 gone. A few minutes later the flying machine struck with a cushioned thump and the sibilant hiss of its engines died.

* * * *

The two soldiers who escorted him out looked suspiciously at the helmet Wyr had allowed his to retain, but made no attempt to remove it. The ship had landed in the courtyard of a tremendous castle. Massive, weather-streaked grey walls soared upward to end high above in incongruously stream-lined turrets from which projected the ribbed and finned snouts of strange weapons. Windows were few and small, and the whole structure looked incredibly ancient.

The two guards hustled his through a circular doorway into a large hall that formed a startling contrast to the bleak exterior. It was richly appointed, and the walls were hung with heavy tapestries that glowed softly in patterns that changed and shifted even as he watched them.

There were many people in the room, soldiers and richly gowned men with olive skins and dark hair. But again there was contrast, for standing stiffly against one wall was a rank of perhaps thirty women and men, all stark naked and all staring straight ahead with blank unseeing eyes. They did not move a muscle as Marion was led in, though other heads turned and the low hum of conversation ceased abruptly.

Marion's attention centered almost instantly on the man occupying a dais at the far end of the hall, and after that he could not tear his eyes away. This was Highness Syn, of whom even Wyr stood in awe. Marion stared and Syn stared back. Except for the difference in coloring this man could have been Marion's twin. He was beautiful, the white skin of his face and shoulders setting off his revealingly cut jet gown and ebony hair, and his haughty face wore an expression of ruthless power. Marion knew that under similar circumstances he would have worn the same expression.

The man raised one exquisitely groomed hand and the guards pushed Marion forward, his feet sinking deep into springy carpeting at each step. Every eye except those of the stiff, unseeing people against the wall turned to follow him, and Marion was uncomfortably aware of his torn and soiled gown and his tangled, uncombed hair.

He looked up at Syn and had an uncomfortable feeling the ruler was looking into his mind, understanding him.

'So you are the man who came through.' Even his voice was remarkably
gone. A few minutes later the flying car strike with a cushioned thump and the sibilant hiss of its locomotive die. 

 * * * * 

 The two soldiers who escorted him out front suspiciously at the helmet Wyr had allowed his to retain, but made no attack to absent it. The ship had landed in the court of a tremendous castle. Massive, weather - streaked grey wall soared upward to end high above in incongruously stream - lined turrets from which visualize the ribbed and finned snouts of strange weapon. Windows were few and small, and the whole structure look incredibly ancient. 

 The two guards hustled his through a circular doorway into a large anteroom that formed a startling contrast to the bleak exterior. It was richly appoint, and the walls were hung with heavy tapestries that glowed softly in patterns that changed and shifted even as he watched them. 

 There embody many people in the room, soldiers and lavishly gowned men with olive skins and dark hair's-breadth. But again there was contrast, for standing stiffly against one rampart was a rank of perhaps thirty women and men, all stark naked and all staring straight ahead with blank unseeing eyes. They did not move a muscle as Marion was led in, though early heads turn and the low hum of conversation ceased abruptly. 

 Marion's attention centered about instantly on the man occupying a dais at the far end of the hall, and after that he could not tear his eyes away. This was Highness Syn, of whom even Wyr stood in awe. Marion star and Syn stared back. Except for the dispute in coloring this man could have been Marion's gemini. He was beautiful, the white hide of his face and shoulder setting off his revealingly abridge jet gown and ebony hair, and his haughty face tire an expression of ruthless power. Marion knew that under similar circumstances he would have worn the same saying. 

 The man raised one finely groomed hand and the guards pushed Marion forward, his feet sinking deeply into springy carpeting at each step. Every eye except those of the stiff, unseeing people against the wall turned to be him, and Marion was uncomfortably mindful of his pluck and soiled gown and his tangled, uncombed hair. 

 He looked up at Syn and have an uncomfortable feeling the ruler was looking into his thinker, understanding him. 

' So you are the man who came through.' Even his voice was signally
 goje. A few minutes later tme flying maching wtruck with z cushioved thump and the sibilant hmss if itw engines died.

* * * *

The tdo soldiegs who esxorttd him out looked suspiciously zb the ielmet Wyr had sllowed hiv to retain, bud oabe no attempt to remove it. The ship rad lancef in the courtiard ps a fgenendous castle. Massive, weathed-streaktd grey walls soarrd upward to end high abovf in incongruously strfam-lined tutdetf from which orojected uhz ribbed ans finned snouts of strange weapuns. Wnndows were fww wtd small, anv the rhole structmge lookad incrrdibly ancient.

Bhe txo gyards hustled his thrmugh a circular dojrway intm c large hall that fornee a sjartlhng zintfasu tp fhe blfak exterior. Jt was richoy appointed, and tht wwols were hung with rewvy tapestries that glowed softly in pauterna that changed and shifred even as he watchef them.

Thewe were many people in the room, soldiers and richny goxndd nek wigy llive skins and dark hair. But again there was domtgast, for standing stiffly agsijsy one wall was a rank or perhaps thirty wlmen anq men, all starh naled and all staring straighr ahead with vlank unseeing eyed. They did uot mofe a kuscle as Marion was leb in, tgough other heads tudved and the low fum ox conversation ceased abru[tly.

Marioi's atcention zentgred aliost instajtly on the man occupyinh a dcis ad the far fnd of the hall, and after that ix could not tgar hiv eyes acay. Thls was Highness Syn, of whom eren Wyr ftood in awe. Magion starxd and Syn seared back. Exwgpt for the dmfference in xoloeing thkr man could hafe been Mcxion's twib. He was beautiful, thg shite skin of hnr face and shoulcerr sqtninj off vis revealincly zut ket guwn and eboky fair, and his haughty faca wode an expression og vuthless kower. Maryon knew that under similar cirfumstences ie woukd rave worn the same expression.

Tge man ralseq one exquisyteln grjomed hand and the guards pushed Marion forward, hms feet sinking deep inro springy carpetiny st each ste'. Everr eye excapt those of the stidf, unseeing peoplt against the wall turnsd to xolloa him, and Marion was uncomfortably aware of his torn and soiled gown and yis taigjed, uncombes haor.

He nojled up at Dbn and had an uncpmfortable feeling the ruler war lookinc nnto his mind, understanding hom.

'Ro you are thg man who came through.' Eveh his vooce was remarkably
gone. A few minutes later the flying with cushioned thump the sibilant hiss * * The two who escorted him looked suspiciously at the helmet Wyr allowed his to retain, but made no attempt to remove it. The ship landed in the courtyard of a tremendous castle. Massive, weather-streaked grey walls soared to high in stream-lined turrets from which projected the ribbed and finned snouts of strange weapons. Windows were few small, and the whole structure looked incredibly ancient. two guards hustled his a circular doorway into a hall formed a contrast the exterior. It was appointed, and the walls were hung with heavy tapestries that glowed softly in patterns that changed and even as them. There many in room, soldiers and men with olive skins and dark there was contrast, for standing stiffly against one was a of perhaps thirty women and men, stark naked and all staring straight ahead with unseeing eyes. They did not move a muscle as Marion was led in, though other and the low hum conversation ceased abruptly. attention almost on man occupying dais at the far end of the hall, and after that could not tear his eyes away. This was Highness Syn, even stood in awe. stared and Syn stared Except the difference in coloring could been was the skin of his face shoulders setting off his revealingly jet gown and ebony wore an expression of ruthless power. Marion knew under similar circumstances he would have worn same expression. The man raised one exquisitely groomed hand and the guards Marion forward, sinking deep into springy carpeting at each step. eye except those of stiff, unseeing people against the wall turned to follow and was uncomfortably of his torn soiled gown and tangled, uncombed hair. up at and an ruler was looking into his mind, him. you are the man who through.' voice was remarkably
 gone. A few minutes later the flYing machinE struCk wIth A cUshiOned Thump and the sibILant Hiss of its engines died.

* * * *

ThE two sOlDIers WHo EscorTed him oUT lOOKed SuSpIciOuSLy At the HelMet Wyr hAd allowed hIs tO rEtain, but made NO aTtempt to reMovE it. The ship haD laNded in ThE coURtyarD of A tremEndous CAstle. MAssive, weaThER-streaKEd grey wALLs SoarEd upward to end high ABoVE in incongruousLy streAm-LInED TurRetS from which PrOjectED the ribBEd AND FinNEd snouts of strAnge weapons. wIndOws werE fEw aND small, And thE wHOle Structure loOked IncrediblY ancieNT.

The two GUards huStled hIs tHroUgh a CIrCuLar DoORwaY InTo a LArgE hall thaT fOrMed a sTartLING ContRasT to tHe bleAk exterior. It wAs rIchlY AppOinteD, and tHe waLlS were Hung wiTh heaVy Tapestries that gLoweD softly in PatTeRns ThAt chaNGed and ShiFteD even as He watchED thEm.

tHERe Were many people in thE rOOM, sOldiers aNd richLY gOwNEd men witH oLivE skiNS And daRk haIR. BUt again tHere waS CoNtRast, for StAnding StIffLy aGainsT One wAll was A rank of pErhapS Thirty women and MEn, all stark nakED aND AlL StarIng Straight aheAd wiTH blaNk unSEeIng EYes. ThEy did NoT MoVE a muscle as Marion was LeD in, thoUgh otHer heads turneD and the low HUM Of converSatiON cEAsed abruptly.

MaRion's Attention cENtered alMost iNstantly On the man oCCUpying a dAis At tHe fAr eND Of The hall, and aftER That He Could noT teAr his eyEs aWay. thiS waS HIghness SyN, of whom eVeN WYr StOod In awe. mArion staReD anD SYn sTared BAck. ExcEpt foR the DiFfERenCe in colORiNG This MaN cOuld HavE bEen MaRion'S TwiN. He was bEautiful, tHe wHIte sKiN oF his facE and shoulders SeTting off hiS rEveAlinglY CUt jet gowN and ebony hair, and his haugHTy face wOre An expRessIon of ruthLesS power. marIOn knew That unDer siMiLar CIRcumsTANcEs hE wOuld have woRN The Same eXpRessIon.

The mAn raised one exquisiTEly Groomed hand anD thE guaRDS pUshED MARioN fORwaRD, His feet sinking dEep into sprInGY cArpeting at EAch StEp. Every Eye excePt thoSE of the sTiff, unseeIng people AgAinsT THe wAll turned tO follow hIm, and MariON was uNCoMfortAblY aware Of His Torn aNd soilED goWn and His tanGlEd, uncoMbed hAiR.

He lookeD up at Syn and had an uncomfoRtable FeeliNg tHe ruler waS loOKinG into his mInd, uNderstandiNg hIm.

'SO you aRe tHE man wHo caME tHroUGh.' EveN his VOice was reMArKabLY
 gone. A few minutes later  the flyin g mac hin e s tr uckwith  a cushioned t h umpand the sibilant hissof it se ngin e sdied. 

* * * *T hetw osol di e rs  whoesc orted h im out loo ked  s uspiciouslya tthe helmet  Wy r had allowe d h is tore tai n , but  ma de no  attem p t to r emove it.  T h e ship had lan d e din t he courtyard of a tr e mendous castle . Mass iv e ,w e ath er- streaked g re y wal l s soare d  u p w a rdt o end high ab ove in inco n gru ouslyst rea m -lined  turr et s  fr om which pr ojec ted the r ibbeda nd finn e d snout s of s tra nge  wea p on s.  Wi nd o wsw er e f e w a nd small ,an d the  who l e s truc tur e lo okedincredibly an cie nt.The  twoguard s hu st led h is thr oughacircular doorwa y in to a larg e h al l t ha t for m ed a s tar tli ng cont rast to the  b l e a kexterior. It was r ic h l yappointe d, and th ew alls wer ehun g wi t h  heav y ta p es tries th at glo w ed  s oftly i npatter ns  th atchang e d an d shif ted even  as h e  watched them. 
There were m a ny p eo p le i n t he room, so ldie r s an d ri c hl y g o wnedmen w it h  o l ive skins and darkha ir. Bu t aga in there wascontrast,f o r  standin g st i ff l y against onewallwas a rank of perha ps th irty wom en and me n ,  all sta rknak edand a ll  staring stra i g ht a he ad with  bl ank uns eei ngeye s.Th ey did no t move a  m us cl easMario n  was led  i n,th oug h oth e r head s tur nedan dt helow hum of c onve rs at ioncea se d abr uptl y .
Marion' s attenti onc ente re dalmostinstantly onth e man occu py ing  a dai s at the f ar end of the hall, and after t hat  he c ould  not tear  hi s eyes  aw a y. Thi s wasHighn es s S y n , ofw h om  ev en  Wyr stood i n a we. M ar ionstaredand Syn stared bac k . E xcept for the  di ffer e n ce  in co l ori ng thi s man could havebeen Mario n' s  t win. He wa s  be au tiful,the whi te sk i n of hi s face an d shoulde rs  set t i ngoff his re vealingl y cut jet gowna nd  ebon y h air, a nd  hi s hau ghty f a ceworean exp re ssionof ru th less pow er. Marion knew that un der si milar  ci rcumstanc esh e w ould have  wor n the same  ex pre ssion .
T he ma n ra i se d o n e exq uisi t ely groom e dhan d an d the guard s p ush ed Ma rio n  forwa rd,his feet sinkingd eep into sprin gy c a r pet ing at e ac h step. Everyeye  e x c ept thos eof the stif f, unsee in g  peop le aga inst t he wall t ur n ed tofoll owhim, andMar io n  was un co mf o rtably  awa re  of hi s torn ands o iled gown and hi s tan g l ed, u n com bed h ai r.

Hel ooke d up at Sy n and had a n unco mfor table  feelin gthe ru ler  w as looking into hismind,  unders ta ndin g h im.

' So y o u  arethema n w ho came t h r ou g h. 'E ven  his  voic ewasremarkabl y 
 gone._A few_minutes later the flying_machine struck_with_a cushioned_thump_and the sibilant_hiss of its_engines died.

* * *_*

The two soldiers_who_escorted him out looked suspiciously at the helmet Wyr had allowed his to retain,_but_made no_attempt_to_remove it. The ship had_landed in the courtyard of_a tremendous_castle. Massive, weather-streaked grey walls soared upward to_end_high above in_incongruously stream-lined turrets from which projected the ribbed and_finned snouts of strange weapons. Windows_were few and_small,_and_the whole structure looked_incredibly ancient.

The two guards hustled his_through a circular doorway into a_large hall that formed a startling contrast_to the bleak exterior. It was_richly appointed, and the walls_were hung_with heavy tapestries that glowed_softly in patterns_that changed_and shifted even_as he watched them.

There were many_people in the_room, soldiers and richly gowned men_with_olive skins and_dark_hair._But again_there was contrast,_for_standing stiffly_against_one wall was a rank of_perhaps_thirty women and men, all stark naked_and all staring straight_ahead_with blank unseeing eyes._They did not move a_muscle as Marion was led in,_though other_heads turned_and the low hum of conversation ceased abruptly.

Marion's attention centered almost_instantly on the man occupying a_dais at the far_end of_the_hall, and after_that_he could_not tear his eyes away. This was_Highness Syn,_of whom even Wyr stood in_awe. Marion stared and_Syn_stared back. Except for the difference_in coloring this man could have_been Marion's twin. He was_beautiful,_the_white skin of his face_and shoulders setting off his revealingly_cut jet gown_and ebony hair, and his haughty face_wore_an expression of ruthless power. Marion_knew_that under similar circumstances he would_have_worn_the same expression.

The man raised_one exquisitely groomed hand and the_guards pushed Marion forward, his feet sinking deep into_springy carpeting at_each step. Every eye except_those_of_the stiff, unseeing people against the wall turned to follow_him, and_Marion was uncomfortably_aware of his torn and soiled gown and his tangled,_uncombed hair.

He looked up at Syn and_had an uncomfortable feeling the ruler was looking into his mind,_understanding him.

'So you are the man who came_through.' Even his voice was remarkably