imly lighted by a single torch. A stairway
branched off from it, and he climbed that, picking his way by guess and
his memories of similar castles he had seen in the past.

He emerged into a narrow hall, obviously for the use of servants. A
tapestry closed the end, stirring in the chill draught that blew along
the floor. He peered around it, and saw a massive, vaulted corridor, the
stone walls panelled in wood much split and blackened by time, but still
showing forth the wonderful carvings of beasts and men, larger than life
and overlaid with gold and bright enamel.

From the corridor a single doorway opened--and Otar slept before it,
curled on a pallet like a dog.

Stark went back down the narrow hall. He was sure that there must be a
back entrance to the king's chambers, and he found the little door he
was looking for.

From there on was darkness. He felt his way, stepping with infinite
caution, and presently there was a faint gleam of light filtering around
the edges of another curtain of heavy tapestry.

He crept toward it, and heard a man's slow breathing on the other side.

He drew the curtain back, a careful inch. The man was sprawled on a
bench athwart the door. He slept the honest sleep of exhaustion, his
sword in his hand, the stains of his day's work still upon him. He was
alone in the small room. A door in the farther wall was closed.

Stark hit him, and caught the sword before it fell. The man grunted once
and became utterly relaxed. Stark bound him with his own harness and
shoved a gag in his mouth, and went on, through the door in the opposite
wall.

The room beyond was large and high and full of shadows. A fire burned
low on the hearth, and the uncertain light showed dimly the hangings and
the rich stuffs that carpeted the floor, and the dark, sparse shapes of
furniture.

Stark made out the lattice-work of a covered bed, let into the wall
after the northern fashion.

She was there, sleeping, her red-gold hair the colour of the flames.

He stood a moment, watching her, and then, as though she sensed his
presence, she stirred and opened her eyes.

She did not cry out. He had known that she would not. There was no fear
in her. She said, with a kind of wry humor, "I will have a word with my
guards about this."

* * * * *

She flung aside the covering and rose. She was almost as tall as he,
white-skinned and very straight. He noted the long thighs, the narrow
l