The regent nodded, and was gone. Within the space of seconds his voice was rolling out over all Lanka, speaking words none could help but hear.
"Hark, Videlians ... Gaanelians ... Earthmen ... all who hear my voice. It is the Lord Vibhishana who speaks. Long lay I prisoner in the dungeons of Lanka. Now I am free—"
"Ramey!" called Syd O'Brien.
"Listen!" replied Ramey. "The sounds of battle below have ended! Everyone is listening to Vibhishana—"
"—Ravana is dead!" boomed the Videlian overlord. "My brother is slain, victim of his own lust for power and the dreadful Bow of Rudra. Lay down your arms, all you who followed him. Amnesty will be granted all those who—"
"It—it's Kohrisan, Ramey. He wants to talk to you."
Ramey turned. He had not realized until this moment that the squat ape-human had not risen from the chamber floor. Now, hurrying to Kohrisan's side, he understood why. The hairy captain held one fist clenched beneath his right breast. And from beneath the curiously manlike fingers of this hand oozed a sluggish stream of scarlet.
"Kohrisan!" cried Ramey. "The bowmen! One of them loosed his shaft before I pressed the grip—"
The small captain smiled feebly.
"Nay, my Lord," he choked. "It was even before that. In the chamber above. When I held Ravana...."