The deadly angry Old Ledo's voice rasped more sanely. "We've got to get Toka's weapons first!" Rok swung abruptly to Toka. "Where are they!" "I get them after I marry Kolano!" Rok and Old Ledo stared. But the portals were swinging. Alota and the cortege was waiting. Toka had to play his part out--it was the fastest way. Toka sped back up the Hall Of Life. A new scene had been added--Toka awakening Rok and Old Ledo and his explanatory discussion with them. The great entry portals were swinging and Kosanna's exalted gonging and choraling flooded about Toka as he ran down the long stairway. The massed Kosannans in the square formed a lane to the altar where Kolano was waiting. "I've never killed any woman," Rok offered loyally, "but--" "Save it for the Dragon Men!" Toka leaped to the altar and strode for the edge. The gonging and choraling was so tremendous that the very stonework vibrated underfoot. * * * * * With a gaze of coming passion, Kolano turned. "O Great Prince Toka--it is the moment." "Let's get on with it!" Toka snapped. Kolano raised a jeweled arm to the Kosannans. The gonging and choraling abruptly silenced. The door between the feet of the colossal statue swung away and the black-robed Old Ones marched out in a double line to Toka and Kolano. The leading two ceremoniously carried deeply fringed black pillows, one goldenly embroidered GREAT PRINCE TOKA, the other GREAT QUEEN KOLANO. All twelve Old Ones began a sing-song chant in anciently quavering voices. "O Great Prince Toka! O Great Queen Kolano! Take up your ring! Take up your ring!..." As did Kolano from hers, so Toka took up the fiery jeweled ring from his pillow. "Face each other! Face each other!" the Old Ones chanted as all Kosanna listened. Toka fought his features expressionless. "... Extend left hands! Extend left hands!..." Kolano's silvery eyes smouldered possessively at Toka. "... Extend third fingers! Extend third fingers!..." The cold sweat was bathing Toka again. But no immobility held him--only desire to get his great battle weapons and go for Roya! "... Place your rings! Place your rings!..." Where was his ax and knife! "... On the other's finger! On the other's finger!..." Toka thrust his ring on Kolano's marriage finger and received her brilliant band. "... You are one! You are one!..." The Old Ones paused. "It is done!" At once all Kosanna was gonging and choraling to the heights of joy. The air beat with it. The stone trembled with it. Rok and Old Ledo were muttering savagely. Kolano was trying to embrace Toka. He thrust her from him. "My weapons--where are they?" Disappointment was momentarily hot in Kolano's eyes. "They are here, O Great Prince Toka! And your canoe awaits beside the wharf!"