The terrace began heaving violently beneath Toka's feet and the colossal black leader with Roya aboard loomed up and exploded into this insane melee. Dragon Men and flying monsters and colossal armor-plated heads and tails whirled in wild battle. The ravenously screaming battle-axes of Rok and Old Ledo--of Roya and Elees--joined Toka's in this desperate finale. But Toka's fighting heart was abruptly clutched in an icy grip as a club cracked to Roya's ax arm! She dropped her weapon. Red eyes blazing, Ophid leaped atop the black spike-back's neck and was scrambling recklessly up the viciously lashing length. Rok and Old Ledo were desperately occupied with flying monsters. Elees did not see. Yellow fangs dripping venom, Ophid was nearly to Roya now. And she dare not jump--a sea of wildly fighting Dragon Men awaited. With a fervent prayer Toka snatched at his waist. His arm whipped and his great battle knife streaked away. [Illustration: _With a fervent prayer Toka snatched at his great battle knife._] But that moment had its price--a pair of fangs sank into Toka's leg. Even as his ravenous knife blade sang through the Dragon Man's neck Toka's senses reeled. His last memory was of Roya screaming, "Toka!" * * * * * Toka's mind fought harder and slowly made his weary body come alive, made it want to struggle back there--to Roya. The blackness slowly fell away and Toka looked up into Roya's deep blue eyes. Her lips were warm and sweet. "Brother!" Rok was observing fervently. "Was that close!" "One less berry," Old Ledo reflected sagely, "and that venom would have been too much." Indeed, the black fruit had once again demonstrated its healing power. "No Roya and there would be no anything now," Elees was pointing evenly. "The Sphere Of All Time," Kolano was assuring easily, "is never wrong." As Roya drew up from him, Toka sat up. He was on the bed in the bridal suite. The gore-spattered Roya and Elees, Rok and Old Ledo, the sheerly clad Kolano and the black-robed Old Ones, were all circled about him. Roya faced Kolano. "I don't know whether your Sphere Of All Time is ever wrong or not, but I know your marriage to Toka is not honest." She held her battle-ax ready. Kolano smiled softly. "And so, Roya, you will kill me if you can--to free your Toka." Kolano's knowledge momentarily disconcerted Roya--and Toka. "But I am freeing Toka." Kolano mused in intimate memory. "Now that the element of Toka is in me." Touching a chair for support, Roya stared starkly at Toka. Toka leaped from the bed and drilled his angry gaze at Kolano. "That isn't true and you know it!" "Toka, Roya--please," Kolano smiled. "It is true--but not the way you think." "I think," Toka warned levelly, "we'd better have a few explanations."