"See that the gate is covered—"
"How the young devil does fight!"
"Pierce that bush there! I saw something move!"
Telis tried to smother his labored breathing as the group drew nearer to his hiding place. His hands cradled his two swords lovingly as the searchers spread out into a semicircle and moved steadily towards him.
Telis tensed himself to leap. Within seconds, they would be upon him and assassins on Laurr showed no mercy, particularly to one who had wounded two of their craft. He doubled his legs under him and waited.
"There he is!"
Telis burst from hiding and braced himself for the rush. His back was once again against the wall and this time, he knew, there would be no escape.
A glittering circle of naked swords surrounded him and he lashed out furiously, driving the attackers back by the main force of his charge.
Then it was that a stray beam of light from the closely guarded gate caught a jewelled glyph on the harness of one of the assassins and Telis' heart froze. The insigne was the Sword and Atom—the ensign of the Secular Guard of the Holy Temple!
The disclosure was like a blow. It was Gorla rather than Brand, who was trying to kill him! The bitter understanding seemed to sap his strength. When he felt the stun-gun's tingling impact, it was almost a relief. Blackness came ... darker than the primeval night, and he felt himself falling....