The Balintol Cycle I

Chapter twenty-2

“There’s no time for that now. We have to get away.”

He gave an abrupt nod. He was handsome in his own dark and raffish way and now those clear-cut features set impassionately. “Of course.”

“Affleck!” I called, swinging about. The Gon was gone. Affleck the Wine had taken the opportunity to scuttle back to his vats.

I glared at Dagert of Paylen. “D’you know your way around this confounded place?”

“Come on.” Without hesitation he started for the door. I followed. I did not scabbard the braxter — just in case, by Djan!

Together we ran along corridors and through pleasant rooms. We reached double doors before which a wounded Hytak lay, blood seeping from his side. He lifted one hand painfully. Dagert went headlong through the open doorway and I almost trod on his heels.

The moment I saw