rrows flashed
across the intervening space. Two of the warriors toppled and died under
those flint arrow heads, but before the cave lord could release a third
he was forced to leap hastily aside to prevent impalement by three
thrown spears. So narrow the distance now that his bow was useless, and
so he tore his knife from its place at its belt and, with the silent
ferocity of a charging lion, hurled himself upon the remaining four
guards.

Two more of the Ammadians collapsed in death, their heads almost severed
as polished flint tore into their throats. The remaining pair, upon
seeing that and hearing the bestial snarls issuing from that broad
chest, drew back sharply, wavering on the verge of outright flight.

Tharn, sensing their indecision, tensed to renew his charge and put them
to rout.

A cacophony of loud shouts from behind him told of the arrival of
reinforcements. There were eight of them this time, still a good thirty
yards away but fast approaching.

Instantly Tharn, his knife sweeping high for a thrust, lunged at the
remaining two warriors who turned and fled a short distance before
circling back to join the second group. Tharn stopped, caught up his bow
and brought down three more of the enemy as he began a slow withdrawal.
Lights were beginning to show from some of the palace windows; at any
moment an arrow from above might strike him down.

Suddenly a door in the palace wall burst open and a white-tunicked
figure came bounding across the lawn toward him. Tharn's bow was on its
way into position to send an arrow leaping to meet this new attack when
a familiar voice called out his name.

"Trakor!" Tharn shouted, astonished.

The boy bent while still running and caught up a spear from beside the
body of one of Tharn's victims. Hardly had he reached the cave lord's
side when a third group of palace guards appeared on the scene from
behind them.

Cut off in two directions by enemies, blocked in another by the palace
itself, Tharn chose the only possible avenue of escape.

"To the wall!" he shouted, then wheeled and raced across the greensward
with long flashing strides, Trakor close at his heels.

Angling in sharply from two directions, the Ammadians sought to
overtake them. Several spears were hurled but the distance was too
great.

Trakor, seeing the high walls, knew it would be impossible to scale them
in the few moments before the Ammadians arrived. But his faith in the
cave lord remained un