ned to him, "that she is Dandtan's. Thran had
no idea of Dandtan's survival when he laid his will upon her. Shall I
stoop to holding her to an unwelcome bargain? Let her go to the one she
loves...."

Dandtan's face was livid, and his hands, resting on the table, trembled.
One by one the lords of the Folk slipped away, leaving the two
face-to-face.

"And I thought to order you to your death." Dandtan's whisper was husky
as it emerged between dry lips. "Garin, we thought you knew--and,
knowing, had refused her."

"Knew what?"

* * * * *

"That I am Thran's son--and Thrala's brother."

The floor swung beneath Garin's unsteady feet. Dandtan's hands were warm
on his shoulders.

"I am a fool," said the American slowly.

Dandtan smiled. "A very honorable fool! Now get you to Thrala, who
deserves to hear the full of this tangle."

So it was that, with Dandtan by his side, Garin walked for the second
time down that hallway, to pass the golden curtains and stand in the
presence of the Daughter. She came straight from her cushions into his
arms when she read what was in his face. They needed no words.

And in that hour began Garin's life in Tav.

Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from _Fantasy Book_ Vol. 1 number 1 (1947).
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and
typographical errors have been corrected without note.

End of Project Gutenberg's The People of the Crater, by Andrew North

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