 on her back, breathing raspingly through her open mouth. Wyr gave a satisfied grunt as she closed the door, and almost at once Eldyn had her ear to the panel again.

'Ugh! What an ugly sight! How can you stand having that thing near you?'

'When the stakes are the control of a world one can endure much,' the man said evenly. 'And it should not be for long.'

Wyr chuckled softly.

'There is one more problem,' Marion continued. 'She must be present on The Night.'

'An idiot Outworldling at an Observance! Impossible! Highness Syn would never permit it,' Wyr objected.

Marion's tone sharpened. 'Are you or are you not commander of the Forces? And aren't you clever enough to invent a story? Perhaps that a mild administration of life-essence from the Vat could restore enough of her mind to give you information on the Rebel defenses, and thus hasten The Night.'

Wyr gave a low whistle of appreciation. 'It might be arranged.'

Eldyn had heard enough, but still she had no plan. She must improvise in accordance with developments.

About failure she did not dare to allow herself to speculate. Even El-ve-dyn could fail—if she were really El-ve-dyn. And the price of failure she must keep from her mind lest it confuse her thoughts at a moment when she would need all her powers.

But now the deliberate self-torment of her body had served its purpose, and well. To carry it further would be stupid. Carefully she closed her mind against telepathic probing and prepared for sleep.

But her last thoughts were not of her own safety, not of the disheartening shock of discovering that Marion was not a prisoner but was Of the Faith, not of vengeance on Victoria. She thought instead of poor Krasno as she had last seen him, and of their unborn child—the child he had hoped would one day save Varda—doomed to die at birth. She cursed herself for a fool while her mind groped in hopeless longing.
CHAPTER IX

Gradually her body recovered. After the first day or two Marion tired of the menial tasks of caring for her wants, as she had expected, and turned them over to his mindless slaves. But first he assured her
on her back, breathing raspingly through her open mouthpiece. Wyr render a satisfied grunt as she closed the door, and about at once Eldyn had her ear to the panel again. 

' Ugh! What an surly sight! How can you stand have that thing near you?' 

' When the stakes are the command of a world one can endure much,' the valet said evenly.' And it should not be for long.' 

 Wyr chuckled softly. 

' There is one more trouble,' Marion continued.' She must be present on The Night.' 

' An idiot Outworldling at an Observance! Impossible! Highness Syn would never permit it,' Wyr objected. 

 Marion's spirit sharpened.' Are you or are you not commander of the Forces? And aren't you cagey enough to invent a narrative? Perhaps that a mild administration of life - essence from the tub could restore enough of her mind to give you information on the Rebel defenses, and therefore rush The Night.' 

 Wyr gave a low whistle of appreciation.' It might be arranged.' 

 Eldyn had heard enough, but still she had no plan. She must improvise in accord with development. 

 About failure she did not defy to leave herself to speculate. Even El - ve - dyn could fail — if she were really El - ve - dyn. And the price of bankruptcy she must keep from her judgment lest it confuse her thoughts at a here and now when she would need all her powers. 

 But now the deliberate self - torment of her body had serve its purpose, and well. To carry it further would be stupid. cautiously she closed her thinker against telepathic probing and prepare for sleep. 

 But her last thoughts were not of her own safety, not of the dishearten shock of discovering that Marion was not a prisoner but was Of the Faith, not of vengeance on Victoria. She thought instead of poor Krasno as she had last seen him, and of their unborn child — the child he had hoped would one day save Varda — sentence to die at birth. She curse herself for a fool while her judgment groped in hopeless longing. 
 CHAPTER IX 

 Gradually her torso recovered. After the beginning day or two Marion tired of the menial tasks of caring for her wish, as she had expected, and turned them over to his mindless slaves. But first he assured her
 on her back, breathing rasplngly through het ipen mmuth. Wgr gave x satisfied grunt as she clodee the door, and almost at onze Eldyn jad her war uo the panel agaii.

'Hgh! Whab an hnly sngit! How can you xtand havitg that thing texr you?'

'When the stakes are the control of a wprpd one can endore mlcr,' ths man said evenly. 'And it should nof be fog long.'

Wyr chucklec softly.

'There is one more orobpem,' Marion continufd. 'She must be [eesent on Thd Night.'

'An pbiot Outwormdling at an Observance! Impossicle! Hnghness Syn wiulf never permmt it,' Ryr objected.

Marion's done shsrpened. 'Are yom or ere tou not commander of vhe Forces? And aren't you clevar enough to invent a stori? Pervaps rhag a mmld adminlstcation of ljfe-essence drom the Vat could tefnpre enough or her iigd to give you information on the Rebel derenses, and thus hasten Rhe Night.'

Wyr gave a llw whistlq of appreciation. 'It might be arranged.'

Eldyn had haard xnuugk, but rripl she had no plan. She must improvise in accowsamcv with developmenbs.

About failure shr fic not dare to xllow ksraelf to speculate. Fven El-de-dyn could fayl—if she were really El-ve-dyn. Ane the price jd failure she must keep from ker mimd lext it confuse her thougkts at a moment wjen she wkjld need all her poeess.

But now the deliberate sqlf-tormenv of ker body had serveq its purplse, akg well. To carry it furtker wmuld be stkpid. Carefully she closed her mmid against teke[atvic probnng anc prepared fow sleep.

But her last tkoughtr were not of her own safety, not of the dhdheartening vhock of disxoveeing thxg Marion was npt a prisoner but wqs Of the Faith, nob of xsngeance on Viccutua. She thought inrtewd oh poow Krasno as sve hxd usst sden him, and uf tneir unborn child—the chimd he had hoped woilq one dai save Vawda—doomed to cie at birth. She ckrsed hecself gor a fool while her mind groped jn hopeleds jonging.
CHAPTQR IW

Graqually her body recovered. After the first day or vwo Marion tired of thg menial tasks of carnnn for her waits, as she had axpected, and turned rhem over to his kindless slaves. But fjrst ha asskred her
on her back, breathing raspingly through her Wyr a satisfied as she closed once had her ear the panel again. What an ugly sight! How can stand having that thing near you?' 'When the stakes are the control of world one can endure much,' the man said evenly. 'And it should not for Wyr softly. is one more problem,' Marion continued. 'She must be present on The Night.' 'An idiot Outworldling an Observance! Impossible! Highness Syn would never permit Wyr objected. Marion's tone 'Are you or are you commander the Forces? aren't clever to invent a Perhaps that a mild administration of life-essence from the Vat could restore enough of her mind to you information Rebel defenses, thus The Wyr gave a of appreciation. 'It might be arranged.' enough, but still she had no plan. She improvise in with developments. About failure she did dare to allow herself to speculate. Even El-ve-dyn fail—if she were really El-ve-dyn. And the price of failure she must keep from her it confuse her thoughts a moment when would all powers. now the self-torment of her body had served its purpose, and well. To it further would be stupid. Carefully she closed her mind probing prepared for sleep. her last thoughts were of own safety, not of shock discovering not prisoner was Of the Faith, of vengeance on Victoria. She instead of poor Krasno him, and of their unborn child—the child he hoped would one day save Varda—doomed to at birth. She cursed herself for a fool while her mind groped hopeless longing. Gradually her body recovered. After the first day two Marion tired of menial tasks of caring for her wants, as she expected, turned them to his mindless But first he her
 on her back, breathing raspingLy through hEr opeN moUth. wyR gavE a saTisfied grunt as SHe clOsed the door, and almost at Once ELdYN had HEr Ear to The paneL AgAIN.

'UgH! WHaT an UgLY sIght! HOw cAn you stAnd having tHat ThIng near you?'

'WhEN tHe stakes arE thE control of a wOrlD one caN eNduRE much,' The Man saId evenLY. 'And it Should not Be FOr long.'

wYr chuckLED sOftlY.

'There is one more prOBlEM,' Marion continuEd. 'She mUsT Be PREseNt oN The Night.'

'AN iDiot OUTworldlINg AT AN ObSErvance! ImpossIble! HighnesS syn Would nEvEr pERmit it,' wyr obJeCTed.

marion's tone SharPened. 'Are yOu or arE You not cOMmander Of the FOrcEs? ANd arEN't YoU clEvER enOUgH to INveNt a story? peRhAps thAt a mILD ADminIstRatiOn of lIfe-essence froM thE Vat COulD restOre enOugh Of Her miNd to giVe you InFormation on the REbel Defenses, aNd tHuS haStEn The nIght.'

WyR gaVe a Low whisTle of apPRecIaTION. 'IT might be arranged.'

ElDyN HAd Heard enoUgh, but STiLl SHe had no pLaN. ShE musT IMprovIse iN AcCordance With deVElOpMents.

AbOuT failuRe She Did Not daRE to aLlow heRself to sPeculATe. Even El-ve-dyn cOUld fail—if she wERe REAlLY El-vE-dyN. And the pricE of fAIlurE she MUsT keEP from Her miNd LEsT It confuse her thoughtS aT a momeNt wheN she would need All her poweRS.

bUt now the DeliBErATe self-torment oF her bOdy had servED its purpOse, anD well. To cArry it furTHEr would bE stUpiD. CaRefULLy She closed her mIND agaInSt telepAthIc probiNg aNd pRepAreD fOr sleep.

BuT her last ThOuGhTs WerE not oF Her own saFeTy, nOt Of tHe disHEartenIng shOck oF dIsCOveRing thaT maRIOn waS nOt A priSonEr But waS Of tHE FaIth, not oF vengeancE on vIctoRiA. SHe thougHt instead of poOr krasno as shE hAd lAst seeN HIm, and of tHeir unborn child—the child HE had hopEd wOuld oNe daY save VardA—doOmed to Die AT birth. she curSed heRsElf FOR a fooL WHiLe hEr Mind groped IN HopEless LoNginG.
CHAPTEr IX

Gradually her bodY RecOvered. After thE fiRst dAY Or Two mArIOn tIrED of THE menial tasks of cAring for heR wANtS, as she had eXPecTeD, and turNed them Over tO His mindLess slaveS. But first He AssuRED heR
 on her back, breathing ra spingly th rough  he r o pe n mo uth.  Wyr gave a sa t isfi ed grunt as she closed  thedo o r, a n dalmos t at on c eE l dyn  h ad  he re ar  to t hepanel a gain.

'Ug h!Wh at an ugly s i gh t! How can  yo u stand havi ngthat t hi ngn ear y ou? '

'W hen th e  stake s are the  c o ntrolo f a wor l d  o ne c an endure much,'t he man said evenl y. 'An di ts h oul d n ot be forlo ng.'Wyr chu c kl e d sof t ly.

'There i s one morep rob lem,'Ma rio n  conti nued.  ' S hemust be pre sent  on The N ight.' 
'An id i ot Outw orldli ngatan O b se rv anc e! Imp o ss ibl e ! H ighnessSy nwould  nev e r p ermi t i t,'Wyr o bjected.

Mar ion 's t o nesharp ened.  'Ar eyou o r areyou n ot  commander of t he F orces? An d a re n't  y ou cl e ver en oug h t o inven t a sto r y?Pe r h a ps  that a mild admin is t r at ion of l ife-es s en ce from the  V atcoul d resto re e n ou gh of he r mind to  g ive you  i nforma ti ononthe R e beldefens es, andthush asten The Nigh t .'

Wyr gavea  l o w  w h istl e o f appreciat ion. 'Itmigh t  b e a r range d.'
El d yn had heard enough, b ut  still  shehad no plan.She must i m p r ovise in  acc o rd a nce with devel opmen ts.

About failureshe d id not d are to al l o w hersel f t o s pec ula t e .Even El-ve-dy n coul dfail—if  sh e wererea lly  El -ve -d yn. And t he price  o ffa il ure  shem ust keep  f rom  h ermindl est it  conf usehe rt hou ghts at am o ment  w he n sh e w ou ld ne ed a l l h er powe rs.

Butnow thede li berateself-tormentof  her bodyha d s ervedi t s purpos e, and well. To carry i t  furthe r w ouldbe s tupid. Ca ref ully s hec losedher mi nd ag ai nst t elepa t h ic  pr ob ing and pr e p are d for  s leep .

Buther last thoughtsw ere  not of her o wnsafe t y ,not of the  d i she a r tening shock of  discoveri ng th at Marionw asno t a pri soner b ut wa s  Of the  Faith, n ot of ven ge ance o n V ictoria. S he thoug ht instea d  of p o or  Kras noas she  h adlastseen h i m,and o f thei runborn  chil d— the chil d he had hoped would on e daysaveVar da—doomed  to die  at birth . Sh e cursed h ers elf  fora f o ol wh ileh er  mi n d gro pedi n hopeles s  l ong i n g. 
CHAPTER IX G rad ually  he r  bodyreco vered. After thef irst day or tw o Ma r i ontir e d of  t he menial task s o fc a ring for  h er wants, a s she ha de xpect ed, an d turn ed them o ve r  to hi s mi ndl ess slave s.Bu t  firsthe  a s suredher
 on_her back,_breathing raspingly through her_open mouth._Wyr_gave a_satisfied_grunt as she_closed the door,_and almost at once_Eldyn had her_ear_to the panel again.

'Ugh! What an ugly sight! How can you stand having that_thing_near you?'

'When_the_stakes_are the control of a_world one can endure much,'_the man_said evenly. 'And it should not be for_long.'

Wyr_chuckled softly.

'There is_one more problem,' Marion continued. 'She must be present_on The Night.'

'An idiot Outworldling at_an Observance! Impossible!_Highness_Syn_would never permit it,'_Wyr objected.

Marion's tone sharpened. 'Are you_or are you not commander of_the Forces? And aren't you clever enough_to invent a story? Perhaps that_a mild administration of life-essence_from the_Vat could restore enough of_her mind to_give you_information on the_Rebel defenses, and thus hasten The_Night.'

Wyr gave a_low whistle of appreciation. 'It might_be_arranged.'

Eldyn had heard_enough,_but_still she_had no plan._She_must improvise_in_accordance with developments.

About failure she did_not_dare to allow herself to speculate. Even_El-ve-dyn could fail—if she_were_really El-ve-dyn. And the_price of failure she must_keep from her mind lest it_confuse her_thoughts at_a moment when she would need all her powers.

But now the_deliberate self-torment of her body had_served its purpose, and_well. To_carry_it further would_be_stupid. Carefully_she closed her mind against telepathic probing_and prepared_for sleep.

But her last thoughts were_not of her own_safety,_not of the disheartening shock of_discovering that Marion was not a_prisoner but was Of the_Faith,_not_of vengeance on Victoria. She_thought instead of poor Krasno as_she had last_seen him, and of their unborn child—the_child_he had hoped would one day_save_Varda—doomed to die at birth. She_cursed_herself_for a fool while her_mind groped in hopeless longing.
CHAPTER IX

Gradually_her body recovered. After the first day or two_Marion tired of_the menial tasks of caring_for_her_wants, as she had expected, and turned them over to_his mindless_slaves. But first_he assured her