At that instant old Tomboldo's voice sounded from the next room. "Who's there, Vauna?"
"Gravgak!" It was Gravgak himself who answered. "I came to protect you, Tomboldo. There's danger—"
Tomboldo's voice thundered with anger at this unaccountable intrusion. "What do you mean?"
"They mean to kill you, and if they do—"
"Who?"
"The savages. And if they succeed, I am your successor. Tell your daughter it's so. Tell her that if a knife blade descends from some dark corner—look out! Someone behind you!"
It was a ruse to cause old Tomboldo to whirl about and turn his back to Gravgak. Tomboldo didn't whirl. But he must have seen what I saw, glittering in the dim light—the knife in Gravgak's hand. It flashed up—
I flung a capsule bomb at the arch. Fire flashed, and the voices were swallowed up in the concussion.
7.