I walked over to Jim, and laid him on it. After
that they settled down into a slow, measured rhythmfilled with implacable
menace.
Dara was no lying traitor, but asoldier, and
fighting in Sirk or elsewhere was part of her trade. I will keep you only a little
time, Dwayanu. She bent her head, thinking, then looked at me with clear eyes,
andsmiled. I listeneddrowsily, and sank back to sleep. There would be little trouble
incaring for them in that immense place. She said, tonelessly:I wish you had never
come here.
So you want no war with the little yellow
dogs?
Itwas crowded with soldiers and captives. No, she
would not be at theLake of the Ghosts.
There lay the soldier women, alseep, but not
Evalie. That was true enough, but I read the malice in it.
Send word through the drums that he may come as
soonas he can.
She looked back at me, brown eyes
cold,implacable.
Later we will talk of that other message, Evalie.
The witch-lights flickered in her eyes; a flash of green shone
throughthem.
Twice he had tried treacherously to kill me. She
walked away, through thecurtain, but not before I had seen the tears on her
cheeks.
We ask youonly this: waste neither words nor time
on Tibur.
The Witch-womans control broke at that, all the
long pent-up fires ofher wrath bursting forth.
He looked at me in the friendliest
fashion.
That the Rrrllya had noquarrel with them, who were
but meat for Khalkru. I ran back to my own room, and to its door. I do not think
those with him will dare attack me. Let us bring them where they can talk with
Evalie and with us two.
And here Dara pressed again until that wallopened.
Some sound inthe chamber had roused me, of that I was sure. Then we can sleep this
night withoutthe drums disturbing you. And you must guard yourself well, for
thenobles hate you, Dwayanu.
I sat up in the bed, even thrust a leg out to
rise.
Icould not think, much less plan what I was going
to do after I had gotback to Karak.