Roya and Elees pulled down the silkily rustling covers of their beds.
Elees yawned. "I could go to bed with all my clothes on." She sat on her bed—and swayed backward.
The utter lethargy was pulling Roya into her own invitingly soft bed. "Who needs ... clothes off...."
Elees was beyond answering. Roya, too, relaxed into the dreamless depths.
Toka tossed down the rustling covers of his bed. Sleep weighted his eyelids and pulled at his consciousness. Not even bothering to remove battle knives, Rok and Old Ledo were sprawling into their beds. Sandals, battle knife and all, Toka stretched out on his bed and sank into its wonderful softness. "Been a ... big day...."
Rok and Old Ledo could not answer. Toka let the restful void take him.
II
Toka's dreamless slumber seemed to have lasted but moments. The ceiling was just returning to its full light of day as Toka sat up. The beds of Rok and Old Ledo were empty. And Toka's weapons were nowhere to be found! He was into the girls' room. Nothing! He was to the pool. Nothing. He stepped to the lounge room. The emptiness mocked him. Why couldn't he have seen that drowsiness last night was abnormal! Hot anger spread through Toka. If anyone had harmed Roya.... Picking up a stone lounge, Toka slammed it to the doors. The heavy lounge shattered—the doors stood impervious. Why hadn't he and Rok used their battle-axes when they had the chance!
The great doors suddenly opened and the cortege was there.