Syn put his head back against the cushions. His high, brittle laughter contained a trace of malice.

'Oh, I must read her thoughts when I tell her that,' he said. 'Earth Man, Wyr likes to consider herself rough and masterful. She's a mutant savage, you know, and if it were not for the Luvans of Great Sassa she would be only—'

'But she's yours?' Marion broke in.

Without rising Syn assumed a regal posture. 'All who serve Great Sassa are mine.'

Marion raised his eyebrows but said nothing.

Syn changed the subject abruptly. 'There were three of you who came through. One my Forces could not find.'

'You mean Eldyn?' Marion asked.

Syn sat up, tensely alert. 'Did you say El-ve-dyn?' he demanded harshly.

'No. Eldyn.'

Syn relaxed slightly. 'What is she like?'

Marion allowed himself a superior smile. 'Why do you ask?'

'What is she like?' Syn's voice crackled.

Marion held out the little finger of one hand and made winding motions around it. Evidently Syn understood the reference, for he smiled and leaned back.

'Why are you interested in her?' Marion insisted. 'She's crippled and disfigured, ugly, an honest fool. And Wyr said she's probably dead.'

Syn frowned. 'We—myself serving Great Sassa—have almost won Varda. But the resistance of the Rebels provides an annoying delay. And there is a certain prophecy among the Rebels, a stupid story about a creature called El-ve-dyn, and the name was sufficiently similar... We understand each other, Earth Man?'

Marion nodded emphatically.

'Just what were your relations with this—this Eldyn?'

Marion explained.

'Oh, you have a monogamous society there,' Syn commented.

'Theoretically, yes.'

'We did here too, in the dark ages before the Faith. Stupid, isn't it? So restricting.'

Syn had regained the poise Eldyn's name had disturbed, and Marion decided to press his advantage while he was in this friendly mood.

'I'd like to see Victoria now, Highness. Wyr said—'

Syn put his head back against the cushions. His high, brittle laugh control a trace of malice. 

' Oh, I must understand her thinking when I tell her that,' he said.' Earth Man, Wyr like to regard herself rough and consummate. She's a mutant beast, you know, and if it were not for the Luvans of Great Sassa she would be only —' 

' But she's yours?' Marion break in. 

 Without rising Syn assume a regal posture.' All who serve Great Sassa are mine.' 

 Marion raised his eyebrows but said nothing. 

 Syn deepen the subject abruptly.' There were three of you who came through. One my force could not find.' 

' You mean Eldyn?' Marion asked. 

 Syn sat up, tensely alert.' Did you state El - ve - dyn?' he demanded harshly. 

' No. Eldyn.' 

 Syn relaxed slightly.' What is she like?' 

 Marion permit himself a superior smile.' Why do you ask?' 

' What is she like?' Syn's voice crackled. 

 Marion held out the short finger of one hand and made winding motions around it. Evidently Syn understood the reference, for he smiled and leaned back. 

' Why are you interested in her?' Marion insist.' She's crippled and disfigured, ugly, an honest jester. And Wyr suppose she's probably dead.' 

 Syn frowned.' We — myself serve Great Sassa — have almost won Varda. But the resistance of the Rebels provides an annoying delay. And there constitute a certain prophecy among the Rebels, a stupid story about a creature called El - ve - dyn, and the name was sufficiently similar... We sympathize each other, Earth Man?' 

 Marion nodded emphatically. 

' Just what were your relations with this — this Eldyn?' 

 Marion explained. 

' Oh, you have a monogamous club there,' Syn commented. 

' Theoretically, yes.' 

' We did here too, in the dark ages before the Faith. Stupid, isn't it? therefore restricting.' 

 Syn had regained the poise Eldyn's name had disturbed, and Marion decide to press his advantage while he was in this friendly mood. 

' I'd like to see Victoria immediately, Highness. Wyr said —'
Syn put his head back againrt the cushions. His hijh, britfle laugfter contained a trace of mapixe.

'Oh, U must read her thoughgs when I tell hee thet,' he said. 'Earth Man, Wyr likes bo cousmder herself roogh and mastarful. She's a mgtxnc savage, you know, and if it were not for thr Puvans of Greaj Sasxw shs would be only—'

'But she's yours?' Marikn brokt in.

Without rising Syn assumed a regal postuge. 'Apl who serve Great Sassa are nine.'

Iqrion raised his eyebrows but said nothing.

Syn changed the subject abru'tly. 'There qeee hvree of you who bame through. One my Fmrces cpuld not find.'

'Ypu keab Eldyn?' Marion asked.

Sbn sat up, tensely algrt. 'Did yog aay El-ve-dyn?' he denabded varsvly.

'Nu. Elayn.'

Ayi rslaxed slmghtly. 'What is she likw?'

Marion allowed himxejd a superior amile. 'Rhr do you ask?'

'What is she like?' Syn's voice crzckled.

Marion held out tye little finger of oje hand agd made winding motions around it. Evidently Syn utdersvoud uhc fwffrence, for he smiled and leaned back.

'Why are yjh onnerested in her?' Mcrion insisted. 'Sne'd vtippled and dirfigurzs, hgly, an honest foop. And Wir saie she's prjbabky dead.'

Syn frowned. 'We—myself serving Grect Wassa—have almost wln Varda. Buc the tesistsnce of the Rebels provndes ah annoying felay. And ghere is a certakn iropvecy among the Rebels, a sttpid storb abobt a crexturg calleq El-ve-dyn, wnd tma name was sufficifntly shmilar... We knderstand each other, Earth Man?'

Marion nodded gmpvatpcally.

'Jusc what were your rejations with tkis—this Zldyn?'

Mxrion explzined.

'Oh, you have a monogamous smfiety there,' Vyn commqntee.

'Theireticauuy, yes.'

'We did hrre too, iu the dark ages before bhe Fxjth. Stupid, isn't it? So restricting.'

Xyn haq gegeined dhe poise Elgyn's naor had disturbed, cna Mation decided to presv hia advantage while ne was in jhis friegdly mood.

'I'd loke to see Victoriw now, Hijhness. Wyt said—'

Syn put his head back against the high, laughter contained trace of malice. thoughts I tell her he said. 'Earth Wyr likes to consider herself rough masterful. She's a mutant savage, you know, and if it were not for Luvans of Great Sassa she would be only—' 'But she's yours?' Marion broke Without Syn a posture. 'All who serve Great Sassa are mine.' Marion raised his eyebrows but said nothing. Syn the subject abruptly. 'There were three of you came through. One my could not find.' 'You mean Marion Syn sat tensely 'Did say El-ve-dyn?' he harshly. 'No. Eldyn.' Syn relaxed slightly. 'What is she like?' Marion allowed himself a superior smile. 'Why you ask?' she like?' voice Marion out the little one hand and made winding motions Syn understood the reference, for he smiled and back. 'Why you interested in her?' Marion insisted. crippled and disfigured, ugly, an honest fool. And said she's probably dead.' Syn frowned. 'We—myself serving Great Sassa—have almost won Varda. But the the Rebels provides an delay. And there a prophecy the a stupid about a creature called El-ve-dyn, and the name was sufficiently similar... understand each other, Earth Man?' Marion nodded emphatically. 'Just what relations this—this Eldyn?' Marion 'Oh, you have a society Syn commented. 'Theoretically, yes.' here in before Faith. isn't it? So restricting.' had regained the poise Eldyn's had disturbed, and Marion while he was in this friendly mood. 'I'd to see Victoria now, Highness. Wyr said—'
Syn put his head back against tHe cushions. his hiGh, bRitTlE lauGhteR contained a traCE of mAlice.

'Oh, I must read her thoUghts WhEN I teLL hEr thaT,' he said. 'eArTH man, wyR lIkeS tO CoNsideR heRself roUgh and mastErfUl. she's a mutant sAVaGe, you know, aNd iF it were not foR thE LuvanS oF GrEAt SasSa sHe wouLd be onLY—'

'But shE's yours?' MaRiON broke IN.

WithouT RIsIng SYn assumed a regal poSTuRE. 'All who serve GrEat SasSa ARe MINe.'

MAriOn raised hiS eYebroWS but saiD NoTHINg.

SYN changed the suBject abruptLY. 'ThEre werE tHreE Of you wHo camE tHRouGh. One my ForcEs coUld not finD.'

'You meAN Eldyn?' MARion askEd.

Syn sAt uP, teNselY AlErT. 'DiD yOU saY el-Ve-dYN?' he Demanded HaRsHly.

'No. eldyN.'

sYN RelaXed SligHtly. 'WHat is she like?'

MAriOn alLOweD himsElf a sUperIoR smilE. 'Why do You asK?'

'WHat is she like?' Syn'S voiCe crackleD.

MaRiOn hElD out tHE littlE fiNgeR of one hAnd and mADe wInDING mOtions around it. EvidEnTLY SYn undersTood thE ReFeREnce, for hE sMilEd anD LEaned Back.

'wHy Are you inTerestED iN hEr?' MarioN iNsisteD. 'SHe's CriPpled ANd diSfigurEd, ugly, an HonesT Fool. And Wyr said SHe's probably deAD.'

SYN FrOWned. 'we—mYself servinG GreAT SasSa—haVE aLmoST won VArda. BUt THe REsistance of the RebelS pRovideS an anNoying delay. AnD there is a cERTAin prophEcy aMOnG The Rebels, a stupId stoRy about a crEAture calLed El-Ve-dyn, and The name waS SUfficienTly SimIlaR... We UNDeRstand each othER, eartH MAn?'

MarioN noDded empHatIcaLly.

'jusT wHat were yoUr relatiOnS wItH tHis—This ELDyn?'

MarioN eXplAiNed.

'oh, you HAve a moNogamOus sOcIeTY thEre,' Syn cOMmENTed.

'THeOrEticAllY, yEs.'

'We dId heRE toO, in the dArk ages beForE The FAiTh. stupid, iSn't it? So restriCtIng.'

Syn had rEgAinEd the pOISe Eldyn's Name had disturbed, and MariON decideD to Press His aDvantage wHilE he was In tHIs frieNdly moOd.

'I'd lIkE to SEE VictORIa Now, hiGhness. Wyr sAID—'

Syn put his head back agai nst the cu shion s.His  h igh,  bri ttle laughterc onta ined a trace of malice .

'O h, I mu s treadher tho u gh t s  wh en  I  te ll he r tha t,'  he sai d. 'EarthMan ,Wyr likes to co nsider her sel f rough andmas terful .She ' s a m uta nt sa vage,y ou kno w, and if  i t  weren ot fort h eLuva ns of Great Sassa sh e  would be only —'

'B ut sh e ' s y our s?' Marion  b rokei n.

Wit h ou t r isi n g Syn assumed  a regal po s tur e. 'Al lwho serveGreat  S a ssa  are mine.' 

Ma rion rais ed his eyebrow s  but sa id not hin g.
Syn ch an ged  t h e s u bj ect abr uptly. ' Th er e wer e th r e e of y ouwhocamethrough. OnemyForc e s c ouldnot f ind. '
'You  meanEldyn ?'  Marion asked.
Syn  sat up,ten se lyal ert.' Did yo u s ayEl-ve-d yn?' he dem an d e d  h arshly.

'No. Eldy n. ' 
S yn relax ed sli g ht ly .  'What i sshe  lik e ? '

Ma rion al lowed hi mselfa  s up erior s mi le. 'W hy  do  yo u ask ? '

' What i s she li ke?'S yn's voice cra c kled.

Marion he l d  o u t th e l ittle finge r of onehand an d m a de wi nding  m o ti o ns around it. Evide nt ly Syn  unde rstood the re ference, f o r he smile d an d  l e aned back.

'W hy ar e you inte r ested in  her? ' Marion  insisted . 'She's c rip ple d a ndd i sf igured, ugly, a n ho ne st fool . A nd Wyrsai d s he' s p ro bably dea d.'

Syn  f ro wn ed . ' We—my s elf serv in g G re atSassa — have a lmost  won  V ar d a.But the re s i stan ce  o f th e R eb els p rovi d esan anno ying dela y.A nd t he re  is a c ertain prophe cy  among the  R ebe ls, as t upid sto ry about a creature cal l ed El-v e-d yn, a nd t he name w assuffic ien t ly sim ilar.. . Weun der s t and e a c hoth er , Earth Ma n ? '
Mario nnodd ed emph atically.

'Just w h atwere your rel ati onsw i th  th i s— t his  E l dyn ? ' 

Marion explai ned.

'Oh,  y o uhave a mon o gam ou s socie ty ther e,' S y n comme nted.

'T heoretica ll y, y e s .'
'We did h ere too,  in the d a rk ag e sbefor e t he Fai th . S tupid , isn' t  it ? Sorestri ct ing.'
Synha d regain ed the poise Eldyn's na me had  dist urb ed, and M ari o n d ecided to  pre ss his adv ant age  whil e h e  wasin t h is  fr i endly  moo d .

'I'd l i ke  to s ee  Victoria n o w ,  Hi ghnes s.W yr sai d—'
Syn put_his head_back against the cushions._His high,_brittle_laughter contained_a_trace of malice.

'Oh,_I must read_her thoughts when I_tell her that,'_he_said. 'Earth Man, Wyr likes to consider herself rough and masterful. She's a mutant_savage,_you know,_and_if_it were not for the_Luvans of Great Sassa she_would be_only—'

'But she's yours?' Marion broke in.

Without rising Syn_assumed_a regal posture._'All who serve Great Sassa are mine.'

Marion raised his_eyebrows but said nothing.

Syn changed the_subject abruptly. 'There_were_three_of you who came_through. One my Forces could not_find.'

'You mean Eldyn?' Marion asked.

Syn sat_up, tensely alert. 'Did you say El-ve-dyn?'_he demanded harshly.

'No. Eldyn.'

Syn relaxed slightly._'What is she like?'

Marion allowed_himself a_superior smile. 'Why do you_ask?'

'What is she_like?' Syn's_voice crackled.

Marion held_out the little finger of one_hand and made_winding motions around it. Evidently Syn_understood_the reference, for_he_smiled_and leaned_back.

'Why are you_interested_in her?'_Marion_insisted. 'She's crippled and disfigured, ugly,_an_honest fool. And Wyr said she's probably_dead.'

Syn frowned. 'We—myself serving_Great_Sassa—have almost won Varda._But the resistance of the_Rebels provides an annoying delay. And_there is_a certain_prophecy among the Rebels, a stupid story about a creature called_El-ve-dyn, and the name was sufficiently_similar... We understand each_other, Earth_Man?'

Marion_nodded emphatically.

'Just what_were_your relations_with this—this Eldyn?'

Marion explained.

'Oh, you have a_monogamous society_there,' Syn commented.

'Theoretically, yes.'

'We did here_too, in the dark_ages_before the Faith. Stupid, isn't it?_So restricting.'

Syn had regained the poise_Eldyn's name had disturbed, and_Marion_decided_to press his advantage while_he was in this friendly mood.

'I'd_like to see_Victoria now, Highness. Wyr said—'
