“You shall be cared for,” he said. “Go to your bed. A doctor shall be sent to you. A comrade will help you along.... Ho, there!” he thundered. “Ho, there, the guards!”

CHAPTER XII

“What do you hear, Ardan?”

“Big feet, and a big lot of them.”

“The doors are well secured?”

“Every bolt is drawn.”

“And the door we arranged for is left with only one bolt shot?”

“Yes. It is a quick, well-oiled bolt. It will open and close again like lightning.”

There came a loud command, and, in a moment, a thundering knock.

Naoise strode to the door.