 false alarm that the Rebels had crossed the mountains. Superstitious fools!'

Thordaan nodded and examined Eldyn critically. 'Bah! Who'd want such an atrocity as a slave? Not me! Let's blast it here and not dirty our ship.'

'Blast it and you'll carry lash scars,' the other warned. 'That thing is—was—an Earthwoman.'

'All right. Throw it in and let's get back,' Thordaan agreed sourly.

'And don't give it food or water either,' the other reminded. 'Highness Syn, or perhaps Lesser Highness Marion may have other ideas.'

Something inside Eldyn died at the casual mention of Lesser Highness Marion. The words did something Krasno's hints and the open accusations of the Forest People had failed to do. They convinced her, brought into sharp focus all the half-thoughts and doubts she had so resolutely pushed aside.

* * * *

The ship landed and Eldyn was lifted, half-dragged across the courtyard of the Fortress and into Syn's audience hall. There she was given a final shove, tripped at the same instant, and made involuntary prone obeisance to the dark-haired man on the throne. She had just time to notice with a start how closely he resembled Marion.

Syn looked down in questioning contempt. Eldyn could feel his mind probing tentatively at her and deliberately made incoherent thought-pictures of burning sands and torturing thirst, of howling savages with blood lust in their eyes, of the trembling hell of the Mountains that Move. She invented scenes of being hunted through an endless towering forest by murderous people. To set up a complete mind block would only have called attention to her ability.

Syn's mind displayed increasing interest at those pictures, so she took her thoughts back to Earth and reproduced the nightmarish, multiform and utterly horrible and meaningless images of morphine and delirium which had haunted her in the hospital. She had the satisfaction of feeling his mind withdraw in fastidious disgust.

'Her mind is gone, Highness Syn?' a hulking, much-decorated warrior asked.

Syn nodded. 'Curse those Rebels. She is of no value in this condition.'

Wyr nodded. 'Could her mind be restored?'

'Not worth it,' Syn decided. 'It
false alarm that the Rebels had crossed the mountains. Superstitious jester!' 

 Thordaan nod and examined Eldyn critically.' Bah! Who'd want such an atrocity as a slave? Not me! Let's savage it here and not dirty our ship.' 

' Blast it and you'll carry whip scratch,' the other warn.' That thing is — was — an Earthwoman.' 

' All correctly. Throw it in and let's draw back,' Thordaan agreed sourly. 

' And don't give it food or water either,' the other reminded.' Highness Syn, or perhaps Lesser Highness Marion may suffer other ideas.' 

 Something inside Eldyn died at the free-and-easy mention of Lesser Highness Marion. The words did something Krasno's hints and the exposed accusations of the Forest People had failed to do. They convinced her, brought into acuate focus all the half - thoughts and doubts she had so resolutely crusade aside. 

 * * * * 

 The ship landed and Eldyn was lifted, half - dragged across the courtyard of the Fortress and into Syn's audience hall. There she was given a final shove, tripped at the like blink of an eye, and made involuntary prone obedience to the blue - haired man on the throne. She have just time to notice with a start how close he resembled Marion. 

 Syn looked down in questioning contempt. Eldyn could feel his mind probing tentatively at her and deliberately made incoherent thought - pictures of burning sands and torment thirst, of howl savages with blood lust in their eyes, of the trembling sin of the Mountains that Move. She invented scenes of being hunted through an endless towering forest by murderous people. To set up a arrant mind blockage would only have call attention to her ability. 

 Syn's judgment displayed increase interest at those word picture, so she took her thoughts back to Earth and reproduced the nightmarish, multiform and utterly atrocious and meaningless images of morphine and delirium which had haunted her in the hospital. She have the satisfaction of feeling his mind withdraw in fastidious disgust. 

' Her judgment is gone, Highness Syn?' a hulking, much - dress warrior asked. 

 Syn nodded.' excommunicate those Rebels. She is of no value in this condition.' 

 Wyr nodded.' Could her mind be restored?' 

' Not worth it,' Syn decided.' It
 fapse alarm that the Rebelr had crossed tkw mounvains. Shperstitkous fools!'

Thordaan nodded anv exqminee Eldyn critically. 'Bah! Who'd wann such an atrixity as a slave? Nob me! Mct's bnest it here and not dirty our ship.'

'Blast ig cnd you'll carry lash scars,' the other warned. 'Tjat thing is—waf—an Tarehwojan.'

'All right. Throw it in and let's fet bacn,' Thordaan agteed sourly.

'And don't give ih fold or water either,' the other tsmigeed. 'Highness Syn, or pegkaps Lesser Highness Marion may have other ideax.'

Something ibsifg Eldyn died at tre casual meknion of Lesser Highness Maripn. Vhe qords did something Kcasno's hints and the open accgsctions of the Forest Peiple vad xailde tu dk. Vheg convlncxd her, broufht into shqrp focus all the hsls-nnoughts and soubts sre had so resolutely pushed aside.

* * * *

The shjp landed and Eldyn was lifted, half-dragged afross the courtyard of the Fortress and into Syn's audience hall. Ghexc rye was given a final shove, tripped at the same yhsuann, and made involuktary prone obeisamcf yj the dark-haited man on the throne. She haf just jime ti notice rith a start how closely he reswmbled Mariou.

Syb looked down in qbestioning cuntekpt. Ekdyn could feel his minb probjng tentatigely at hsf and deliberateuy kage incohtfent thought-pictuwes of bucning sands xnd jorturigg thirst, lf howling savages with hlood lgst in thelr eyes, of the trembling hell oh the Mountaims thdt Move. Fhe ikvented scenes jf being hunteb througk an evdless towvring forxst by murdewous people. Tm set up a cokplete mynd vlocj would unly have callrd attentpou to her qbility.

Syn's mind dlsplaies increasing inctrewt at those picyurds, fo sie tojn her thoughds bxck yo Eafth and repvodjced the nightmarish, muldifodm and utterly hortinle and mganinglesf images of mprphine and delirikm whmch hav haunyed her in the hospital. She had tge satisfwctlon of feelind hiw mind withdxaw in fastidious disgust.

'Her mind is gonx, Highness Syn?' a hulkint, much-decorated wartiov asked.

Syn npdded. 'Curse thmse Rebels. She is of no value in this condition.'

Wyr nodded. 'Dould ver mlnd be restored?'

'Not worth it,' Syn decided. 'It
false alarm that the Rebels had crossed Superstitious Thordaan nodded examined Eldyn critically. atrocity a slave? Not Let's blast it and not dirty our ship.' 'Blast and you'll carry lash scars,' the other warned. 'That thing is—was—an Earthwoman.' 'All Throw it in and let's get back,' Thordaan agreed sourly. 'And don't give food water the reminded. 'Highness Syn, or perhaps Lesser Highness Marion may have other ideas.' Something inside Eldyn died the casual mention of Lesser Highness Marion. The did something Krasno's hints the open accusations of the People failed to They her, into sharp focus the half-thoughts and doubts she had so resolutely pushed aside. * * * * The ship landed Eldyn was across the of Fortress into Syn's audience she was given a final shove, same instant, and made involuntary prone obeisance to dark-haired man the throne. She had just time notice with a start how closely he resembled Syn looked down in questioning contempt. Eldyn could feel his mind probing tentatively at her made incoherent thought-pictures of sands and torturing of savages blood in their of the trembling hell of the Mountains that Move. She invented of being hunted through an endless towering forest by murderous set a complete mind would only have called to ability. Syn's mind displayed at pictures, her back Earth and reproduced the multiform and utterly horrible and images of morphine and in the hospital. She had the satisfaction of his mind withdraw in fastidious disgust. 'Her is gone, Highness Syn?' a hulking, much-decorated warrior asked. Syn nodded. 'Curse Rebels. She no value in this condition.' Wyr nodded. 'Could mind be restored?' 'Not it,' Syn decided. 'It
 false alarm that the Rebels haD crossed thE mounTaiNs. SUpErstItioUs fools!'

ThordaaN NoddEd and examined Eldyn critIcallY. 'BAH! Who'D WaNt sucH an atroCItY AS a sLaVe? not Me! lEt'S blasT it Here and Not dirty ouR shIp.'

'blast it and yoU'Ll Carry lash sCarS,' the other warNed. 'that thInG is—WAs—an EArtHwomaN.'

'All riGHt. ThroW it in and lEt'S Get bacK,' thordaaN AGrEed sOurly.

'And don't give iT FoOD or water either,' The othEr REmINDed. 'higHness Syn, or PeRhaps lEsser HiGHnESS marIOn may have otheR ideas.'

SometHIng Inside elDyn DIed at tHe casUaL MenTion of LesseR HigHness MariOn. The wORds did sOMething krasno'S hiNts And tHE oPeN acCuSAtiONs Of tHE FoRest PeopLe HaD failEd to DO. tHEy coNviNced Her, brOught into sharP foCus aLL thE half-ThougHts aNd DoubtS she haD so reSoLutely pushed asiDe.

* * * *

ThE ship landEd aNd eldYn Was liFTed, halF-drAggEd acrosS the couRTyaRd OF THe fortress and into Syn'S aUDIeNce hall. THere shE WaS gIVen a finaL sHovE, triPPEd at tHe saME iNstant, anD made iNVoLuNtary prOnE obeisAnCe tO thE dark-HAireD man on The thronE. She hAD just time to notICe with a start hOW cLOSeLY he rEseMbled Marion.

syn lOOked Down IN qUesTIoninG contEmPT. ELDyn could feel his mind PrObing tEntatIvely at her and DeliberateLY MAde incohErenT ThOUght-pictures of BurniNg sands and TOrturing ThirsT, of howliNg savages WITh blood lUst In tHeiR eyES, Of The trembling hELL of tHe mountaiNs tHat Move. she InvEntEd sCeNes of beinG hunted tHrOuGh An EndLess tOWering foReSt bY mUrdErous PEople. TO set uP a coMpLeTE miNd block WOuLD Only HaVe CallEd aTtEntioN to hER abIlity.

SyN's mind disPlaYEd inCrEaSing intErest at those pIcTures, so she ToOk hEr thouGHTs back to earth and reproduced the niGHtmarisH, muLtifoRm anD utterly hOrrIble anD meANingleSs imagEs of mOrPhiNE And deLIRiUm wHiCh had hauntED Her In the HoSpitAl. She haD the satisfaction of FEelIng his mind witHdrAw in FAStIdiOUs DIsgUsT.

'her MINd is gone, HighnesS Syn?' a hulkiNg, MUcH-decorated WArrIoR asked.

SYn noddeD. 'CursE Those ReBels. She is Of no value In This CONdiTion.'

Wyr nodDed. 'Could Her mind be REstorED?'

'NOt worTh iT,' Syn deCiDed. 'it
 false alarm that the Rebe ls had cro ssedthe  mo un tain s. S uperstitious f o ols! '

Thordaan nodded and  exam in e d El d yn  crit ically. 'B a h ! W ho 'd  wa nt su ch an  at rocityas a slave ? N ot  me! Let's b l as t it hereand  not dirty o urship.' 
'Bl a st it  an d you 'll ca r ry las h scars,'  t h e othe r  warned . 'T hatthing is—was—an E a rt h woman.'

'Allright.  T h ro w itinand let'sge t bac k ,' Thor d aa n a gre e d sourly.

'A nd don't gi v e i t food  o r w a ter ei ther, 't heother remin ded.  'Highnes s Syn, or perh a ps Less er Hig hne ssMari o nma y h av e  ot h er  id e as. '

Somet hi ng  insi de E l d y n  die d a t th e cas ual mention o f L esse r  Hi ghnes s Mar ion.  T he wo rds di d som et hing Krasno's h ints  and theope nacc us ation s  of th e F ore st Peop le hadf ail ed t o  d o. They convincedhe r ,  b rought i nto sh a rp  f o cus allth e h alf- t h ought s an d  d oubts sh e hads ore solutel ypushed  a sid e.
* **  *
The sh ip lande d and Eldyn was lift e d, half-dragg e da c ro s s th e c ourtyard of  the Fort ress an d i n to Sy n's a ud i en c e hall. There she w as  given  a fi nal shove, tr ipped at t h e same ins tant ,  a n d made involun taryprone obei s ance tothe d ark-hair ed man on t he thron e.She  ha d j u s ttime to notic e with  a  starthow  closel y h e r ese mbl ed  Marion.
Syn loo ke ddo wn  in  ques t ioning c on tem pt . E ldync ould f eel h is m in dp rob ing ten t at i v elyat  h er a ndde liber atel y  ma de inco herent th oug h t-pi ct ur es of b urning sandsan d torturin gthi rst, o f howlingsavages with blood lust in thei r e yes,of t he trembl ing  helloft he Mou ntains  that  M ove . She i n v en ted  s cenes of b e i nghunte dthro ugh anendless towering f o res t by murderou s p eopl e .  T o s e tu p a  c o mpl e t e mind block wo uld only h av e  c alled atte n tio nto herability .

Sy n 's mind  displaye d increas in g in t e res t at those  picture s, so she tookh er  thou ght s back  t o E arthand re p rod ucedthe ni gh tmaris h, mu lt iform an d utterly horrible andmeanin gless  im ages of m orp h ine  and deli rium  which had  ha unt ed he r i n  thehosp i ta l.S he ha d th e  satisfac t io n o f fe eling his m i n d  wi thdra w i n  fasti diou s disgust.

'Herm ind is gone, H ighn e s s S yn? '  a h ul king, much-dec ora te d warrioras ked.

Syn n odded. ' Cu r se th ose Re bels.She iso f  n o  value  inthi s conditi on. 'Wyr nod de d. 'Could  her  m ind be  resto r ed?' 'Not worth it,'Syn d e c ided. 'It 
 false_alarm that_the Rebels had crossed_the mountains._Superstitious_fools!'

Thordaan nodded_and_examined Eldyn critically._'Bah! Who'd want_such an atrocity as_a slave? Not_me!_Let's blast it here and not dirty our ship.'

'Blast it and you'll carry lash_scars,'_the other_warned._'That_thing is—was—an Earthwoman.'

'All right. Throw_it in and let's get_back,' Thordaan_agreed sourly.

'And don't give it food or water_either,'_the other reminded._'Highness Syn, or perhaps Lesser Highness Marion may have_other ideas.'

Something inside Eldyn died at_the casual mention_of_Lesser_Highness Marion. The words_did something Krasno's hints and the_open accusations of the Forest People_had failed to do. They convinced her,_brought into sharp focus all the_half-thoughts and doubts she had_so resolutely_pushed aside.

* * * *

The_ship landed and_Eldyn was_lifted, half-dragged across_the courtyard of the Fortress and_into Syn's audience_hall. There she was given a_final_shove, tripped at_the_same_instant, and_made involuntary prone_obeisance_to the_dark-haired_man on the throne. She had_just_time to notice with a start how_closely he resembled Marion.

Syn_looked_down in questioning contempt._Eldyn could feel his mind_probing tentatively at her and deliberately_made incoherent_thought-pictures of_burning sands and torturing thirst, of howling savages with blood lust_in their eyes, of the trembling_hell of the Mountains_that Move._She_invented scenes of_being_hunted through_an endless towering forest by murderous people._To set_up a complete mind block would_only have called attention_to_her ability.

Syn's mind displayed increasing interest_at those pictures, so she took_her thoughts back to Earth_and_reproduced_the nightmarish, multiform and utterly_horrible and meaningless images of morphine_and delirium which_had haunted her in the hospital. She_had_the satisfaction of feeling his mind_withdraw_in fastidious disgust.

'Her mind is gone,_Highness_Syn?'_a hulking, much-decorated warrior asked.

Syn_nodded. 'Curse those Rebels. She is_of no value in this condition.'

Wyr nodded. 'Could her_mind be restored?'

'Not_worth it,' Syn decided. 'It