THE LONGER I studied the building in the cup and its surroundings, the more I was conscious of a strange shifting, a rippling - as if between it and us hung a nearly invisible curtain.  Distortion of shadow and light, of which I could not quite be certain, blurred a tree, elongated a bush, made even stone waver and move.  Yet in another instant all was clear again.

Kemoc held out his maimed hand and my fingers closed about it.  Instantly I was drawn into his mind, with an intensity I had not before known.  He launched a probe, straight through all that moon and night-cloaked scene, down into the heart of the Place itself.

There was resistence, a wall as defensive to our attack as might be the stronghold of Es to the prick of a single dart gun.  Kemoc withdrew speedily, only to launch for a second time his invisible spear, this time with more force, enough to make me gasp as it drained energy from me in one great gulp.

This time we hit that wall, yes, but we went through it, straight on.  And then-  It was like throwing a very dry branch on a fire - a blaze, fierce, welcoming, rejoicing, feeding - Kaththea!  If I had ever faintly believed during the hours we had been riding that she might be changed, that perhaps she would not welcome our interference - I need not have.  This was recognition, welcome, a wild desire to be free, all in one.  Then, after that first moment of reply, swift apprehension and warning.

She could not give us any accurate idea of which lay between us, other than what we could see for ourselves.  But that there were guards, and not human warriors, she knew.  Also she dared not move to meet us, and warned off any contact by mind, lest those warders be alarms.  Thus she abruptly broke our thread of communication.

"So be it," Kemoc said softly.

I broke his hold, my hand reaching for sword hilt.  Yet I knew that steel would have no part in any fight we faced this night.

"To the left, passing under the trees, then a quick run for the wall at that point -"  My scouting knowledge took over, seeing each feature of that oddly fluid ground which could be put to our use.

"Yes...."

Kemoc allowed me the lead, deferring to my scout craft.  But he was no tyro at this game either, and we flitted down the slope with all the skill we could summon.  I discovered that to glance ahead quickly and then away after a single second or so of regard cleared my sight, made that wavering less distracting.

We reached the edge of the wood and the outer defense of the Place fronted us.  It was as if we had run full face into a rampart of glass.  To the sight there was nothing, not even anything to touch when I struck out - but we could not stir a step ahead.

"Mind-think it away!" Kemoc said, not as if to me, but in self encouragement.