"You're still being deceived, outlanders! Not only the clans of the Brotherhood bar the way to the Cavern of Creation. Inside it is the terrible barrier of the cold fire, which you can never pass!"
"Cold fire? What does he mean by that?" Nelson demanded.
"Do not listen to Tark!" Shan Kar flashed. He swung toward the warrior-guards. "Take the Hairy One back to his prison!"
Deftly one of the warriors looped another chain around Tark's throat. Then, with swords drawn, they led him out of the hall. The wolf went quietly but with a backward glance of blazing green eyes.
"It's time for a showdown," Eric Nelson said sharply to Shan Kar. "We've got to have the facts if we're to fight for you."
"You shall have them," Shan Kar answered coolly. "But you have been so incredulous that I had to prove to you first that the higher animals of this valley are intelligent races. You'll grant that now?"
Nelson reluctantly nodded. "There doesn't seem much doubt of that any more."
"But how can they be intelligent?" Nick Sloan demanded. "It just doesn't make sense."
Shan Kar motioned them to the massive chairs around the table. Hoik and the other two Humanite leaders also sat but Shan Kar himself remained standing as he talked.
"Legend is all we have of the remote past here in L'Lan. Legend says that the ancients, our forefathers, were far greater than we, that we lost all their knowledge except for a few relics like the thought-crowns.