 pick up the prisoner.

She pulled Tikta's paws away and instantly was back in the underground room. Tikta glared at her reproachfully as she sat on the side of the couch. Her heart was pounding and she was caught in the grip of uncertainty.

Finally she rose and fumbled in one of the wall cupboards for the extra blast rod Krasno had left behind. She knew she had to at least try, no matter what the odds, but she moved reluctantly.

Tikta pulled at her trouser leg to attract attention, and Eldyn remembered with a gasp of dismay. Power weapons such as the blast rod were worse than useless against Luvans. They backfired. Slowly she picked up the heavy sword the lemur-creature had laboriously dragged to the middle of the floor.

Titka's chattering reached a frantic pitch. It leaped to Eldyn's shoulder, clinging to her collar with one paw and pointing the way with the other in a manner almost human. The naked blade felt clumsy in her unpracticed right hand. All her life she had been left-handed, and she was no swordswoman, and she was frankly frightened. But she had to at least try.

Huge butterflies flitted among the gigantic trees of the forest and rainbow-hued lizards raced over the rough bark, but Eldyn hardly noticed. She was haunted by the vision of Krasno.

Tikta guided her straight to the clearing. It was not far. The two Luvans, indistinguishable duplicates of each other, still held the struggling Rebel boy between them.

Tikta leaped down in shrill, gibbering rage and raced ahead of Eldyn to the defense of its master. One of the Luvans looked up unperturbed as Eldyn tensed her muscles and forced herself to charge with sword swinging. One of them brought her knife hilt crashing down on Krasno's skull, and as he dropped unconscious both turned toward the Earthwoman.

Eldyn staggered in mid-stride as her knees went rubbery with a chilling, unearthly fear surpassing her worst nightstallions. Her wrist drooped and her fingers were lax on the sword hilt. For an instant she came to a complete standstill, her body swinging involuntarily to run, and she knew herself as an arrant coward
pick up the prisoner. 

 She pulled Tikta's paws away and immediately was back in the belowground room. Tikta glared at her reproachfully as she sat on the english of the couch. Her heart was beat and she was catch in the grip of doubt. 

 ultimately she rose and botch in one of the wall cupboards for the excess blast rod Krasno had left behind. She knew she had to at least try, no matter what the odds, but she moved reluctantly. 

 Tikta pluck at her trouser leg to attract attention, and Eldyn remember with a gasp of dismay. Power weapons such as the blast perch were worse than useless against Luvans. They backfired. Slowly she picked up the heavy sword the lemur - animal had laboriously dragged to the middle of the floor. 

 Titka's chattering reached a frantic pitch. It jump to Eldyn's shoulder, clinging to her collar with one paw and pointing the way with the other in a manner almost human. The naked blade felt gawky in her unpracticed right hand. All her life sentence she had been leave - handed, and she was no swordswoman, and she was frankly frightened. But she had to at least judge. 

 Huge butterfly flitted among the gigantic trees of the forest and rainbow - hue lizards raced over the rough bark, but Eldyn hardly noticed. She was haunted by the imagination of Krasno. 

 Tikta guided her straight to the clearing. It was not far. The two Luvans, indistinguishable duplicates of each early, still hold the struggling Rebel boy between them. 

 Tikta leaped down in shrill, gibbering fury and raced ahead of Eldyn to the defense of its master. One of the Luvans look up unflurried as Eldyn tensed her muscles and forced herself to charge with sword swinging. One of them bring her knife hilt crash down on Krasno's skull, and as he dropped unconscious both sour toward the Earthwoman. 

 Eldyn staggered in mid - pace as her knees proceed rubbery with a chilling, unearthly fear surpassing her worst nightstallions. Her wrist drooped and her finger were lax on the sword hilt. For an instant she come to a complete standstill, her body swing involuntarily to scat, and she knew herself as an arrant coward
 pifk up the prisoner.

She puuled Tikta's paws away end insfantly wxs back in the underground rlon. Tikuc glared at her repruachfully as she wat ib the side of the gjuch. Mer hzact was pounding and she wds caught in tve gxip of uncertainty.

Finally she rose agd fumbkef in one of thg walk cupgoards for the extra blast rod Kraano had left behind. Xhe knew she had to at leadt tgy, no matter what hhe odds, buj shq moved relucgantly.

Tikta pulled at ger trouser leg to attract attevtion, and Eldyn rwmeltered with e gasp of dismay. Power wea[ons suvh as the blasb rod weee worse than useless against Luvans. Thgy backfirad. Slowly she pickee yp thg heaey sdird tht lxmud-creatkre had laborjously dragted to the middle og eye floor.

Titka'a chateewing reached a frantic pitch. It leaped uo Elsyn's shoulder, clinging ro her collar with ong paw and [ointing the way with the other in a manner almosd humen. Tht kwywd blade felt clumsy in her unpracticed right hwhd. Akl her life shc had been left-hancef, sgd she was no swordswojan, and she was frwnkly ftightebed. But sre hsd to at least try.

Huge buttwrflies flitned qmong the gigantic trees of tke forgst anc rainbow-hued lizards rcced ober the rouhh bark, bhg Eldyn hardly nutibed. Vhe was haunted by the visyon of Kresno.

Tnkta guiaed ner stwaight to hhe clearing. It was not var. Tke twm Luvans, ijdistinguishable duplicates of xech other, stikl hend the scruggllng Rebel boy bqtween them.

Tikja leaped down in shrill, gibbermng rage and raced ahead mv Eldyn to tie defensq of its master. Une of the Luvsns lookeb up ynperturbed as Eldnn tevaed her muscles ane forced herselg tu cragge wydh sword switgine. Ovr of ghem broughb hdr kmife hilt crashing dmwn kn Krasno's skull, amd as he dtopped unsonscious botn turned toward tht Eartiwoman.

Xldyn xtadgered in mid-stride as her kness went rkbbcry with a chyllikg, ugearthly fzar surpassing her worst nightstallions. Ier wrist drooped and hwr fingers were lax pn the sworv hilt. For an itstant she came to a complete standstlll, her body swinging jnvoluttaripy to run, and she knew herself as an arrant coward
pick up the prisoner. She pulled Tikta's and was back the underground room. as sat on the of the couch. heart was pounding and she was in the grip of uncertainty. Finally she rose and fumbled in one of wall cupboards for the extra blast rod Krasno had left behind. She knew had at try, matter what the odds, but she moved reluctantly. Tikta pulled at her trouser leg to attract and Eldyn remembered with a gasp of dismay. weapons such as the rod were worse than useless Luvans. backfired. Slowly picked the sword the lemur-creature laboriously dragged to the middle of the floor. Titka's chattering reached a frantic pitch. It leaped to shoulder, clinging collar with paw pointing way with the a manner almost human. The naked in her unpracticed right hand. All her life had been and she was no swordswoman, and was frankly frightened. But she had to at try. Huge butterflies flitted among the gigantic trees of the forest and rainbow-hued lizards raced rough bark, but Eldyn noticed. She was by vision Krasno. guided her to the clearing. It was not far. The two Luvans, indistinguishable of each other, still held the struggling Rebel boy between leaped in shrill, gibbering and raced ahead of to defense of its master. the looked Eldyn her and forced herself to with sword swinging. One of brought her knife hilt and as he dropped unconscious both turned toward Earthwoman. Eldyn staggered in mid-stride as her went rubbery with a chilling, unearthly fear surpassing her worst nightstallions. Her drooped and were lax on the sword hilt. For an she came to a standstill, her body swinging involuntarily to run, and she herself an arrant
 pick up the prisoner.

She pulleD Tikta's pawS away And InsTaNtly Was bAck in the undergROund Room. Tikta glared at her reProacHfULly aS ShE sat oN the sidE Of THE coUcH. HEr hEaRT wAs pouNdiNg and shE was caught In tHe Grip of uncertAInTy.

Finally sHe rOse and fumbleD in One of tHe WalL CupboArdS for tHe extrA Blast rOd Krasno hAd LEft behINd. She knEW ShE had To at least try, no matTEr WHat the odds, but sHe moveD rELuCTAntLy.

TIkta pulled At Her trOUser leg TO aTTRAct ATtention, and ElDyn rememberED wiTh a gasP oF diSMay. PowEr weaPoNS suCh as the blasT rod Were worse Than usELess agaINst LuvaNs. They BacKfiRed. SLOwLy She PiCKed UP tHe hEAvy Sword the LeMuR-creaTure HAD LAborIouSly dRaggeD to the middle oF thE floOR.

TiTka's cHatteRing ReAched A frantIc pitCh. it leaped to Eldyn'S shoUlder, clinGinG tO heR cOllar WIth one Paw And PointinG the way WIth ThE OTHeR in a manner almost huMaN. tHe Naked blaDe felt CLuMsY In her unpRaCtiCed rIGHt hanD. All HEr Life she hAd been LEfT-hAnded, anD sHe was nO sWorDswOman, aND she Was fraNkly frigHteneD. but she had to at lEAst try.

Huge butTErFLIeS FlitTed Among the gigAntiC TreeS of tHE fOreST and rAinboW-hUEd LIzards raced over the rOuGh bark, But ElDyn hardly notiCed. She was hAUNTed by the VisiON oF krasno.

Tikta guiDed heR straight tO The clearIng. It Was not faR. The two LuVANs, indistIngUisHabLe dUPLiCates of each otHER, stiLl Held the StrUggling rebEl bOy bEtwEeN them.

TiktA leaped dOwN iN sHrIll, GibbeRIng rage aNd RacEd AheAd of ELDyn to tHe defEnse Of ItS MasTer. One oF ThE lUvanS lOoKed uP unPeRturbEd as eLdyN tensed Her muscleS anD ForcEd HeRself to Charge with swoRd Swinging. OnE oF thEm brouGHT her knifE hilt crashing down on KrasNO's skull, And As he dRoppEd unconscIouS both tUrnED towarD the EaRthwoMaN.

ElDYN stagGEReD in MiD-stride as hER KneEs wenT rUbbeRy with a Chilling, unearthly fEAr sUrpassing her wOrsT nigHTStAllIOnS. her WrISt dROOped and her fingeRs were lax oN tHE sWord hilt. FoR An iNsTant she Came to a ComplETe standStill, her bOdy swingiNg InvoLUNtaRily to run, aNd she kneW herself aS An arrANt CowarD
 pick up the prisoner.

Sh e pulled T ikta' s p aws  a wayandinstantly wasb ackin the underground roo m. Ti kt a  gla r ed  at h er repr o ac h f ull yas  sh es at  on t heside of  the couch . H er  heart was p o un ding and s hewas caught i n t he gri pofu ncert ain ty.
Finall y  she r ose and f um b led in one oft h ewall  cupboards for th e  e x tra blast rodKrasno  h a dl e ftbeh ind. She k ne w she had toa tl e a stt ry, no matter  what the o d ds,  but s he  mo v ed rel uctan tl y .
Tikta pulle d at  her trou ser le g  to att r act att ention , a ndEldy n  r em emb er e d w i th  ag asp  of dism ay .Power  wea p o n s  suc h a s th e bla st rod were w ors e th a n u seles s aga inst  L uvans . They  back fi red. Slowly she  pic ked up th e h ea vysw ord t h e lemu r-c rea ture ha d labor i ous ly d r ag ged to the middleof t he  floor.
Titka ' sch a tteringre ach ed a f ranti c pi t ch . It lea ped to El dy n's sho ul der, c li ngi ngto he r  col lar wi th one p aw an d  pointing thew ay with the o t he r in a ma nne r almost hu man. Thenake d  b lad e  felt  clum sy in her unpracticed rig ht  hand.  Allher life shehad been l e f t -handed,  and sh e  was no swords woman , and shew as frank ly fr ightened . But she h ad to at  le ast  tr y.H ug e butterflies f litt ed  amongthe  gigant ictre esofth e forestand rain bo w- hu ed  li zards raced ov er  th erou gh ba r k, but  Eldy n ha rd ly not iced. S h ew a s ha un te d by  th evisio n of Kra sno.

T ikta guid edh er s tr ai ght tothe clearing.  I t was notfa r.The tw o Luvans,indistinguishable dupli c ates of  ea ch ot her,  still he ldthe st rug g ling R ebel b oy be tw een t hem.T ik tale aped downi n  sh rill,  g ibbe ring ra ge and raced ahead ofEldyn to thedef ense o fits ma s ter .O neo f  the Luvans loo ked up unp er t ur bed as Eld y n t en sed her  muscle s and forcedherself t o chargewi th s w o rdswinging.One of t hem broug h t her kn ife h ilt  crash in g d own o n Kras n o's  skul l, and  a s he d roppe dunconsci ous both turned towardthe Ea rthwo man .

Eldynsta g ger ed in mid -str ide as her  kn ees  went  ru b berywith achi l ling,  une a rthly fea r  s urp a s si ng her wors t n igh tstal lio n s. Her  wri st drooped and he r  fingers werelaxo n  th e s w ordhi lt. For an ins tan ts h e came t oa completestandsti ll ,  herbody s wingin g invol u n ta r ily to  run , a nd she kn ewhe r self as  a na rrantcowa rd 
 pick_up the_prisoner.

She pulled Tikta's paws_away and_instantly_was back_in_the underground room._Tikta glared at_her reproachfully as she_sat on the_side_of the couch. Her heart was pounding and she was caught in the grip_of_uncertainty.

Finally she_rose_and_fumbled in one of the_wall cupboards for the extra_blast rod_Krasno had left behind. She knew she had_to_at least try,_no matter what the odds, but she moved reluctantly.

Tikta_pulled at her trouser leg to_attract attention, and_Eldyn_remembered_with a gasp of_dismay. Power weapons such as the_blast rod were worse than useless_against Luvans. They backfired. Slowly she picked_up the heavy sword the lemur-creature_had laboriously dragged to the_middle of_the floor.

Titka's chattering reached a_frantic pitch. It_leaped to_Eldyn's shoulder, clinging_to her collar with one paw_and pointing the_way with the other in a_manner_almost human. The_naked_blade_felt clumsy_in her unpracticed_right_hand. All_her_life she had been left-handed, and_she_was no swordswoman, and she was frankly_frightened. But she had_to_at least try.

Huge butterflies_flitted among the gigantic trees_of the forest and rainbow-hued lizards_raced over_the rough_bark, but Eldyn hardly noticed. She was haunted by the vision_of Krasno.

Tikta guided her straight to_the clearing. It was_not far._The_two Luvans, indistinguishable_duplicates_of each_other, still held the struggling Rebel boy_between them.

Tikta_leaped down in shrill, gibbering rage_and raced ahead of_Eldyn_to the defense of its master._One of the Luvans looked up_unperturbed as Eldyn tensed her_muscles_and_forced herself to charge with_sword swinging. One of them brought_her knife hilt_crashing down on Krasno's skull, and as_he_dropped unconscious both turned toward the_Earthwoman.

Eldyn_staggered in mid-stride as her knees_went_rubbery_with a chilling, unearthly fear_surpassing her worst nightstallions. Her wrist_drooped and her fingers were lax on the sword_hilt. For an_instant she came to a_complete_standstill,_her body swinging involuntarily to run, and she knew herself_as an_arrant coward