His snaky arms and hands began reaching slowly for her. Her flesh cringed as though she were already naked. But she could not move—could not utter a sound!
Held by Ophid's red eyes, Roya felt her legs quivering. She sensed those snaky fingers reaching closer and closer. In but a moment those hands would—
A frantic buzzing sounded from the pit and a pounding came on the door.
Snaky features scowling, Ophid flung the portal wide. "What's all this nonsense!"
"But, sire," a Dragon Man hissed, "a boy swears he just saw the three warriors from the Outer World!"
... the three warriors from the Outer World cut through Roya's hynotized mind. Toka had come!
"The boy's mad!" Ophid hissed angrily. "No one could get past the tunnel dragon!"
"But, sire!" the alarmed Dragon Man furthered. "The boy swears the three warriors are those who bested your six dragons sent to Kosanna!"
"All right, all right!" Ophid accepted impatiently. "We'll search the place and see! And if any—" The door slammed shut.