"As Yandro commands. And his adversary—the man he will fight?"
"Me."
Klob was embarrassed, and so were the others. I spoke sharply. "Am I the one you take for your war leader? Then obey. This man has threatened me. I have been placed in a position where I must fight or be thought cowardly. Come into this passageway."
They followed me. Nobody was in the corridor. I spoke again, and they released Rohbar. "What weapon?" I asked him.
"Ray-sabers," he growled, and drew his. A touch of his thumb on the hilt-stud, and it glowed brilliantly.
"I shall be second to Yandro, if it pleases him." That was Doriza, my appointed aide. But I waved her back.
"Since we fight, partially at least, for you, it is not well that you take, sides," I reminded. "I need no seconds. If play does not continue fair, I can change it."
I drew my own ray-saber. My thumb, seemingly wiser than my blank brain, touched the stud and the blade pulsed out its heat-rays. Those of the Council who had come along moved back out of the way. Rohbar and I touched blades, and the fight was on.
From the first, it was no contest.