"Go pick yourself another plaything. There are several in the slave pits who still have their minds. I must find out more about this one." "But--" "I have spoken." Wor turned away, disgruntled but not daring to try the dark ruler's patience further. Sin returned her attention to Margaret. "Follow me," she ordered. "We will talk in private." * * * * * The rooms outdid any Hollywood production for sheer sybaritic elegance. Sin chose a couch and sank down with a languidness that did not fool Margaret in the least. "Don't you want to thank me for saving you from becoming Wor's plaything?" she asked slyly. Margaret decided on boldness. There was too much similarity between them for any successful deception as to character. "Wor might have made an interesting plaything himself," she retorted. "But he is yours?" Sin put her head back against the cushions. Her high, brittle laughter contained a trace of malice. "Oh, I must read his thoughts when I tell him that," she said. "Earth Woman, Wor likes to consider himself rough and masterful. He's a mutant savage, you know, and if it were not for the Luvans of Great Sasso he would be only--" "But he's yours?" Margaret broke in. Without rising Sin assumed a regal posture. "All who serve Great Sasso are mine." Margaret raised her eyebrows but said nothing. Sin changed the subject abruptly. "There were three of you who _came through_. One my Forces could not find." "You mean Eldon?" Margaret asked. Sin sat up, tensely alert. "Did you say El-ve-don?" she demanded harshly. "No. Eldon." Sin relaxed slightly. "What is he like?" Margaret allowed herself a superior smile. "Why do you ask?" "What is he like?" Sin's voice crackled. Margaret held out the little finger of one hand and made winding motions around it. Evidently Sin understood the reference, for she smiled and leaned back. "Why are you interested in him?" Margaret insisted. "He's crippled and disfigured, ugly, an honest fool. And Wor said he's probably dead." Sin frowned. "We--myself serving Great Sasso--have almost won Varda. But the resistance of the Rebels provides an annoying delay. And there is a certain prophecy among the Rebels, a stupid story about a creature called El-ve-don, and the name was sufficiently similar.... We understand each other, Earth Woman?" Margaret nodded emphatically. "Just what were your relations with this--this Eldon?" Margaret explained. "Oh, you have a monogamous society there," Sin commented. "Theoretically, yes." "We did here too, in the dark ages before the Faith. Stupid, isn't it? So restricting." Sin had regained the poise Eldon's name had disturbed, and Margaret decided to press her advantage while she was in this friendly mood. "I'd like to see Victor now, Highness. Wor said--" Sin's eyes hardened instantly. "Sometimes Wor talks too much. No. I must see the Earthman first." "But--" "Remember, my dear, I am Sin." IV