Nelson had watched this silent discussion between the girl and wolf in a strange fascination that had undertones of horror. Witch-girl and her familiars! Mistress of kuei, Li Kin had called her! Not human, not wholly human—
Nsharra apparently read the thought behind his staring gaze. For a quick flush mantled her olive face.
"You are here for judgment, not I, outlander!" she flashed. "Do not look at me so!"
Witch-girl, maybe, but utterly feminine in that reaction, Nelson thought. The door opened suddenly and a man stood in the doorway looking in at them.
Nelson knew at once this was the Guardian of the Brotherhood — Kree, Nsharra's father. He had the stamp of authority on his face. He was old enough to have iron-gray hair but he stood sword-straight in the doorway. He wore a loose black silken tunic and trousers, and over them a long, gold-worked black cloak.
His piercing dark eyes were bent upon Nelson, but it was to Nsharra and Tark he spoke.
"So the outlander has regained his senses? That is well. The Clan leaders wish to see him."
He came into the room, and a great tiger stalked softly in after him. And with click of hoofs on the floor came too the big fire-eyed black stallion whom Nelson remembered also from Yen Shi.
Wings swished and through the broad open window swept an enormous eagle that perched lightly on the back of Nsharra's big chair.
Clan-leaders of the Brotherhood! Beast-eyes and bird-eyes watching him, judging him! Nelson's stomach began to crawl. It wasn't just fear. It was the outer world tradition of man and beast as separate orders of being that put a horror of this unhuman panel of judges into his mind.