Part 5 (1/2)

Kepta's eyes narrowed but his smile did not fade ”I have heard of old that the Ancient Ones do not destroy--”

”As an outlander I am not bound by their limits,” returned Garin, ”as you will learn if you do not call off your stinking pack”

The hed ”You are as the Tand, a fool without a brain Never shall you see the Caverns again--”

”You shall own me master yet, Kepta”

The Black Chief seemed to consider Then he waved to his men ”Release hiht We oes forth from the Caves and the black throne is dust, those are the terms of the Caverns”

”And if we do not accept?”

”Then Thrala goes forth, the throne is dust and Tav shall have a day of judging such as it has never seen before”

”You challenge ain words, which seein elsewhere, came to him ”As in Yu-Lac, I shall take--”

Before Kepta could reply there was trouble in the pit Dandtan, freed by his guards, was crossing the floor in running leaps Garin threw himself belly down on the balcony and dropped the jeweled strap of his belt over the lip

A moment later it snapped taut and he stiffened to an upward pull

Already Dandtan's heels were above the snapping jaws of a ht the youth around the shoulders and heaved They rolled together against the wall

”They are gone! All of theht; the els howled below, but Kepta and his men had vanished

”Thrala!” Garin exclaimed

Dandtan nodded ”They have taken her back to the cells They believe her safe there”

”Then they think wrong” Garin stooped to pick up the green rod His coet prepared for us”

Garin picked up the Ana ”Which way?”

Dandtan showed hied into a side cha cloaks and cloth hoods, so that they ht pass as Black Ones

They went by the mouths of three side tunnels, all deserted None disputed their going All the Black Ones had withdrawn from this part of the Caves

Dandtan sniffed uneasily ”All is not well I fear a trap”

”While we can pass, let us”

The passage curved to the right and they caain Dandtan shook his head but ventured no protest Instead he flung open a door and hurried down a short hall