out food or water or a mount。
He leaned against the unnatural heat of the wall for a few moments； breathing deeply to steady himself。 Then he stood up； grasped his sense of direction with all the concentration he could muster； and started walking straight out into the ruined hall。
His progress was slow。 The uncertainty of his steps made him stagger repeatedly away from a true westward line。 But he corrected the variations as best he could； and kept going。 Without the support of a wall； his balance grew worse at every stride。 Before he had covered thirty yards； the floor reeled around him； and he dropped to his knees。 He had to clamp his throat shut to keep from whimpering。
When he regained his feet； he heard quiet laughter …first one voice； then several。 It had a cruel sound； as if it were directed at him。 It resonated slightly off the walls； so that he could not locate it； but it seemed to e from somewhere ahead。
He froze where he stood。 Helplessly； he prayed that the darkness would cover him。
But a voice shattered that hope。 〃Look here； brothers；〃 it said。 〃A man…alone。〃 Its utterance was awkward； thick with slavering； but Troy could understand it。 He could hear the malice in the low chorus of laughter which answered it。
Other voices spoke。
〃A man； yes。 Slayer take him！〃
〃Look。 Such pretty clothes。 An enemy。〃
〃Ha！ Look again； fool。 That is no man。〃
〃He has no eyes。〃
〃Is it an ur…vile？〃
〃No…a man； I say。 A man with no eyes！ Here is some sport； brothers。〃
All the voices laughed again。
Troy did not stop to wonder how the speakers could see him。 He turned； started to run back the way he had e。
At once； they gave pursuit。 He could hear the slap of bare feet on stone； the sharp breathing。 They overtook him swiftly。 Something veered close to him； tripped him。 As he fell； the running feet surrounded him。
〃Go gently； brothers。 No quick kill。 He will be sport for us all。〃
〃Do not kill him。〃
〃Not kill？ I want to kill。 Kill and eat。〃
〃The Giant will want this one。〃
〃After we sport。〃
〃Why tell the Giant； brothers？ He is greedy。〃
〃He takes our meat。〃
〃Keep this one for ourselves； yes。〃
〃Slayer take the Giant。〃
〃His precious ur…viles。 When there is danger； men must go first。〃
〃Yes！ Brothers； we will eat this meat。〃
Troy heaved himself to his feet。 Through the rapid chatter of the voices； he heard； go first； and almost fell again。 If these creatures were the first of Fleshharrower's army to enter the masterplace…！ But he pushed down the implications of that thought； and snatched out his sword。
〃A sword？ Ho ho！〃
〃Look； brothers。 The man with no eyes wants to play。〃
〃Play！〃
Troy heard the lash of a whip； cord flicked around his wrist。 It caught and jerked； hauled him from his feet。 Strong hands took his sword。 Something kicked him in the chest； knocked him backward。 But his breastplate protected him。
One of the voices cried； 〃Slayer！ My foot！〃
〃Fool！〃 came the answer。 There was laughter。
〃Kill him！〃
A metallic weapon clattered against his breastplate； fell to the ground。 He scrambled for it in the dust； but
sudden hands shoved him away。 He' recoiled and got to his feet again。
He heard the whistle of the whip； and its cord lashed at his ankles。 But this time he did not go down。
〃Do not kill him yet。 Where is the sport？〃
〃Make him play。〃
〃Yes； brothers。 Play。〃
〃Play for us； man with no eyes〃
The whip burned around his neck。 He staggered under the blow。 The bewildering crossfire of voices went on。
〃Play； Slayer take you！〃
〃Sport for us！〃
〃Why sport？ I want meat。 Blood…wet meat。〃
〃The Giant feeds us sand。〃
〃Play； I say！ Are you blind； man with no eyes？ Does the sun dazzle you？〃
This gibe was met with loud laughter。 But Troy stood still in his dismay。 The sun？ he thought numbly。 Then he had chosen the wrong direction； east instead of west； he had walked right into these creatures。 He wanted to scream。 But he was past screaming。 He could feel the light of his life going out。 His hands shook as he tried to straighten his sunglasses。
〃Dear God；〃 he groaned。
Numbly； as if he did not know what he was doing； he put his fingers to his lips and gave a shrill whistle。
The whip coiled around his waist and whirled him to the ground。
〃Play！〃 the voices shouted raggedly together。
But when he stumbled to his feet again； he heard 。 the sound of hooves。 And a moment later； Mehryl's whinny cut through the gibbering voices。 It touched Troy's heart like the call of a trumpet。 He jerked up ； his head； and his ears searched； trying to locate the
Ranyhyn。
The voices changed to shouts of hunger as the ‘ hooves charged。 〃Ranyhyn！〃 〃Kill it！〃
〃Meat！〃 Hands grabbed Troy。 He grappled with a fist that
held a knife。 But then the noise of hooves rushed close to him。 An impact flung his assailant away。 He turned； tried to leap onto Mehryl's back。 But he only put himself in Mehryl's path。 The shoulder of the Ranyhyn struck him； knocked him down。
Then he could hear bare feet leaping to the attack。 The whip cracked； knives swished。 Mehryl was forced away from him。 Hooves skittered on the stone as the Ranyhyn retreated。 Howling triumphantly； the creatures gave chase。 The sounds receded。
Troy pushed himself to his feet。 His heart thudded in his chest； pain throbbed sharply in his face。 The noises of pursuit seemed to indicate that he was being left alone。 But he did not move。 Concentrating all his attention； he tried to hear over the beat of his pain。
For a long moment； the open space around him sounded empty； still。 He waved his arms； and touched nothing。
But then he heard a sharp intake of breath。
He was trembling violently。 He wanted to turn and run。 But he forced himself to hold his ground。 He concentrated； bent all his alertness toward the sound。 In the distance； the other creatures had lost Mehryl。 They were returning； he could hear them。
But the near voice hissed； 〃I kill you。 You hurt my foot。 Slayer take them！ You are my meat。〃
Troy could sense the creature's approach。 It loomed out of the blankness like a faint pressure on his face。 The rasp of its breathing grew louder。 With every step； he felt its ambience more acutely。
The tension was excruciating； but he held himself still。 He waited。 Interminable time passed。
Suddenly； he felt the creature bunching to spring。
He snatched Manethrall Rue's cord from his belt； looped it around the neck of his attacker； and jerked as the creature hit him。 He put all his strength into the pull。 The creature's leap toppled him； but he clung to the cord； heaved on it。 The creature landed on top of him。 He threw his weight around； got himself onto the creature。 He kept pulling。 Now he could feel the limpness of the body under him。 But he did not re
lease his hold。 Straining on the cord； he banged the creature's head repeatedly against the stone。
He was gasping for breath。 Dimly； he could hear the other creatures charging him。
He did not release his hold
Then power crackled through the air。 Flame burst around him。 He heard shouts； and the clash of swords。 Bowstrings thrummed。 Creatures screamed； ran； fell heavily。
A moment later； hands lifted Troy。 Rue's cord was taken from his rigid fingers。 First Haft Amorine cried； 〃Warmark！ Warmark！ Praise the Creator； you are safe！〃 She was weeping with relief。 People moved around him。 He heard Lord Mhoram say； 〃My friend； you have led us a merry chase。 Without Mehryl's aid； we would not have found you in time。〃 The voice came disembodied out of the blankness。
At first； Troy could not speak。 His heart struggled through a crisis。 It made him gasp so hard that he could barely stand。 He sounded as if he were trying to sob。
〃Warmark；〃 Amorine said； 〃what has happened to you？〃
〃Sun；〃 he panted； 〃is…the sun…shining？〃 The effort of articulation seemed to impale his heart。
〃Warmark？ Ah； Warmark！ What has been done to you？〃
〃The sun！〃 he retched out。 He was desperate to insist； but he could only stamp his foot uselessly。
〃The sun stands overhead；〃 Mhoram answered。 〃We have survived the vortex and its creatures。 But now Fleshharrower's army enters Doriendor Corishev。 We must depart swiftly。〃