Barin leaped up from his wooden cot when Shan Kar opened the door. The youth still had a raw wound in his forehead, but seemed to have otherwise recovered.
Nelson saw his likeness to Nsharra — the same highbred, handsome features, the same intense passion flashing in his dark eyes.
"Betrayer of the Brotherhood!" Barin spat at Shan Kar. "Blasphemer against the law!"
He struck fire from Shan Kar. The latter's deep fanatic intensity of purpose boiled instantly to the surface.
"Your father's law — law of the lying Guardians of all the ages, who have told our people that beasts should rank with men!"
The wolf Tark was gazing fixedly at Barin and Nelson heard his thought. "Barin, if all goes well, you will soon be free. Wait quietly."
Barin glanced swiftly at the wolf, then suspiciously at Nelson and the Cockney.
"You plan something with these outlanders? Tark, I will not—"
"Wait quietly!" repeated the wolf, harshly commanding.
"No more!" cut in Shan Kar. The Humanite brusquely pushed them back, closed and barred the door.