Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 16, 2025
A lammergeier swooped down on wide funereal wings; it peered at us; darted away toward the cliffs. "There will be no carrion there for you, black eater of the dead, when I am through," I heard Norhala whisper, eyes again somber. Steadily grew the dawn light; from Norhala's lips came again the chanting.
Norhala's hand that had gone from my wrist dropped down again; the other fell upon Drake's. Kulun loosed his hood, let it fall about his shoulders. He stepped forward, held out his arms to Norhala. "A strong man!" she cried approvingly. "Hail my bridegroom! But stay stand back a moment. Stand beside that man for whom I came to Ruszark. I would see you together!" Kulun's face darkened.
For all their stillness, their immobility, it came to me that Emperor and Keeper were at grapple, locked in death grip; the realization was as definite as though, like Ruth, I thought with Norhala's mind, saw with her eyes.
"Stop," Norhala's abrupt, golden note halted us; and again through the clear eyes I saw the white starshine flash. "It may be well " She spoke as though to herself. "It may be well to close this way. It is not needed " Her voice rang out again, vibrant, strangely disquieting, harmonious.
"Never mind," I said. "But watch the eunuch closely." I rolled myself up in his warm blanket; sank almost instantly into dreamless slumber. High was the sun when I awakened; or so, I supposed, opening my eyes upon a flood of daylight. As I lay, lazily, recollection rushed upon me. It was no sky into which I was gazing; it was the dome of Norhala's elfin home. And Drake had not aroused me. Why?
With shocked amaze I realized that Ruth's agony for in agony she clearly was was calling forth in him elation. He spoke and I knew why. "Norhala!" he whispered. "She is seeing with Norhala's eyes feeling what Norhala feels. It's not going well with That out there. If we dared leave Ruth could only, see "
Ruth leaped to her feet; cried out a golden bugling that might have been Norhala's own wrathful trumpet notes. Instantly the two pyramids flamed open, became two gleaming stars that bathed her in violet radiance. Beneath their upper tips I saw the blasting ovals glitter menacingly. The girl glared at us more brilliant grew the glittering ovals as though their lightnings trembled on their lips.
And simultaneously the pyramids leaped up and out behind it two gigantic, four-rayed stars blazing with cold blue fires. The green auroral curtainings flared out, ran with streaming radiance as though some Spirit of Jewels had broken bonds of enchantment and burst forth jubilant, flooding the shaft with its freed glories. Norhala's song ceased; an arm dropped down upon the shoulders of Ruth.
"We'll use our own stuff while it lasts. I'm taking no chances on what the Yuruk lad brings with all due respect to Norhala's good intentions." He started for the doorway; the eunuch blocked his way. "We have with us food of our own, Norhala," I explained. "He goes to get it." She nodded indifferently; clapped her hands. Yuruk shrank back, and out strode Drake. "I am weary," sighed Norhala.
Ventnor passed through the curtains of the central hall; he returned with one of Norhala's cloaks; covered the girl with it. An overwhelming sleepiness took possession of me, a weariness ineffable. Nerve and brain and muscle suddenly relaxed, went slack and numb. Without a struggle I surrendered to an overpowering stupor and cradled deep in its heart ceased consciously to be.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking