"It was an expedition I undertook in secret more than a year ago. I thought I would try to discover what had happened to your father. Instead, I was captured and brought to Horguhl."

"You were brave to attempt such a thing," I said softly.

"She—she seduced me somehow," he said. "She told me secrets—dark secrets. I became completely in her power. I helped her plan the final stages of the attack on Varnal. I deliberately went to Varnal at the time of the attack, knowing that I would be asked to carry a message for help to Mishim Tep and your other allies." He began to cough horribly, then rallied himself.

"I—I could not help myself. I expected you to be defeated, but you were not. Your folk learned that I had not taken the message to Mishim Tep—m-my father asked why I had not. I—I could not reply. People talked—soon it was common knowledge that I had betrayed Varnal, though—though none knew why. It was that woman—it is like a dream—I—I am a traitor and a fool—she—she—"

He raised himself up then, his eyes staring blankly out at nothing.

"She is evil!" he cried. "She must be found and killed. Until she is, all that we love and hold valuable on Vashu will be in danger of corruption. Her secrets are terrible—they give her an awful power! She must die!"

And then he fell back—dead.

"Where is Horguhl?" Shizala asked me.

"I do not know. I think she has escaped—but to where is a mystery. This cavern-world is not fully known even to the Argzoon!"

"Do you think he exaggerated—that his mind was clouded?"

"I think it possible," I said.

And then, quite suddenly, she was in my arms, sobbing and sobbing.

I held her close, whispering words of comfort into her ear. She had been through incredible hardships and terrors and had borne them all bravely. I did not blame her for crying then.

"Oh, Michael Kane—oh—my love!" she sobbed.

I could scarcely believe my ears. I felt that the day's trials had turned my brain!

"Wh-what did you say?" I asked softly, bewildered.

She controlled her sobbing and looked up at me, smiling through her tears. "I said, 'my love'," she repeated. "Michael Kane, I have loved you ever since we first met. Remember, when the mizip chased you?" I laughed and she joined in.

"But that is when I fell in love with you," I gasped. "And—I thought you loved Telem Fas Ogdai!"

"I admired him—then," she said, "but I could not love him—particularly after I had seen you. But what could I do? Tradition had bound me to him and I could not break with tradition—"

"Nor would I expect you to," I said. "But now—"