From the depths of Carse’s mind where he had lain hidden the Cursed One came, surging in terrible strength through every cell and atom of the Earthman’s brain, possessing him utterly now that Carse had opened the way.
As it had been before in the place of the Wise Ones the consciousness of Matthew Carse stood aside in his own body and watched and listened.
He heard the voice of Rhiannon—the real and godlike voice that he had only copied—ring forth from his own lips in anger that was beyond human power to know.
“ Behold your Lord, oh crawling children of the Serpent! Behold—and die!”
The mocking laughter died away into silence. Hishah gave back and into his eyes came the beginning of fear.
Rhiannon’s voice rolled out, thundering against the walls. The strength and fury of Rhiannon blazed in the Earthman’s face and now his body seemed to tower over the Dhuvians and the sword was a thing of lightning in his hands.
“ What now of the touching of minds, Hishah? Probe deeply—more deeply than you did before when your feeble powers could not penetrate the mental barrier I set up against you!”
Hishah voiced a high and hissing scream. He recoiled in horror and the circle of the Dhuvians broke as they turned to seek their weapons, their lipless mouths stretched wide in fear.
Rhiannon laughed, the terrible laughter of one who has waited through an age for vengeance and finds it at last.
“ Run! Run and strive—for in your great wisdom you have let Rhiannon through your guarding Veil and death is on Caer Dhu!”