The blade sank home to the hilt. Syn opened his mouth, but if he screamed it was lost in the swelling roar of Sassa's coming. The impetus of Marion's rush carried the Black Priestess' body forward toward the Vat.

His body crashed against Eldyn and her overstrained body gave way. Her toes slipped from the platform's edge, and she and Krasno once more swung out over the Vat—while Syn's white form plummeted on down.

There was a dull splash—and Syn, Beloved of Sassa, was no more. Nothing settled through the evil lavender depths.

The temple of Sassa was now in an uproar. Eldyn and Krasno hung in slow-swinging arcs, and Marion stood paralyzed, fingers taloned and shoulders raised.

Through the tumult he and Eldyn's eyes met—and held. In what seemed to them both an age, their thoughts took concrete form. Marion somehow realized that she was his sole obstacle now. Eldyn would have to be removed before he could fill Syn's place.

Eldyn, too—in this split-second that seemed eternity—had made her decision. From the Gateway came a sound that stopped the blood in her veins. Syn himself had furnished the final needed burst of life energy.

Sassa was coming through!

Marion was evil. But Sassa was the greater evil. With all her Thin World knowledge, Eldyn knew that the instant of balance was at hand, the time to strike and disrupt that balance of bound charges.

Marion leaped forward as her swing carried Eldyn and Krasno back toward the platform. He slashed with Victoria's knife, slashed at Eldyn's fingers.

The thrust was true. The edge bit into bone and severed cleanly. Eldyn's mutilated hand slipped from the chains. And she and Krasno fell toward the Vat.

But even as she fell Eldyn's hand drove down—what was left of it—and snatched the blast rod Marion had placed in her belt. Falling, she aimed at the lurid flaming thing that was Sassa.

The Sassa-creature sensed her intention, turned its force into Marion's receptive mind and drove his into a blind attack. With an inhuman scream he launched himself from the platform after Eldyn, his dagger thrusting forward and
The blade sank home to the hilt. Syn opened his mouth, but if he scream it was suffer in the swelling roar of Sassa's coming. The impulse of Marion's rush carried the Black Priestess' torso forward toward the Vat. 

 His body crash against Eldyn and her overstrained body gave room. Her toes slipped from the chopine's edge, and she and Krasno once more swung out over the Vat — while Syn's white form plummeted on down. 

 There was a dull stir — and Syn, Beloved of Sassa, was no more. Nothing settled through the evil lavender depths. 

 The synagogue of Sassa was now in an uproar. Eldyn and Krasno hang in slow - singe arcs, and Marion stood paralyzed, fingers taloned and shoulders recruit. 

 Through the tumult he and Eldyn's eyes met — and held. In what seemed to them both an old age, their thoughts took concrete form. Marion somehow realized that she was his sole obstacle now. Eldyn would have to be removed before he could fill Syn's place. 

 Eldyn, excessively — in this split - second that seem eternity — had construct her decision. From the Gateway came a sound that stopped the blood in her veins. Syn himself had furnished the final needed outburst of life energy. 

 Sassa was coming through! 

 Marion was evil. But Sassa was the greater evil. With all her Thin World cognition, Eldyn knew that the instant of balance was at hand, the time to strike and disrupt that symmetry of bound charges. 

 Marion leaped forward as her swing carry Eldyn and Krasno back toward the platform. He slashed with Victoria's knife, slash at Eldyn's fingers. 

 The thrust was true. The edge morsel into bone and severed flawlessly. Eldyn's mutilated hand slipped from the chains. And she and Krasno fell toward the Vat. 

 But even as she fall Eldyn's hand drove down — what was left of it — and kidnap the blast rod Marion had place in her belt. fall, she aimed at the lurid flaming thing that was Sassa. 

 The Sassa - creature sensed her intention, turned its force into Marion's receptive judgment and drove his into a blind attack. With an cold scream he launched himself from the platform after Eldyn, his dagger thrusting forward and
The blade sank home to the milt. Syn opened kus mouvh, but jf he scfeamed it was lost in the swxllibg roqr of Sassa's coming. Thd impetus of Mariin's cush carried the Black Pvnestead' boby forward towarc the Vat.

Hhs body crasheg xgcinst Eldyn and her overstrained bodr gave eaj. Her toes slikped gwom fhe platform's edge, and she and Kraano onct more swung out ofer the Vat—while Syn's whitf fogm plummeted on doan.

There was a dtol splash—and Syn, Belovtd of Sassa, sas no more. Nothing settled thruugh che evil lacebdeg depths.

The vemple of Sassa was now in an uprpar. Eldyn and Lravno hung in slow-swinging arcs, and Marion sjood paralfzzd, fingers taloned ane whoulgers rairwd.

Tfrohgi tge tumklt he and Elsyn's eyes mwt—and held. In what xeqned to them bkth an ade, their thoughts took concrete form. Magion somehow realized that whe was his sole obstwcle now. Qldyn would have to be removed before he could finl Syi's plcgc.

Eldhb, hoo—in this split-second that seemed eternity—haq msdv her decision. Frjm the Gateeaj vwme a sound tfat stoppsd the blood in heg veins. Syn yimself hwd firnished the final needed byrst of life wnergy.

Sassa was coling througk!

Mariom was evil. But Sassa was the grezter evil. Wlth all hsf Thin World knodlecga, Eldyn knew that the instwnt of baoancz was at hanc, the eime to stgike and disrupt that bapance ox bound chwrges.

Marion leaped forward as hxc swing carrigd Aldjn and Krcsno bsck toward thq platform. He xlashed with Victoria's knife, vlashed at Qldyn's fingerv.

Jhe thrust wav true. Tre eege vit intu bone and seveted cleanly. Eldyn's nutilated hand sliiped wdom the chains. Cud she and Krasno feul eoaacd thq Vat.

But even as rhe gell Dldyn's hand arovr down—what was left mf if—and snatched the nlwst rod Narion hwd placed in ner belt. Falling, sje aiked at tne jurid flaming thing that was Szssa.

The Swssw-creature segsed her intentipn, turned its force into Marion's receptmve mind and drove his unto a blind attack. Eith an inhnman ssream he naunched himself fron the platform afuer Eldyn, his dagger thdustinc foraard and
The blade sank home to the hilt. his but if screamed it was of coming. The impetus Marion's rush carried Black Priestess' body forward toward the His body crashed against Eldyn and her overstrained body gave way. Her toes from the platform's edge, and she and Krasno once more swung out over Vat—while white plummeted down. There was a dull splash—and Syn, Beloved of Sassa, was no more. Nothing settled through evil lavender depths. The temple of Sassa was in an uproar. Eldyn Krasno hung in slow-swinging arcs, Marion paralyzed, fingers and raised. the tumult he Eldyn's eyes met—and held. In what seemed to them both an age, their thoughts took concrete form. somehow realized was his obstacle Eldyn have to be he could fill Syn's place. Eldyn, that seemed eternity—had made her decision. From the came a that stopped the blood in her Syn himself had furnished the final needed burst life energy. Sassa was coming through! Marion was evil. But Sassa was the greater evil. her Thin World knowledge, knew that the of was hand, time to and disrupt that balance of bound charges. Marion leaped forward as swing carried Eldyn and Krasno back toward the platform. He Victoria's slashed at Eldyn's The thrust was true. edge into bone and severed mutilated slipped And and fell toward the Vat. even as she fell Eldyn's drove down—what was left rod Marion had placed in her belt. Falling, aimed at the lurid flaming thing that Sassa. The Sassa-creature sensed her intention, turned its force into Marion's receptive and drove a blind attack. With an inhuman scream he himself from the platform Eldyn, his dagger thrusting forward and
The blade sank home to the hilt. syn opened hIs mouTh, bUt iF hE scrEameD it was lost in thE SwelLing roar of Sassa's coming. the imPeTUs of mArIon's rUsh carrIEd THE BlAcK PRieStESs' Body fOrwArd towaRd the Vat.

HiS boDy Crashed againST ELdyn and her OveRstrained bodY gaVe way. HEr ToeS SlippEd fRom thE platfORm's edgE, and she anD KRAsno onCE more swUNG oUt ovEr the Vat—while Syn's WHiTE form plummeted On down.

thERe WAS a dUll Splash—and SYn, belovED of SassA, WaS NO MorE. nothing settleD through the EVil LavendEr DepTHs.

The tEmple Of sAssA was now in an UproAr. Eldyn anD KrasnO Hung in sLOw-swingIng arcS, anD MaRion SToOd ParAlYZed, FInGerS TalOned and sHoUlDers rAiseD.

tHROugh The TumuLt he aNd Eldyn's eyes mEt—aNd heLD. In What sEemed To thEm Both aN age, thEir thOuGhts took concretE forM. Marion soMehOw ReaLiZed thAT she waS hiS soLe obstaCle now. ELDyn WoULD HaVe to be removed beforE hE COuLd fill SyN's placE.

elDyN, Too—in thiS sPliT-secOND that SeemED eTernity—hAd made HEr DeCision. FRoM the GaTeWay CamE a souND thaT stoppEd the bloOd in hER veins. Syn himseLF had furnished THe FINaL NeedEd bUrst of life eNergY.

sassA was COmIng THrougH!

MariOn WAs EVil. But Sassa was the grEaTer eviL. With All her Thin WorLd knowledgE, eLDyn knew tHat tHE iNStant of balance Was at Hand, the timE To strike And diSrupt thaT balance oF BOund charGes.

marIon LeaPED fOrward as her swING carRiEd Eldyn And krasno bAck TowArd The PlAtform. He sLashed wiTh viCtOrIa's Knife, SLashed at elDyn'S fIngErs.

ThE Thrust Was trUe. ThE eDgE Bit Into bonE AnD SEverEd ClEanlY. ElDyN's mutIlatED haNd slippEd from the ChaINs. AnD sHe And KrasNo fell toward tHe vat.

But even As She Fell ElDYN's hand drOve down—what was left of it—aND snatchEd tHe blaSt roD Marion haD plAced in Her BElt. FalLing, shE aimeD aT thE LUrid fLAMiNg tHiNg that was SASSa.

THe SasSa-CreaTure senSed her intention, turNEd iTs force into MaRioN's reCEPtIve MInD And DrOVe hIS Into a blind attacK. With an inhUmAN sCream he lauNCheD hImself fRom the pLatfoRM after ELdyn, his daGger thrusTiNg foRWArd And
The blade sank home to the  hilt. Syn  open edhis  m outh , bu t if he scream e d it  was lost in the swell ing r oa r  ofS as sa'scoming. Th e imp et us  of  M a ri on'srus h carri ed the Bla ckPr iestess' bod y  f orward tow ard  the Vat.

H isbody c ra she d  agai nst  Eldy n andh er ove rstrained  b o dy gav e  way. H e r  t oesslipped from thep la t form's edge, a nd she  a n dK r asn o o nce more s wu ng ou t  over t h eV a t —wh i le Syn's whit e form plum m ete d on d ow n.Therewas a  d u llsplash—andSyn,  Belovedof Sas s a, wasn o more.  Nothi ngset tled th ro ugh  t h e e v il  la v end er depth s. 
The t empl e o f  Sas sawasnow i n an uproar.Eld yn a n d K rasno  hung  insl ow-sw inging  arcs ,and Marion stoo d pa ralyzed,fin ge rsta loned and sh oul der s raise d.

Thr o ugh  t h e tu mult he and Eldyn' se y es  met—and  held. In  w h at seeme dtothem b oth a n ag e ,their th oughts to ok  concre te  form.  M ari onsomeh o w re alized  that sh e was his sole obsta c le now. Eldyn wo u l dh avetobe removedbefo r e he  cou l dfil l  Syn' s pla ce . 
E ldyn, too—in this s pl it-sec ond t hat seemed et ernity—had m a de her d ecis i on .  From the Gate way c ame a soun d  that st opped  the blo od in her v eins. Sy n h ims elf  ha d fu rnished the f i n al n ee ded bur stof life  en erg y.
Sa ss a was com ing thro ug h! 
Ma rio n was evil. Bu tSas sa  wa s the greate r evi l. W it ha llher Thi n  W o r ld k no wl edge , E ld yn kn ew t h atthe ins tant of b ala n ce w as  a t hand,  the time tost rike and d is rup t that b alance o f bound charges.

Mario n  leaped  fo rward  asher swing  ca rriedEld y n andKrasno  back  t owa r d  thep l at for m.  He slashe d wit h Vic to ria' s knife , slashed at Eldyn ' s f ingers.

Thethr ustw a stru e .T heed g e b i t  into bone andsevered cl ea n ly . Eldyn'sm uti la ted han d slipp ed fr o m the c hains. An d she and  K rasn o fel l toward t he Vat.
But even as sh e  f ell E ldy n's ha nd  dr ove d own—wh a t w as le ft ofit —and s natch ed  the bla st rod Marion had place d in h er be lt.  Falling,  sh e  ai med at th e lu rid flamin g t hin g tha t w a s Sas sa.Th e S a ssa-c reat u re sensed he r i n t en tion, turne d i tsforce  in t o Mari on's  receptive mind a n d drove his in to a b lin d a t tack .With an inhuma n s cr e a m he lau nc hed himself  from th ep latfo rm aft er Eld yn, his d ag g er thr usti ngforward a nd
The blade_sank home_to the hilt. Syn_opened his_mouth,_but if_he_screamed it was_lost in the_swelling roar of Sassa's_coming. The impetus_of_Marion's rush carried the Black Priestess' body forward toward the Vat.

His body crashed against_Eldyn_and her_overstrained_body_gave way. Her toes slipped_from the platform's edge, and_she and_Krasno once more swung out over the Vat—while_Syn's_white form plummeted_on down.

There was a dull splash—and Syn, Beloved of_Sassa, was no more. Nothing settled_through the evil_lavender_depths.

The_temple of Sassa was_now in an uproar. Eldyn and_Krasno hung in slow-swinging arcs, and_Marion stood paralyzed, fingers taloned and shoulders_raised.

Through the tumult he and Eldyn's_eyes met—and held. In what_seemed to_them both an age, their_thoughts took concrete_form. Marion_somehow realized that_she was his sole obstacle now._Eldyn would have_to be removed before he could_fill_Syn's place.

Eldyn, too—in_this_split-second_that seemed_eternity—had made her_decision._From the_Gateway_came a sound that stopped the_blood_in her veins. Syn himself had furnished_the final needed burst_of_life energy.

Sassa was coming_through!

Marion was evil. But Sassa_was the greater evil. With all_her Thin_World knowledge,_Eldyn knew that the instant of balance was at hand, the_time to strike and disrupt that_balance of bound charges.

Marion_leaped forward_as_her swing carried_Eldyn_and Krasno_back toward the platform. He slashed with_Victoria's knife,_slashed at Eldyn's fingers.

The thrust was_true. The edge bit_into_bone and severed cleanly. Eldyn's mutilated_hand slipped from the chains. And_she and Krasno fell toward_the_Vat.

But_even as she fell Eldyn's_hand drove down—what was left of_it—and snatched the_blast rod Marion had placed in her_belt._Falling, she aimed at the lurid_flaming_thing that was Sassa.

The Sassa-creature sensed_her_intention,_turned its force into Marion's_receptive mind and drove his into_a blind attack. With an inhuman scream he launched_himself from the_platform after Eldyn, his dagger_thrusting_forward_and