Vydys' voice commanded, "Come forward, alien! I would not harm you."
He sucked in a breath; stepped across the threshold.
Hands shot out ... seized him ... held him helpless while they wrenched away his fire-gun and his dagger.
Then, incredibly, Vydys was saying, "Away, guards! Leave us." And he was free again and stumbling forward, the door slamming shut behind him.
Groping, he drew himself erect; turned, searching for the woman.
But still there was only the blazing silver light, dazzling him to blindness. Her laughter rippled out of nowhere, a sound to sting him to impotent fury.
He lashed out: "How long do I stand here, woman? Do you fear to face me?"
"Fear you—?" She laughed again, and now there was a new note in her voice, an element he could not name or place. "No, warrior, I do not fear you."
Even as she spoke, the dazzling light was fading. Like a wall dissolving, the veil of its brilliance fell away.
Vydys stood before Craig, high on a dais.