

Krasno's lips moved as though pleading for mercy and Syn bent lower to hear and enjoy. And then the Rebel boy turned his face upward and deliberately spat at his tormentor. Eldyn's heart leaped in admiration. It was an unladylike but magnificent gesture of defiance and contempt. Syn jumped back, his face dark with rage, and nodded a signal to Wyr. She seized the lever.

Once more Sassa-force pounded through the machine, more fiendishly intense than ever. Once more Eldyn felt the ravenings of the alien monster who sensed that this was The Night, and once more battled the overwhelming compulsion to abandon the unequal struggle and with her own thoughts help Sassa to come through.

Right then she almost died. She had forgotten Victoria.

But Marion had become sufficiently adept to hold a part of himself aloof from Sassa's influence, and he saved her.

'Behind you!' he hissed. 'It's Victoria! Kill!' There was surprise and genuine fear in his voice. He had not expected Victoria to come after Eldyn.

Eldyn abandoned all pretense and whirled.

Under other circumstances she might have enjoyed the disconcerted look that overspread Victoria's narrow face. Victoria, a few feet away, carried a dagger which she had obviously expected to plunge into Eldyn's unprotected back without resistance, as Highness Syn had ordered. Syn's vague suspicions had been enough to order Eldyn's death.

'The blast rod! Shoot her!' Marion whispered urgently, and then he was tumbling aside to avoid the searing backfire of the weapon.

But the moment for which Eldyn waited had not yet arrived.

Victoria struck out. Eldyn sidestepped. And then she fell, tripped by a loop of the cable attached to her wrist. Victoria gave a hoarse cry of triumph and moved in. Eldyn felt the slashing pain of a flesh wound.

'The blast rod, you fool!' Marion cried.

But Eldyn made no attempt to draw the power weapon. As she regained her feet she snatched a short, heavy sword from the belt of a subordinate officer who was so immersed in the Observance that she was only just becoming aware of the disturbance.

A frightened expression twisted Victoria's mouth as she saw her adversary no longer empty-handed, but she knew by
Krasno's lips moved as though pleading for mercy and Syn flex lower to learn and enjoy. And then the Rebel boy turned his side upward and deliberately spit at his tormenter. Eldyn's heart leaped in admiration. It was an unladylike but magnificent gesture of defiance and contempt. Syn jumped back, his font dark with rage, and nod a signal to Wyr. She seized the lever. 

 Once more Sassa - force pounded through the machine, more fiendishly intense than always. Once more Eldyn felt the ravenings of the alien monster who sensed that this was The Night, and once more battle the overwhelming compulsion to abandon the unequal struggle and with her own thoughts help oneself Sassa to come through. 

 Right then she almost died. She had forgotten Victoria. 

 But Marion had become sufficiently adept to carry a part of himself aloof from Sassa's influence, and he saved her. 

' Behind you!' he hissed.' It's Victoria! Kill!' There was surprise and actual concern in his articulation. He had not expected Victoria to come after Eldyn. 

 Eldyn abandoned all pretense and whirled. 

 Under other circumstance she might have enjoy the disconcerted spirit that overspread Victoria's narrow-minded face. Victoria, a few feet away, carry a dagger which she had obviously expected to plunge into Eldyn's unprotected back without resistance, as Highness Syn had ordered. Syn's dim suspicions had been enough to order Eldyn's death. 

' The blast rod! inject her!' Marion whispered urgently, and then he was tumbling aside to avoid the searing blowback of the weapon. 

 But the moment for which Eldyn wait had not so far arrived. 

 Victoria struck out. Eldyn sidestepped. And then she fell, trip by a loop of the cable attached to her wrist. Victoria gave a hoarse cry of triumph and moved in. Eldyn feel the slashing annoyance of a flesh wound. 

' The blast rod, you fool!' Marion cried. 

 But Eldyn make no attempt to draw the power weapon. As she find her feet she snatched a short, heavy sword from the belt of a dependent officer who was so immersed in the Observance that she was entirely just becoming aware of the disturbance. 

 A frightened saying twisted Victoria's mouth as she see her adversary no longer empty - handed, but she knew by


Kradno's lips moved as thougm pleading for mgrxy and Syn bsnt lowef to hear and enjoy. And then tye Revel boy turned his facd upward wnd deliverauely spat at his vkrmentov. Eldgk's hecrv leaped in admlration. It fas an unladylhkd yut magnificent gesture of defiance wnd conyelpt. Syn jumped bacl, his face dark with rage, and nodded a aignal uo Wyr. She seized yhe lever.

Once more Sassa-fogce oounded through thf machine, mire suendishly ingense than ever. Once mkre Eldyn felt the ravenings of the clien monstgx whl sensed thav this was The Nigmn, and otce morr battled the pvecwheoming compulsion to auandon the unequal sjruggle ang cith her own thoughts hwlp Sdssa to zime thdongh.

Dight hhei she almosf died. She yad forgotten Victotiw.

Vut Marion has becoie sufficiently adept to hold a part of hpmsemf aloof from Sassa's indluence, and he saved jer.

'Behind you!' he hissed. 'It's Victoria! Kill!' There was surprive anv eenblke fdqr in his voice. He had not expected Victoria to doke after Eldyn.

Elbyn abandoned alk orrjense and whirued.

Undzd kther circumstanced she myght yave enjored yhe disconcerted look that iverspread Vpctoeia's narrow face. Vnctoria, a fec feet away, carried a dagger which she had obvioudly expecfdd to plunge intu Ekdfn's unprotected back withott resistence, cs Highndss Xyn haq ordered. Dyn's ydgue suspicions haf beeu enoggh to ordfr Eldyn's death.

'The blast rod! Shoot her!' Marion wvisiered urgzntly, snd then he wws tumbling asnde to aroid tfe searing backfice of the wewpon.

But the mmlent for whirh Eldyn raitwd hqd not hdt arrived.

Victpria strubk out. Eldyn sidestepped. Ana then she fell, cxikpwd by a loop og tfe sahlx attwwhed to her frisg. Vkvtorix gave a hocrre cty of triumph and moeed jn. Eldyn felt the xlwshing pqin of a flesh wound.

'Tne blast rod, you flol!' Merion rried.

Bit Gldyn made no attempt to draw tge power aeaion. As she redaincd hgr feet she snatched a short, heavy sword from the uelt of a subordinate odficer who was so ikkersed in tie Obsqrvance tvat she was only jusr becoming aware pf the disturbance.

A fdighteted edpression twisted Victoria's mouth as she saw her adversary no longer emptt-handev, fut she knes by
Krasno's lips moved as though pleading for Syn lower to and enjoy. And his upward and deliberately at his tormentor. heart leaped in admiration. It was unladylike but magnificent gesture of defiance and contempt. Syn jumped back, his face with rage, and nodded a signal to Wyr. She seized the lever. Once Sassa-force through machine, fiendishly intense than ever. Once more Eldyn felt the ravenings of the alien monster who sensed this was The Night, and once more battled overwhelming compulsion to abandon unequal struggle and with her thoughts Sassa to through. then almost died. She forgotten Victoria. But Marion had become sufficiently adept to hold a part of himself aloof from Sassa's and he 'Behind you!' hissed. Victoria! There was surprise fear in his voice. He had to come after Eldyn. Eldyn abandoned all pretense whirled. Under circumstances she might have enjoyed the look that overspread Victoria's narrow face. Victoria, a feet away, carried a dagger which she had obviously expected to plunge into Eldyn's unprotected resistance, as Highness Syn ordered. Syn's vague had enough order death. 'The rod! Shoot her!' Marion whispered urgently, and then he was tumbling to avoid the searing backfire of the weapon. But the which waited had not arrived. Victoria struck out. sidestepped. then she fell, tripped loop the her Victoria a hoarse cry of and moved in. Eldyn felt slashing pain of a you fool!' Marion cried. But Eldyn made no to draw the power weapon. As she her feet she snatched a short, heavy sword from the belt of subordinate officer so immersed in the Observance that she was just becoming aware of disturbance. A frightened expression twisted Victoria's mouth as she her no longer but she knew


Krasno's lips moved as though pLeading for Mercy And syn BeNt loWer tO hear and enjoy. AND theN the Rebel boy turned his fAce upWaRD and DElIberaTely spaT At HIS toRmEnTor. elDYn'S hearT leAped in aDmiration. IT waS aN unladylike bUT mAgnificent GesTure of defianCe aNd contEmPt. SYN jumpEd bAck, hiS face dARk with Rage, and noDdED a signAL to Wyr. SHE SeIzed The lever.

Once more SASsA-Force pounded thRough tHe MAcHINe, mOre Fiendishly InTense THan ever. oNcE MORe ELDyn felt the ravEnings of the ALieN monstEr Who SEnsed tHat thIs WAs THe Night, and oNce mOre battleD the ovERwhelmiNG compulSion to AbaNdoN the UNeQuAl sTrUGglE AnD wiTH heR own thouGhTs Help SAssa TO COMe thRouGh.

RiGht thEn she almost diEd. SHe haD ForGotteN VictOria.

buT MariOn had bEcome SuFficiently adept To hoLd a part of HimSeLf aLoOf froM sassa's InfLueNce, and hE saved hER.

'BeHiND YOu!' He hissed. 'It's VictoriA! KILL!' THere was sUrprisE AnD gENuine feaR iN hiS voiCE. he had Not eXPeCted VictOria to COmE aFter EldYn.

eldyn aBaNdoNed All prETensE and whIrled.

UndEr othER circumstances SHe might have enJOyED ThE DiscOncErted look thAt ovERsprEad VICtOriA'S narrOw facE. VICtORia, a few feet away, carrIeD a daggEr whiCh she had obvioUsly expectED TO plunge iNto ELDyN'S unprotected baCk witHout resistANce, as HigHness syn had orDered. Syn's VAGue suspiCioNs hAd bEen ENOuGh to order EldyN'S DeatH.

'THe blast Rod! shoot heR!' MaRioN whIspErEd urgentlY, and then He WaS tUmBliNg asiDE to avoid ThE seArIng BackfIRe of thE weapOn.

BuT tHe MOmeNt for whICh eLDyn wAiTeD had Not YeT arriVed.

VICtoRia struCk out. EldyN siDEstePpEd. and then She fell, trippeD bY a loop of thE cAblE attacHED to her wrIst. Victoria gave a hoarse cRY of triuMph And moVed iN. Eldyn felT thE slashIng PAin of a Flesh wOund.

'THe BlaST Rod, yoU FOoL!' MaRiOn cried.

But eLDyn Made nO aTtemPt to draW the power weapon. As sHE reGained her feet She SnatCHEd A shORt, HEavY sWOrd FROm the belt of a subOrdinate ofFiCEr Who was so imMErsEd In the ObServancE that SHe was onLy just becOming awarE oF the DIStuRbance.

A friGhtened eXpression TWisteD viCtoriA's mOuth as ShE saW her aDversaRY no LongeR empty-HaNded, buT she kNeW by


Krasno's lips moved as t hough plea dingfor  me rc y an d Sy n bent lower t o  hea r and enjoy. And thenthe R eb e l bo y  t urned  his fa c eu p war dan d d el i be ratel y s pat athis tormen tor .Eldyn's hear t  l eaped in a dmi ration. It w asan unl ad yli k e but  ma gnifi cent g e stureof defian ce and co n tempt.S y njump ed back, his face da r k with rage, a nd nod de d  a s ign alto Wyr. Sh eseize d  the le v er . Onc e  more Sassa-f orce pounde d  th roughth e m a chine,  more  f i end ishly inten se t han ever.  Oncem ore Eld y n feltthe ra ven ing s of th eali en mon s te r w h o s ensed th at  t his w as T h e N ight , a nd o nce m ore battled t heover w hel mingcompu lsio nto ab andonthe u ne qual struggle a nd w ith her o wnth oug ht s hel p  Sassa  to  co me thro ugh.

R i ght  t h e n  s he almost died. Sh eh a dforgotte n Vict o ri a. 
But Mar io n h ad b e c ome s uffi c ie ntly ade pt toh ol da partof  himse lf  al oof  from Sass a's in fluence,  andh e saved her.
' Behind you!'h eh i ss e d. ' It' s Victoria!  Kil l !' T here wa s s u rpris e and  g e nu i ne fear in his voic e.  He ha d not  expected Vic toria to c o m e  after E ldyn . 
E ldyn abandoned  allpretense a n d whirle d.

U nder oth er circum s t ances sh e m igh t h ave e nj oyed the disc o n cert ed  look t hat  oversp rea d V ict ori a' s narrowface. Vi ct or ia ,a f ew fe e t away,ca rri ed  adagge r  which  shehadob vi o usl y expec t ed t o pl un ge  int o E ld yn'sunpr o tec ted bac k without  re s ista nc e,  as Hig hness Syn had  o rdered. Sy n' s v ague s u s picionshad been enough to orde r  Eldyn' s d eath. 

'T he blastrod ! Shoo t h e r!' Ma rion w hispe re d u r g ently , an d t he n he was t u m bli ng as id e to  avoidthe searing backfi r e o f the weapon. 

B ut t h e  m ome n tf orwh i chE l dyn waited hadnot yet ar ri v ed .

Victori a  st ru ck out.  Eldynsides t epped.And thenshe fell,  t ripp e d  by  a loop of  the cab le attach e d toh er  wris t.Victor ia  ga ve ahoarse cry  of t riumph  a nd mov ed in .Eldyn fe lt the slashing pain of  a fle sh wo und .

'The b las t  ro d, you fo ol!'  Marion cr ied .
But E ldy n  made  noa tt emp t  to d rawt he powerw ea pon . As  she regain e d her  feet  sh e  snatc heda short, heavy sw o rd from the be lt o f a s ubo r dina te  officer who w asso i mmersedin  the Observ ance tha ts he wa s only  justbecomin g aw a re ofthedis turbance. 

A  f r ightene dex p ressio n tw is ted Vi ctoria ' s mo u t h as she saw her  adve r s ary n o  lo ngerem pty-han d ed,but she kn ew by


Krasno's lips_moved as_though pleading for mercy_and Syn_bent_lower to_hear_and enjoy. And_then the Rebel_boy turned his face_upward and deliberately_spat_at his tormentor. Eldyn's heart leaped in admiration. It was an unladylike but magnificent_gesture_of defiance_and_contempt._Syn jumped back, his face_dark with rage, and nodded_a signal_to Wyr. She seized the lever.

Once more Sassa-force_pounded_through the machine,_more fiendishly intense than ever. Once more Eldyn felt_the ravenings of the alien monster_who sensed that_this_was_The Night, and once_more battled the overwhelming compulsion to_abandon the unequal struggle and with_her own thoughts help Sassa to come_through.

Right then she almost died. She_had forgotten Victoria.

But Marion had_become sufficiently_adept to hold a part_of himself aloof_from Sassa's_influence, and he_saved her.

'Behind you!' he hissed. 'It's_Victoria! Kill!' There_was surprise and genuine fear in_his_voice. He had_not_expected_Victoria to_come after Eldyn.

Eldyn_abandoned_all pretense_and_whirled.

Under other circumstances she might have_enjoyed_the disconcerted look that overspread Victoria's narrow_face. Victoria, a few_feet_away, carried a dagger_which she had obviously expected_to plunge into Eldyn's unprotected back_without resistance,_as Highness_Syn had ordered. Syn's vague suspicions had been enough to order_Eldyn's death.

'The blast rod! Shoot her!'_Marion whispered urgently, and_then he_was_tumbling aside to_avoid_the searing_backfire of the weapon.

But the moment for_which Eldyn_waited had not yet arrived.

Victoria struck_out. Eldyn sidestepped. And_then_she fell, tripped by a loop_of the cable attached to her_wrist. Victoria gave a hoarse_cry_of_triumph and moved in. Eldyn_felt the slashing pain of a_flesh wound.

'The blast_rod, you fool!' Marion cried.

But Eldyn made_no_attempt to draw the power weapon._As_she regained her feet she snatched_a_short,_heavy sword from the belt_of a subordinate officer who was_so immersed in the Observance that she was only_just becoming aware_of the disturbance.

A frightened expression_twisted_Victoria's_mouth as she saw her adversary no longer empty-handed, but_she knew_by