 across his mobile, expressive features, ending in disappointment and disgust. At last Tikta removed its paws and Krasno opened his eyes.

'Your—friends—'he hesitated over the word. 'They are in Varda. Both.'

'Is the boy all right? Where are they? How do you know? Did you see them?' The questions tumbled from Eldyn's lips.

Krasno smiled faintly. 'No, I have not seen them. But Tikta can catch the thoughts of all wild things that can not guard their minds, and tell me. The wild things saw your—friends.' Again he hesitated, and this time made a grimace of angry distaste.

'Where is the boy? Can you take me to him?' she demanded excitedly.

'No. They are both beyond the Mountains that Move.'

'So?'

'In the land of the Faith,' he snapped.

'But couldn't you-?'

Pity was almost smothered in stern contempt as he looked at her. 'We do not go among the Faith except for a purpose. And that purpose is not returning you to your—friends.'

'But your people?'

'They would not help you if they could. For I am Krasno.'

She did not grasp the significance of his words but the firmness of his tone indicated there was no use arguing with this self-willed, red-haired person. Nevertheless she resolved to try to find Marion, and as soon as possible.

Krasno's eyes widened with apprehension at her thought.

'You are a fool. And if you must try you had better read all the scrolls first. Only El-ve-dyn could survive, and the death of the Faith is not easy.'

Eldyn cursed silently. This damnable boy, although beautiful in his own odd way, not only insulted her with his pity but invaded her mind.

'Well, shut your mind if you don't like it,' he snapped angrily. 'You're odd, too, and far from beautiful.'

* * * *

Marion Matson opened his eyes. A strange woman stood over him, and what a woman! She was huge and hard looking, with dark, wind-toughened skin. She was dressed in some sort of barbaric military uniform, colorful and heavily
across his mobile, expressive features, ending in disappointment and disgust. At last Tikta get rid of its paw and Krasno opened his eyes. 

' Your — friends—'he hesitated over the discussion.' They are in Varda. Both.' 

' Is the boy all correct? Where are they? How do you sleep together? Did you see them?' The question tumbled from Eldyn's lips. 

 Krasno smile faintly.' No, I have not seen them. But Tikta can catch the thinking of all crazy things that cannot guard their minds, and tell me. The wild thing saw your — friends.' Again he hesitated, and this prison term made a grimace of angry distaste. 

' Where is the boy? Can you take me to him?' she demand excitedly. 

' No. They are both beyond the Mountains that Move.' 

' So?' 

' In the land of the Faith,' he snapped. 

' But couldn't you-?' 

 Pity was almost smother in stern contempt as he looked at her.' We do not go among the Faith except for a purpose. And that purpose is not return you to your — friends.' 

' But your people?' 

' They would not help you if they could. For I am Krasno.' 

 She did not grasp the significance of his words but the firmness of his tone indicated there was no function arguing with this self - willed, crimson - hairy person. however she resolved to try to find Marion, and as soon as possible. 

 Krasno's eyes widened with apprehension at her opinion. 

' You are a fool. And if you must try you had better read all the scrolls first. entirely El - ve - dyn could survive, and the death of the Faith is not easy.' 

 Eldyn cursed mutely. This damnable boy, although beautiful in his own leftover direction, not only insulted her with his pity but invaded her judgment. 

' Well, shut your mind if you don't like it,' he break down angrily.' You're odd, too, and far from beautiful.' 

 * * * * 

 Marion Matson opened his eyes. A foreign woman stood over him, and what a woman! She was huge and hard looking, with black, wind - toughen skin. She was dressed in some sort of barbaric military uniform, colored and heavily
 acgoss his mobile, expressiye features, endiut in dmsappoihtment avd disgust. At last Tikta remlvwd itw paws and Krasno opendd his eyvs.

'Your—friwnds—'ie hesitated ovec the wovb. 'Theg are mn Varda. Both.'

'Is the boy anl right? Where afe they? How do you know? Did you see trem?' The qkestions tumblgd frpi Elsjn'w lips.

Krasno smiled faintly. 'Nk, I havt not seen them. Buy Tikta can catch the thouhhts of all wild thingd that can bot dyard their mknds, and ttln me. The wjld things saw your—friends.' Agaiv he kesitated, abd thlv time made a grpmace of angrn distavte.

'Wherr is the boy? Csn bou rake me to him?' she dekanded excitedly.

'No. They are bkth beyond the Moynrains thad Moxw.'

'So?'

'Kn uhe lznd of thx Faith,' he anapped.

'But xouldn't you-?'

Pity was ajnost smotheres in seewn contempt as he looked at her. 'We do nmt fo among the Faith except for a purpose. And jhat purpofe is not returning you to your—friends.'

'But your pemple?'

'Tieh wiuja nlt help you if they could. For I am Krasno.'

She qjd npt grasp the slgnificance of his wlrcf but the fironess of gis tone indicated there ras ni use argting with this self-willed, red-haured person. Uevwrtheless she resopved to try to gind Karion, and as soon as pussigle.

Krasno's fyes widehdd with apprehenriok ad her thought.

'You are a fooj. And if bou mbst try hou nad beeter read wll tma scrolls first. Onpy El-re-dyn could surgive, and the death of the Faith is not easy.'

Elcyt clrsed silzntly. Bhis damnable bjy, although becutiful nn his own odd wzy, not mnly insultqd her with hhd pity but iivaded hew mibd.

'Weol, shut hour mind if ypu don't lpkt it,' he snqpped angrily. 'You'rc odd, foo, and far fron btaytiful.'

* * * *

Mariom Mxtsjn o'ened vis eyes. A sdranee dpman rtood over mim, and what a woman! She wav hufe and hard lookinb, rith darj, wind-totghened skin. Xhe was dressed in some soct of narfaric military uniform, colorfum and heagiln
across his mobile, expressive features, ending in disgust. last Tikta its paws and hesitated the word. 'They in Varda. Both.' the boy all right? Where are How do you know? Did you see them?' The questions tumbled from Eldyn's Krasno smiled faintly. 'No, I have not seen them. But Tikta can catch thoughts all things can not guard their minds, and tell me. The wild things saw your—friends.' Again he hesitated, this time made a grimace of angry distaste. is the boy? Can take me to him?' she excitedly. They are beyond Mountains Move.' 'So?' 'In land of the Faith,' he snapped. 'But couldn't you-?' Pity was almost smothered in stern contempt as looked at do not among Faith for a purpose. purpose is not returning you to people?' 'They would not help you if they For I Krasno.' She did not grasp the of his words but the firmness of his indicated there was no use arguing with this self-willed, red-haired person. Nevertheless she resolved to find Marion, and as as possible. Krasno's widened apprehension her 'You are fool. And if you must try you had better read all scrolls first. Only El-ve-dyn could survive, and the death of is easy.' Eldyn cursed This damnable boy, although in own odd way, not her his her 'Well, your mind if you like it,' he snapped angrily. odd, too, and far * Marion Matson opened his eyes. A strange stood over him, and what a woman! was huge and hard looking, with dark, wind-toughened skin. She was dressed some sort military uniform, colorful and heavily
 across his mobile, expressive Features, enDing iN diSapPoIntmEnt aNd disgust. At lasT tiktA removed its paws and KrasNo opeNeD His eYEs.

'your—fRiends—'hE HeSITatEd OvEr tHe WOrD. 'They Are In Varda. both.'

'Is the bOy aLl Right? Where arE ThEy? How do you KnoW? Did you see thEm?' THe quesTiOns TUmbleD frOm EldYn's lipS.

krasno Smiled faiNtLY. 'No, I haVE not seeN THeM. But tikta can catch the tHOuGHts of all wild thIngs thAt CAn NOT guArd Their minds, AnD tell ME. The wilD ThINGS saW Your—friends.' AgAin he hesitaTEd, aNd this TiMe mADe a griMace oF aNGry Distaste.

'WheRe is The boy? Can You takE Me to him?' SHe demanDed excIteDly.

'no. ThEY aRe BotH bEYonD ThE MoUNtaIns that MOvE.'

'SO?'

'In thE lanD OF THe FaIth,' He snApped.

'but couldn't you-?'

pitY was ALmoSt smoThereD in sTeRn conTempt aS he loOkEd at her. 'We do not gO amoNg the FaitH exCePt fOr A purpOSe. And tHat PurPose is nOt returNIng YoU TO YoUr—friends.'

'But your peOpLE?'

'thEy would nOt help YOu If THey could. foR I aM KraSNO.'

She dId noT GrAsp the siGnificANcE oF his worDs But the FiRmnEss Of his TOne iNdicatEd there wAs no uSE arguing with thIS self-willed, reD-HaIREd PErsoN. NeVertheless sHe reSOlveD to tRY tO fiND MariOn, and As SOoN As possible.

Krasno's eyEs WideneD with Apprehension aT her thoughT.

'yOU are a fooL. And IF yOU must try you had BetteR read all thE Scrolls fIrst. ONly El-ve-dYn could suRVIve, and thE deAth Of tHe FAITh Is not easy.'

EldyN CUrseD sIlently. thiS damnabLe bOy, aLthOugH bEautiful iN his own oDd WaY, nOt OnlY insuLTed her wiTh His PiTy bUt invADed her Mind.

'WEll, sHuT yOUr mInd if yoU DoN'T Like It,' He SnapPed AnGrily. 'you'rE Odd, Too, and fAr from beaUtiFUl.'

* * * *

MaRiOn matson oPened his eyes. A StRange woman StOod Over hiM, ANd what a wOman! She was huge and hard loOKing, witH daRk, winD-touGhened skiN. ShE was drEssED in somE sort oF barbArIc mILItary UNIfOrm, CoLorful and hEAVilY
 across his mobile, expres sive featu res,end ing  i n di sapp ointment and d i sgus t. At last Tikta remov ed it sp awsa nd  Kras no open e dh i s e ye s. 

' Yo u r— frien ds— 'he hes itated ove r t he  word. 'They ar e in Varda . B oth.'

'Is t heboy al lrig h t? Wh ere  arethey?H ow doyou know?  D i d yous ee them ? '  T he q uestions tumbledf ro m  Eldyn's lips. 

Kras no sm i l edfai ntly. 'No,  I  have not see n  t h e m . B u t Tikta can c atch the th o ugh ts ofal l w i ld thi ngs t ha t  ca n not guard  the ir minds,  and t e ll me.T he wild  thing s s awyour — fr ie nds .' Aga i nheh esi tated, a nd  t his t imem a d e  a g rim aceof an gry distaste. 

' Wher e  is  theboy?Canyo u tak e me t o him ?'  she demanded e xcit edly.

'N o.Th eyar e bot h  beyon d t heMountai ns that Mov e. ' 'S o?'

'In the landof t he  Faith,'  he sn a pp ed . 

'But c ou ldn 't y o u -?'
Pity wa s almost  smoth e re din ster ncontem pt  as  he  look e d at  her.'We do n ot go among the Fait h  except for a pu r p os e . An d t hat purpose  isn ot r etur n in g y o u toyour— fr i en d s.'

'But your peop le ?'

'T hey w ould not help  you if th e y could. F or I am Krasno.'

Shedid n ot grasp t h e signif icanc e of his  words bu t the firm nes s o f h ist o ne  indicated th e r e wa sno usearg uing wi ththi s s elf -w illed, re d-haired  p er so n.  Ne verth e less she  r eso lv edto tr y  to fi nd Ma rion ,an d  as  soon a s  p o s sibl e. 
Kras no' seyeswide n edwith ap prehensio n a t  her  t ho ught.
'You are a fo ol . And if y ou  mu st try y ou had b etter read all the scro l ls firs t.OnlyEl-v e-dyn cou ldsurviv e,a nd the  death  of t he  Fa i t h isn o teas y. '

Eldyn c u r sed  sile nt ly.This da mnable boy, althou g h b eautiful in h isowno d dway ,  n o t o nl y  in s u lted her with h is pity bu ti nv aded her m i nd. 
'Well,shut yo ur mi n d if yo u don't l ike it,'he  sna p p edangrily. ' You're o dd, too,a nd fa r  f rom b eau tiful. '
** * * 

Mari o n M atson  opene dhis ey es. A  s trange w oman stood over him, an d what  a wo man ! She was  hu g e a nd hard l ooki ng, with d ark , w ind-t oug h enedskin .  S hew as dr esse d  in somes or t o f ba rbaric mili t a r y u nifor m,c olorfu l an d heavily
 across_his mobile,_expressive features, ending in_disappointment and_disgust._At last_Tikta_removed its paws_and Krasno opened_his eyes.

'Your—friends—'he hesitated over_the word. 'They_are_in Varda. Both.'

'Is the boy all right? Where are they? How do you know?_Did_you see_them?'_The_questions tumbled from Eldyn's lips.

Krasno_smiled faintly. 'No, I have_not seen_them. But Tikta can catch the thoughts of_all_wild things that_can not guard their minds, and tell me. The_wild things saw your—friends.' Again he_hesitated, and this_time_made_a grimace of angry_distaste.

'Where is the boy? Can you_take me to him?' she demanded_excitedly.

'No. They are both beyond the Mountains_that Move.'

'So?'

'In the land of the_Faith,' he snapped.

'But couldn't you-?'

Pity_was almost_smothered in stern contempt as_he looked at_her. 'We_do not go_among the Faith except for a_purpose. And that_purpose is not returning you to_your—friends.'

'But_your people?'

'They would_not_help_you if_they could. For_I_am Krasno.'

She_did_not grasp the significance of his_words_but the firmness of his tone indicated_there was no use_arguing_with this self-willed, red-haired_person. Nevertheless she resolved to_try to find Marion, and as_soon as_possible.

Krasno's eyes_widened with apprehension at her thought.

'You are a fool. And if_you must try you had better_read all the scrolls_first. Only_El-ve-dyn_could survive, and_the_death of_the Faith is not easy.'

Eldyn cursed silently._This damnable_boy, although beautiful in his own_odd way, not only_insulted_her with his pity but invaded_her mind.

'Well, shut your mind if_you don't like it,' he_snapped_angrily._'You're odd, too, and far_from beautiful.'

* * * *

Marion Matson_opened his eyes._A strange woman stood over him, and_what_a woman! She was huge and_hard_looking, with dark, wind-toughened skin. She_was_dressed_in some sort of barbaric_military uniform, colorful and heavily