Vydys breathed in sharply. "There--he watches over Zenaor's chambers!" Craig pushed her forward. The guard came about, his face a bleak mirror of suspicion. His hand hovered by his weapon. Vydys said, "I seek the Lord Zenaor." "At this hour?" Irritation pushed aside distrust. "My lord sleeps." Ever so casually, Craig eased closer. "Are you sure?" Vydys' hand came up in a helpless, perplexed gesture. "They told me--" Craig turned and side-stepped, as if to hear them both the better. The guard scowled. "Listen--" Craig brought up a hand as if to scratch his head--and then, pivoting, smashed a blow to the guard's temple. The man staggered, clawing for his weapon. Craig caught his wrist in both hands; twisted. It spun the other around--off balance, still staggering. A kick to the back of his knees buckled his legs. He sprawled flat on his face. Then, before Craig could move, Vydys threw herself on their fallen foeman like a tigress. A slender, stilleto-like knife flashed in her hand, lancing down into the soft hollow at the base of the guard's skull. The man's body jerked once, spasmodically, then lay still. * * * * * Vydys came to her feet in one smooth, sinuous motion. She was breathing hard. A strange, hot light of excitement gleamed in her eyes. Craig snatched the bloody knife out of her hand. "Why did you do that? We could have tied him--" "So that he could talk later?" Teeth bared, she laughed, high and keening. "No, Earthman! This way is better!" Craig looked from the dead guard to the knife. He could feel the hair along the back of his neck rising. As if reading his thoughts, Vydys laughed again--low, this time; taunting. "Did you think to find me defenseless, Earthman? Me, Vydys of Cadilek?" She swayed close against him. "You have daring, warrior! That is why I came with you; not out of fear." Craig pushed past her. "Come on, then--before Zenaor's men surprise us." Bending, he dragged the dead guard up by the harness. Vydys' face was a mask, the dark eyes unfathomable. She turned and pulled back the door's handle. The portal swung open. Wordless, Craig followed her into the room beyond, dragging the corpse with him. A man's quarters, these--bleak, severe, without ostentation. Here no mirror walls threw back the glint of polished chromoid. The raaltex carpeting of the chambers above in this room was replaced with ostran tile and schalagat. Dark leathers gleamed dully against the flat contrast of iron-grey duroid. Cat-like, slim Vydys tiptoed to the sleeping chamber's entry. Her breath hissed in the stillness as she looked in. Taut-nerved, Craig lowered the dead guard to the floor. But already Vydys was back beside him, slim hand outthrust. "My knife!" It was a command. Craig stepped past her, not answering. In his turn, he peered through the arch into the other chamber.