rey Gundre, Ylana's father.
Her father—! No wonder her golden loveliness was shadowed. The real wonder was that madness hadn't claimed her.
But at least, this way, her sire's death would not be on her conscience. No one could claim that hers had been the hand to slay him.
Down in the hold, the Forspark lights were blazing. With a tremendous effort, Jarl pulled himself through the port. Half-sliding, half-falling, he skidded down into the dirt and debris; lay there for a moment, resting, dizzy and straining for breath to fill his lungs.
Then, lurching to his feet, he stared across at the ring of light; the flagship, ramped amid the forest of towering robots.
What turned a man like rey Gundre from the call of duty? Where did it start, that insatiate lust for power and booty?
And how, so quickly, had the high commissioner learned the secret of controlling the metal giants?
Had Ktar Wassreck talked before he died? Could he have sought to buy his life, at the last, with this final, priceless treasure?
But now, to think took too much effort. Now—Jarl swayed—he only knew that he must kill ... that such power as this was too great to be trusted to any man, be he of the Federation or the raiders.