Tark's green eyes narrowed. The wolf looked from one to the other of them, then back to Shan Kar.
"You are right," his telepathic answer came finally. "I will be committing a minor act of treachery against the Brotherhood, but I must do it to prevent a worse thing happening."
"Then this very night we go to Vruun!" Shan Kar said swiftly. He pointed to Nelson. "He and one of his comrades go with us, Tark."
Tark's eyes flickered back to Nelson's face, and the green orbs were inscrutable in expression.
"That is well," he answered. "I promise to get you secretly and safely into Vruun."
When the guards had taken the great wolf away Nelson expressed his satisfaction. "So far, so good! With the wolf guiding us, we've a strong chance of getting hold of Kree and the girl."
Shan Kar looked at him with an ironical smile. "You still underestimate Tark's resolution and cunning. He knows that it's Kree and Nsharra we're really going after. He figures to lead us inside Vruun and then suddenly turn on us and give the alarm."
"Then why are you going in there with him, if you think that?" exclaimed Sloan.
Shan Kar's smile hardened. "Because, if all goes well, we'll outguess Tark. Once inside Vruun, we'll overpower him before he can betray us!"