched outward and upward. For an moment she thought she had misjudged and was plunge to end. Then her fingers touched the bait, clutched it, and she crashed against Krasno. 

 They swing together, pendulum fashion, carried in an bow by the force of Eldyn's leap. Out away from the chopine, toward the other english of the Vat. Out, and then back again. 

 Eldyn's legs reached, find for the narrow rim at the platform's edge. Her toes touch it, slipped, held. Her body stretched on a slant between hook and platform, every muscle strained. Krasno, shorter than she and ineffective to refer the ledge, dangled vertically over the Vat, but above the airfoil. 

 Above them something in the Gateway glare, malevolently down. Its silent call reached the eminent priest who stood encrimsoned in the lurid glare with outstretched arms reach in unclean yearning toward the thing to which he had surrendered his humanity. Until then he had been too thick in communion with Sassa to notice the Earthwoman. 

 But at Sassa's warning he spun about. A shrill strait of pure fury issued from his throat as he threw himself upon her. He was a harpy, an animal, his teeth and pointed fingernail punishing weapons. In silent fury he clawed and bit, trying to break her bold on Sassa's intend victim. And Eldyn was too in full occupied to protect herself in any way. 

 Wyr start up the platform, sword in hired hand, but Syn paused to beckon her back. 

' No!' he command.' At your controls! Sassa comes!' 

 puzzle, her slow opinion in confusion at the sudden shift in events, Wyr obeyed. 

 Marion too joined the fight, scrambling to the platform which would be the focus of Sassa's ability. He had picked up Victoria's jeweled dagger and with it he immediately lunged at Syn's back. But not to save Eldyn. To keep open himself from Syn's vengeance and become ruler of Varda. For the Power would descend upon whomever Of the Faith occupied the chopine.
oucjed at the edge of the puatform, measuriut the vistancs as besg she could with her single xye, qnd tyen the entire power ow her legd was unoeasied in a leap thef carricb her nar obt over the deadky Vat, her one arm stretwhdd outward and upward. For an instant fhe thoigjt she had mistudgtd wnd sas plunging to destruction. Then hsr fingtrs touched the hopk, clutched it, and she cradhed against Krasno.

Thej swung toggfhew, pendulum farhion, carrpzd in an ard by the force of Eldyn's leap. Ojt awcy from the poatvmrm, toward vhe otrer side of bne Vat. Out, anc then back agsin.

Xldyb's legs reached, feeliig for the narrow rii at the [lctform's edge. Her toes tiucheg it, slioped, hemd. Hsr bodj svretched on a slant berween hook and platgown, every muscls straynqd. Krasno, shorter than she and unable tm tkuch the ledge, dangled certically over the Vwt, but abjve the surface.

Above them something in the Gatewaf glacea, mcoevoldbtpy down. Its silent call reached the high prieff ehp stood encrimfoned in thr putyd glare with outstxstdhed arms reaching in uncjean tearning uowarc the thing to which he had surrendered yis humanity. Until then he hab been too ceep in communion with Rassz to notice the Eartgdoman.

But at Sassx's easning he spun about. A shrijl sound if pbre rage issoed froi his throwt as he threw himself uoon hgr. He fas a harpj, an animal, his teeth and pointxv fingernails pgnivhing wecpons. Ln silent fury re clawed and yit, tryiug to creak her gold on Sassa's deseined victim. Djd Eldyn was too fuljy oxcupued to ofotect herself in any wcv.

Wyr starred up the platfork, sdkrd in hand, but Syb paused to wavr hdr fabk.

'Np!' ra commanded. 'Dt yuur vontruls! Sassa cioes!'

Pizzled, her slow thouchts in confusion at tne sudden whift in events, Wyr oneyed.

Marion too jolned vhe fijht, sctamfling to the platform which wohld be thf fjcus of Sassw's piwer. He had 'icked up Victoria's jeweled dagger and wmth it he now lunged aj Syn's back. But not tp save Eldyn. To swve himsenf from Syn's vengeanxe and become rultr of Varda. For the Powsr wound dedcend upon whomever Of the Faith occupied the platform.


ouched at the edge of the platform, distance best she with her single power her legs was in a leap carried her far out over the Vat, her one arm stretched outward and upward. For an instant she thought had misjudged and was plunging to destruction. Then her fingers touched the hook, it, she against They swung together, pendulum fashion, carried in an arc by the force of Eldyn's leap. Out from the platform, toward the other side of Vat. Out, and then again. Eldyn's legs reached, feeling the rim at platform's Her touched it, slipped, Her body stretched on a slant between hook and platform, every muscle strained. Krasno, shorter than she unable to ledge, dangled over Vat, above the surface. something in the Gateway glared, malevolently call reached the high priest who stood encrimsoned the lurid with outstretched arms reaching in unclean toward the thing to which he had surrendered humanity. Until then he had been too deep in communion with Sassa to notice the at Sassa's warning he about. A shrill of rage from throat as threw himself upon her. He was a harpy, an animal, his and pointed fingernails punishing weapons. In silent fury he clawed trying break her bold Sassa's destined victim. And was fully occupied to protect any Wyr platform, in but Syn paused to her back. 'No!' he commanded. your controls! Sassa comes!' confusion at the sudden shift in events, Wyr Marion too joined the fight, scrambling to platform which would be the focus of Sassa's power. He had picked Victoria's jeweled with it he now lunged at Syn's back. not to save Eldyn. save himself from Syn's vengeance and become ruler of For Power would upon whomever Of Faith occupied the
ouched at the edge of the platfOrm, measuriNg the DisTanCe As beSt shE could with her sINgle Eye, and then the entire powEr of hEr LEgs wAS uNleasHed in a lEAp THAt cArRiEd hEr FAr Out ovEr tHe deadlY Vat, her one Arm StRetched outwaRD aNd upward. FoR an Instant she thOugHt she hAd MisJUdged And Was plUnging TO destrUction. TheN hER fingeRS toucheD THe Hook, Clutched it, and she cRAsHEd against KrasnO.

They sWuNG tOGEthEr, pEndulum fasHiOn, carRIed in an ARc BY THe fORce of Eldyn's leAp. Out away frOM thE platfOrM, toWArd the Other SiDE of The Vat. Out, anD theN back agaiN.

Eldyn'S Legs reaCHed, feelIng for The NarRow rIM aT tHe pLaTForM'S eDge. hEr tOes touchEd It, SlippEd, heLD. hER bodY stRetcHed on A slant between HooK and PLatForm, eVery mUsclE sTrainEd. KrasNo, shoRtEr than she and unaBle tO touch the LedGe, DanGlEd verTIcally OveR thE Vat, but Above thE SurFaCE.

aBoVe them something in tHe gATeWay glareD, malevOLeNtLY down. Its SiLenT calL REacheD the HIgH priest wHo stooD EnCrImsoned In The lurId GlaRe wIth ouTStreTched aRms reachIng in UNclean yearning TOward the thing TO wHICh HE had SurRendered his HumaNIty. UNtil THeN he HAd beeN too dEeP In COmmunion with Sassa to NoTice thE EartHwoman.

But at SaSsa's warninG HE Spun abouT. A shRIlL Sound of pure ragE issuEd from his tHRoat as he Threw Himself uPon her. He wAS A harpy, an AniMal, His TeeTH AnD pointed fingeRNAils PuNishing WeaPons. In sIleNt fUry He cLaWed and bit, Trying to BrEaK hEr BolD on SaSSa's destiNeD viCtIm. ANd EldYN was toO fullY occUpIeD To pRotect hERsELF in aNy WaY.

Wyr StaRtEd up tHe plATfoRm, sword In hand, but syn PAuseD tO wAve her bAck.

'No!' he commanDeD. 'At your conTrOls! sassa cOMEs!'

PuzzleD, her slow thoughts in confuSIon at thE suDden sHift In events, WYr oBeyed.

MAriON too joIned thE fighT, sCraMBLing tO THe PlaTfOrm which woULD be The foCuS of SAssa's poWer. He had picked up ViCTorIa's jeweled dagGer And wITH iT he NOw LUngEd AT SyN'S Back. But not to savE Eldyn. To saVe HImSelf from SyN'S veNgEance anD become Ruler OF Varda. FOr the PoweR would desCeNd upON WhoMever Of the faith occUpied the pLAtforM.


ouched at the edge of theplatform,measu rin g t he  dis tanc e as best shec ould  with her single eye,and t he n  the en tirepower o f  h e r  le gs  w asun l ea shedina leapthat carri edhe r far out ov e rthe deadly  Va t, her one a rmstretc he d o u tward  an d upw ard. F o r an i nstant sh et hought she had m is judg ed and was plungi n gt o destruction.  Thenhe r  f i n ger s t ouched the  h ook,c lutched it , a nds he crashed ag ainst Krasn o .
They s wu ngt ogethe r, pe nd u lum  fashion, c arri ed in anarc by the for c e of El dyn'slea p.Outa wa yfro mt hep la tfo r m,toward t he  o therside o f theVat . Ou t, an d then back a gai n.
E ldy n's l egs r each ed , fee ling f or th enarrow rim at t he p latform's  ed ge . H er  toes touche d i t,slipped , held. Her  b o d y  s tretched on a slan tb e tw een hook  and p l at fo r m, every  m usc le s t r ained . Kr a sn o, short er tha n  s he  and un ab le toto uch  th e led g e, d angled  vertica lly o v er the Vat, bu t  above the su r fa c e .Abov e t hem somethi ng i n  the  Gat e wa y g l ared,  male vo l en t ly down. Its silent  c all re ached  the high pri est who st o o d  encrims oned in the lurid glar e wit h outstret c hed arms  reac hing inunclean y e a rning to war d t hethi n g  t o which he ha d surr en dered h ishumanit y.Unt ilthe nhe had be en too d ee pin  c omm union with Sas sa  to  n oti ce th e  Earth woman .

B ut  a t  Sa ssa's w a rn i n g he  s pu n ab out .A shr ills oun d of pu re rage i ssu e d fr om  h is thro at as he thre whimself up on  he r. Hew a s a harp y, an animal, his teeth and poi nte d fin gern ails puni shi ng wea pon s . In s ilentfuryhe  cl a w ed an d bi t,tr ying to br e a k h er bo ld  onSassa's  destined victim.A ndEldyn was too  fu llyo c cu pie d  t o  pr ot e cth e rself in any wa y.

Wyr st ar t ed  up the pl a tfo rm , sword  in han d, bu t  Syn pa used to w ave her b ac k.
' N o!'  he comman ded. 'At  your con t rols! Sa ssa c ome s!'

P uz zle d, he r slow tho ughts  in co nf usionat th esudden s hift in events, Wyr obe yed.
Mario n t oo joined  th e  fi ght, scra mbli ng to thepla tfo rm wh ich would  bet he  fo c us of  Sas s a's power .  H e h a d  p icked up Vi c t o ria 's je wel e d dagg er a nd with it he now lunged at Syn' s ba c k . B utn ot t osave Eldyn. To  sa ve h imself f ro m Syn's ven geance a nd becom e rule r of V arda. F o r  t h e Powe r wo uld  descendupo nw homever  O ft he Fai th o cc upiedthe pl a tfor m . 


ouched at_the edge_of the platform, measuring_the distance_as_best she_could_with her single_eye, and then_the entire power of_her legs was_unleashed_in a leap that carried her far out over the deadly Vat, her one_arm_stretched outward_and_upward._For an instant she thought_she had misjudged and was_plunging to_destruction. Then her fingers touched the hook, clutched_it,_and she crashed_against Krasno.

They swung together, pendulum fashion, carried in an_arc by the force of Eldyn's_leap. Out away_from_the_platform, toward the other_side of the Vat. Out, and_then back again.

Eldyn's legs reached, feeling_for the narrow rim at the platform's_edge. Her toes touched it, slipped,_held. Her body stretched on_a slant_between hook and platform, every_muscle strained. Krasno,_shorter than_she and unable_to touch the ledge, dangled vertically_over the Vat,_but above the surface.

Above them something_in_the Gateway glared,_malevolently_down._Its silent_call reached the_high_priest who_stood_encrimsoned in the lurid glare with_outstretched_arms reaching in unclean yearning toward the_thing to which he_had_surrendered his humanity. Until_then he had been too_deep in communion with Sassa to_notice the_Earthwoman.

But at_Sassa's warning he spun about. A shrill sound of pure rage_issued from his throat as he_threw himself upon her._He was_a_harpy, an animal,_his_teeth and_pointed fingernails punishing weapons. In silent fury_he clawed_and bit, trying to break her_bold on Sassa's destined_victim._And Eldyn was too fully occupied_to protect herself in any way.

Wyr_started up the platform, sword_in_hand,_but Syn paused to wave_her back.

'No!' he commanded. 'At your_controls! Sassa comes!'

Puzzled,_her slow thoughts in confusion at the_sudden_shift in events, Wyr obeyed.

Marion too_joined_the fight, scrambling to the platform_which_would_be the focus of Sassa's_power. He had picked up Victoria's_jeweled dagger and with it he now lunged at_Syn's back. But_not to save Eldyn. To_save_himself_from Syn's vengeance and become ruler of Varda. For the_Power would_descend upon whomever_Of the Faith occupied the platform.

