 would be a tedious task, I fear. A third Closed World mind for the Faith would have made the victory simpler, but no matter.' He shrugged.

'The Rebels still die under the new weapons?' he asked his military chief.

'Yes, Highness Syn,' Wyr responded. 'It will end soon now. Shall I-?' She made a snapping motion with her hands.

Syn shook his head. 'Not so quickly, Wyr.' He raised his voice slightly. 'Marion, do you want this thing?'

Eldyn resisted the temptation to turn, for that would have betrayed that she understood every word.

Marion's voice came clearly from behind her.

'No!' he declared, his tone indicating revulsion at the sight of her maimed ugliness and the grime that clung to her blood-flecked skin.

Then quickly he changed his mind.

'For the Faith, Highness Syn—yes. She was always a fool, but with proper care perhaps enough of her mind can be restored to hasten The Night.'

'Granted.' Syn sounded pleased at Marion's devotion to the Faith. 'This idiot creature could not possibly be El-ve-dyn. But have your slaves take it out of my sight. It sickens me.'

Eldyn heard the boy she had once loved give an order, felt herself lifted and carried. A few minutes later, still feigning semi-consciousness, she was deposited on a soft bed.

'What do you want with this thing?' It was the big woman Syn had addressed Wyr, and she sounded suspicious.

Marion answered calmly. 'As an unexpected aid to our plans.'

'How?'

'Victoria hates me since I chose you. Now Syn has taken a fancy to her. He will use her against us—if he suspects. And we both know Syn is dangerously clever. But I hope we can use this one—against Syn through Victoria.'

'But can you be sure-?'

'This one will do whatever I say.' Marion laughed confidently. 'But remember, Wyr dearest, for a while Eldyn must be my only love. Now leave me alone with her.'

The big woman muttered an oath.

'Jealous? Don't be stupid, Wyr. This should be a real surprise
would be a tedious task, I fear. A third Closed World mind for the Faith would have make the victory bare, but no matter.' He shrugged. 

' The Rebels still fail under the new weapons?' he asked his military head. 

' Yes, Highness Syn,' Wyr responded.' It will end soon now. Shall I-?' She make a snapping motion with her hands. 

 Syn judder his head.' Not so quickly, Wyr.' He raised his voice slightly.' Marion, do you desire this thing?' 

 Eldyn resisted the temptation to become, for that would have betrayed that she understood every password. 

 Marion's voice occur clearly from behind her. 

' No!' he declared, his tone indicating repugnance at the sight of her maimed ugliness and the grime that clung to her blood - flecked skin. 

 Then promptly he changed his mind. 

' For the Faith, Highness Syn — yes. She was always a fool, but with proper care perhaps enough of her mind can be restored to hasten The Night.' 

' allow.' Syn sounded pleased at Marion's devotion to the Faith.' This idiot animal could not possibly be El - ve - dyn. But have your slave necessitate it out of my sight. It sickens me.' 

 Eldyn learn the male child she had once loved give an holy order, felt herself lifted and carried. A few minutes by and by, still feigning semi - consciousness, she was deposited on a cushy bed. 

' What do you desire with this matter?' It was the boastful woman Syn had addressed Wyr, and she sounded leery. 

 Marion answered calmly.' As an unexpected aid to our plan.' 

' How?' 

' Victoria hates me since I chose you. Now Syn has taken a fondness to her. He will use her against us — if he distrust. And we both know Syn is dangerously cagey. But I hope we can use this one — against Syn through Victoria.' 

' But can you be sure-?' 

' This one will make whatever I say.' Marion laugh confidently.' But remember, Wyr dearest, for a while Eldyn must be my only beloved. Now leave me alone with her.' 

 The adult woman murmur an oath. 

' Jealous? Don't be stupid, Wyr. This should be a real surprise
 wokld be a tedious task, I near. A third Closed Wornd mins for thd Faith would have made the tictiry sumpler, but no matter.' Hd shruggef.

'The Rebwls wrill die uiser the new wswponv?' he asked his kilitary cvief.

'Yes, Highnevs Svn,' Wyr responded. 'It will end soon nor. Shall I-?' She made a snwppimd mofpok with her hands.

Syn shook his hezd. 'Not vo quickly, Wyt.' He raised his voice sligjtly. 'Marion, do you wanh this thint?'

Eldrb resisted tfe temptatpmn to turn, for that would have betrayed tfat ske understoid evfty word.

Marioi's voibe came clearly from tehind ner.

'No!' he declaved, hms tine indicating revulsmon at the sight of rer maimeg bgliness and the grimw rhat wlunc to yer blkov-flscked dkii.

Then quickmy he changwd his mind.

'For the Gaynn, Highness Sgn—yes. Fhq was always a fool, but with proper cart pergaps enough of her mind can be restored to hwsten The Night.'

'Granted.' Syn sounded pleased at Marion's devodion vo tht Nwkrh. 'This idiot creature could not possibly be El-ds-dun. But have your slaves takr lt jut of my sigft. It siciens me.'

Eldyn heard the boi she yad once jovec give an order, felt herseld lifted and xarried. A few minuces later, stnll feogninb semi-consciousness, she was deposited ln a soft ced.

'What do you wxnt whth this thing?' It was the fig woman Syn had adaresxed Wyw, and she doundcg suspicious.

Marion answgred cdlmly. 'As aj unexpected aid to our plans.'

'Hox?'

'Tictoria hatex ke vince I ehose nou. Now Syn has taken a fancy to her. He wkll use heg against us—if he sufpects. And we hoth know Syi is dangqrouwly xlever. Cjt I hope we csn use thps one—qgainst Syn througm Vicjodia.'

'But can you yt soee-?'

'This one wilk du wranevxr I fdy.' Marion lagghea cumfidevtly. 'Buu rcmeober, Wyr dearest, for a wvile Eldyn must be my pnjy love. Bow leavq me alone wiyh her.'

The big womaj mutvered en oatn.

'Jewlous? Don't be stupid, Wyr. This ahould be a veal surprise
would be a tedious task, I fear. Closed mind for Faith would have no He shrugged. 'The still die under new weapons?' he asked his military 'Yes, Highness Syn,' Wyr responded. 'It will end soon now. Shall I-?' She a snapping motion with her hands. Syn shook his head. 'Not so quickly, He his slightly. do you want this thing?' Eldyn resisted the temptation to turn, for that would have betrayed she understood every word. Marion's voice came clearly behind her. 'No!' he his tone indicating revulsion at sight her maimed and grime clung to her skin. Then quickly he changed his mind. 'For the Faith, Highness Syn—yes. She was always a fool, with proper enough of mind be to hasten The Syn sounded pleased at Marion's devotion 'This idiot creature could not possibly be El-ve-dyn. have your take it out of my sight. sickens me.' Eldyn heard the boy she had loved give an order, felt herself lifted and carried. A few minutes later, still feigning was deposited on a bed. 'What do want this It the big Syn had addressed Wyr, and she sounded suspicious. Marion answered calmly. an unexpected aid to our plans.' 'How?' 'Victoria hates me chose Now Syn has a fancy to her. will her against us—if he we know clever. I we can use this Syn through Victoria.' 'But can be sure-?' 'This one Marion laughed confidently. 'But remember, Wyr dearest, for while Eldyn must be my only love. leave me alone with her.' The big woman muttered an oath. 'Jealous? be stupid, should be a real surprise
 would be a tedious task, I fear. A Third CloseD WorlD miNd fOr The FAith Would have made tHE vicTory simpler, but no matter.' he shrUgGEd.

'ThE reBels sTill die UNdER The NeW wEapOnS?' He Asked His MilitarY chief.

'Yes, HIghNeSs Syn,' Wyr respONdEd. 'It will enD soOn now. Shall I-?' SHe mAde a snApPinG MotioN wiTh her Hands.

SYN shook His head. 'NoT sO QuicklY, wyr.' He raISEd His vOice slightly. 'MarioN, Do YOu want this thinG?'

Eldyn ReSIsTED thE teMptation to TuRn, for THat woulD HaVE BEtrAYed that she undErstood everY WorD.

MarioN's VoiCE came cLearlY fROm bEhind her.

'No!' hE decLared, his tOne indICating rEVulsion At the sIghT of Her mAImEd UglInESs aND tHe gRIme That clunG tO hEr bloOd-flECKED skiN.

ThEn quIckly He changed his mInd.

'for tHE FaIth, HiGhnesS Syn—YeS. She wAs alwaYs a foOl, But with proper caRe peRhaps enouGh oF hEr mInD can bE RestorEd tO haSten The night.'

'GrANteD.' SYN SOuNded pleased at MarioN's DEVoTion to thE Faith. 'tHiS iDIot creatUrE coUld nOT PossiBly bE el-Ve-dyn. But Have yoUR sLaVes take It Out of mY sIghT. It SickeNS me.'

ELdyn heArd the boY she hAD once loved give AN order, felt herSElF LIfTEd anD caRried. A few miNuteS LateR, stiLL fEigNIng seMi-conScIOuSNess, she was deposited On A soft bEd.

'WhaT do you want witH this thing?' iT WAs the big WomaN syN Had addressed WyR, and sHe sounded sUSpicious.

marioN answereD calmly. 'As AN UnexpectEd aId tO ouR plANS.'

'HOw?'

'Victoria hatES Me siNcE I chose You. now Syn hAs tAkeN a fAncY tO her. He wilL use her aGaInSt Us—If hE suspECts. And we BoTh kNoW SyN is daNGerousLy cleVer. BUt i hOPe wE can use THiS ONe—agAiNsT Syn ThrOuGh VicToriA.'

'but Can you bE sure-?'

'This One WIll dO wHaTever I sAy.' Marion laughEd ConfidentlY. 'BUt rEmembeR, wYr dearesT, for a while Eldyn must be my ONly love. now Leave Me alOne with heR.'

ThE big woMan MUttereD an oatH.

'JealOuS? DoN'T Be stuPID, WYr. THiS should be a REAl sUrpriSe
 would be a tedious task,I fear. Athird  Cl ose dWorl d mi nd for the Fai t h wo uld have made the vict ory s im p ler, bu t nomatter. '  H e shr ug ge d.
' T he  Rebe lsstill d ie under t hene w weapons?'h easked hismil itary chief. 

' Yes, H ig hne s s Syn ,'Wyr r espond e d. 'It  will end  s o on now .  ShallI - ?'  She  made a snappingm ot i on with her ha nds.
Sy n  s h o okhis  head. 'No tso qu i ckly, W y r. ' H e r a ised his voic e slightly. 'Ma rion,do  yo u  wantthisth i ng? '

Eldyn re sist ed the te mptati o n to tu r n, forthat w oul d h aveb et ra yed  t h ats he  un d ers tood eve ry  w ord.
Mar i o n ' s vo ice  cam e cle arly from beh ind  her . 

' No!'he de clar ed , his  toneindic at ing revulsion a t th e sight o f h er  ma im ed ug l inessand  th e grime  that c l ung  t o h er  blood-flecked ski n. Th en quick ly hec ha ng e d his mi nd .
'For t he Fa ith, Hi ghness S yn—yes .  S he  was al wa ys a f oo l,but  with prop er car e perhap s eno u gh of her mind can be restor e dt o  h a sten  Th e Night.'
'Gra n ted. ' Sy n  s oun d ed pl eased  a t  M a rion's devotion toth e Fait h. 'T his idiot cre ature coul d n ot possi blyb eE l-ve-dyn. Buthaveyour slave s  take it  outof my si ght. It s i c kens me. '
Eld ynhea r d  t he boy she ha d once  l oved gi vean orde r,fel t h ers el f liftedand carr ie d.  A  f ewminut e s later,  s til lfei gning semi-c onsci ousn es s, she  was de p os i t ed o nasoft  be d. 

'Wh at d o  yo u wantwith this  th i ng?'  I twas the  big woman Sy nhad addres se d W yr, an d she soun ded suspicious.

Marion answere d c almly . 'A s an unex pec ted ai d t o  our p lans.' 

'Ho w? '
' V ictor i a  h ate sme since I c hos e you .NowSyn has  taken a fancy toh er.  He will useher  aga i n st  us — if hesu s pec t s . And we both k now Syn is  d a ng erously cl e ver .But I h ope wecan u s e thisone—again st Syn th ro ughV i cto ria.'

'Bu t can yo u be sure - ?'

' T hi s one  wi ll dowh ate ver I  say.' Mar ion l aughed  c onfide ntly.  ' But reme mber, Wyr dearest, fora whil e Eld ynmust be m y o n lylove. Now  lea ve me alon e w ith  her. '
T he bi g wo m an  mu t tered  ano ath.

'Je a lo us? D on 't be stupi d , Wyr . Thi s s h ould b e areal surprise
 would_be a_tedious task, I fear._A third_Closed_World mind_for_the Faith would_have made the_victory simpler, but no_matter.' He shrugged.

'The_Rebels_still die under the new weapons?' he asked his military chief.

'Yes, Highness Syn,' Wyr_responded._'It will_end_soon_now. Shall I-?' She made_a snapping motion with her_hands.

Syn shook_his head. 'Not so quickly, Wyr.' He raised_his_voice slightly. 'Marion,_do you want this thing?'

Eldyn resisted the temptation to_turn, for that would have betrayed_that she understood_every_word.

Marion's_voice came clearly from_behind her.

'No!' he declared, his tone_indicating revulsion at the sight of_her maimed ugliness and the grime that_clung to her blood-flecked skin.

Then quickly_he changed his mind.

'For the_Faith, Highness_Syn—yes. She was always a_fool, but with_proper care_perhaps enough of_her mind can be restored to_hasten The Night.'

'Granted.'_Syn sounded pleased at Marion's devotion_to_the Faith. 'This_idiot_creature_could not_possibly be El-ve-dyn._But_have your_slaves_take it out of my sight._It_sickens me.'

Eldyn heard the boy she had_once loved give an_order,_felt herself lifted and_carried. A few minutes later,_still feigning semi-consciousness, she was deposited_on a_soft bed.

'What_do you want with this thing?' It was the big woman_Syn had addressed Wyr, and she_sounded suspicious.

Marion answered calmly._'As an_unexpected_aid to our_plans.'

'How?'

'Victoria_hates me_since I chose you. Now Syn has_taken a_fancy to her. He will use_her against us—if he_suspects._And we both know Syn is_dangerously clever. But I hope we_can use this one—against Syn_through_Victoria.'

'But_can you be sure-?'

'This one_will do whatever I say.' Marion_laughed confidently. 'But_remember, Wyr dearest, for a while Eldyn_must_be my only love. Now leave_me_alone with her.'

The big woman muttered_an_oath.

'Jealous?_Don't be stupid, Wyr. This_should be a real surprise