I was hustled forward and stared down to where the N'aal Beast was coiled. Its oddly intelligent eyes stared up at me—and I shuddered at this—almost with malicious humor!

"The N'aal Beast is in a playful mood today," Horguhl said from above me. "He will play with you for some time before devouring you."

I resolved to show no sign of the horror within me.

"Throw him down!" Horguhl ordered.

Bound and helpless, I was thrown into the Pit of the N'aal Beast!

I managed to land on my feet some yards away from where the huge snake-creature still lay coiled, looking at me with those terrible eyes.

And then, suddenly, from above I heard a cry and looked up. An Argzoon warrior was staring down at me—the one I had seen earlier who had looked at me so strangely. He had a sword in one hand and a battleaxe in the other. What was he doing?

I heard Horguhl shriek to her guards: "Stop him!"

And then the Argzoon was leaping into the pit to stand beside me. He raised his sword and I suddenly realized the truth of what was happening.

Chapter Thirteen

AN UNEXPECTED ALLY

AT FIRST I had thought that the warrior was going to slay me himself for some obscure reason. But this was not the case. Swiftly he slashed my bonds.

"I know you," I said in surprise. "You are the warrior I fought near Varnal."

"I am the warrior whose life you refused to take—whom you spared from the insults and swords of his comrades. I have thought much on what you did, Michael Kane. I admired what you did. It meant something to me. And now—I can at least help you to fight for your life against this creature."

"But I thought your folk feared it because of its supposed supernatural character."

"True. But I begin to doubt that this is true. Quickly—take this sword, I have always been a better axe-man than a swordsman."

With this unexpected—and welcome—ally, I turned to face the N'aal Beast.

The Beast seemed put out by this turn of events. Its gaze went from one to the other of us as though uncertain which one to attack first, for we had spaced out now—both crouching, waiting.

The Beast's great head suddenly whipped towards me. I stumbled backwards until I stood against the wall, desperately hacking at its snout with the great Argzoon blade.