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mountain.
Ages later the two lead men returned to the group with a sign to keep silent.
"We're just above the gateway," September whispered.
"There's a single Brother on guard there and he doesn't look awkwardly tense
about things." Ethan looked past the big man, saw no sign of Sir Hunnar.
A minute later there was a short, sharp whistle from below. They ran to the
edge of the building.
September didn't hesi-tate. He turned, grabbed the coping, and let go. Without
thinking, or he might have hesitate, Ethan copied him.
The drop wasn't bad, and the big man and Hunnar were there to catch him.
Suaxus came next, and
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Lanterns burned on either side of the entrance.
Crying mournfully, the slight breeze lowed over the peaks and down into the
black abyss.
Carefully, old Eer-Meesach was lowered to the stairs, then Elfa. Budjir hung
from the edge for a second and then they were all gathered below. They turned
to descend.
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Hunnar held back a moment. He picked up the green stone staff of the
unconscious brother, stripped one the white robe. Carefully he lifted one of
the lanterns from its holder.
Transferring it from the staff to one paw. He whirled it once in a circle,
arced it against the wooden door. Flaming oil splattered on the grain,
flickered unsteadily for a moment, then sprang up brightly.
"That ought to keep their reasoning minds busy for a while," he muttered
grimly.
They ran as quickly as they dared in the darkness. Eer--Meesach had to be
considered, too. The wizard was holding up well under the strain, but there
would come a time when his body, no matter snow strong his spirit, would fail
him.
They made fair speed down the black stairs. Now fully awake, Ethan took a
cautious look over the edge. The unend-ing ice sheet shone unseal in. the
starlight, speckled here and there with ebon spires that were other, friendly
islands.
A last glance behind showed a bright glow from the still-burning doorway.
By the tine they reached the last stair, Ethan was puffing noticeably.
Eer-Meesach, on the other hand, was near collapse. They moved the wizard into
the shelter of some big boulders.
Budjir had gone on ahead to the ship. He returned and between gasps told them
he'd seen tran moving on board the Slanderscree- and too many of them had
beards, wore long robes, and carried green! staves.
Simultaneous curses passed among the little assembly. Lan-guages differed but
sentiments were identical.
"Not quite as naive as I thought," September murmured. "Could you see any of
our people, Budjir?"
"Not a one of the crew. They must all be trapped below-decks."
"Couldn't have been too bard," the big man mused. "One man on watch, and him
not expecting anything."
"They couldn't have overcome the whole crew," said Ethan in disbelief. "Not
with clubs."
"Hah! I doubt if they even had to hit anybody, except maybe the watch. Quietly
bolt all the batches, what, and keep a look-see for anyone trying to break out
elsewhere. Bala-vere and the rest probably still don't know what hit 'em. How
many'd you spot, Budjir?"
"Eight ... perhaps nine. There may be more I did not see."
"Not likely. That much know-how I don't credit them with." September looked
thoughtful. "Ta-hoding and his bunch weren't expecting them. They won't be
expecting us."
Durnad was the one who noticed the tiny band coming toward the dock. He
started. Fully six of the.
infidels were in the group. They trooped along, heads downcast, with their
hands/paws clasped behind their backs. A single Brother fol-lowed behind.
"Come here, Brother Tydin." Another white-robed figure joined Durnad at the
head of the landing ramp.
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"What, Durnad ... oh!" He'd also spotted the approach-ing procession. "What
means this?"
"Hail, Brother!" shouted Durnad. "What has happened at the Home? We saw a
great light."
The Brother's reply was low, but intelligible.
"All fairs well. These are to be kept aboard their ship until the morrow."
"That is strange, Brother," said Tydin, clearly puzzled. The group marched up
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the ramp. "I had heard that all the infidels were to be dealt with in the
great dome this very night. Why do you hide your face? Have you been hurt by
these devils?" Tydin took an uncertain step backwards.
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