carpets

covered the parquet floor. One wall held an emblazoned shield with crossed

broadswords behind it, a crossbow underneath it, and mounted above, what

appeared to be a facsimile of a human skull with a stuffed raven perched on

it.

The shield was emblazoned with a curious device, an eye within a pyramid,

with

the . number six in each corner of the triangle formed by the pyramid.

The guests mingling in the library were all men, some dressed formally,'as

Royce

was, others already in medieval costume. Most held drinks in their hands,

which

were continually replenished by young, gorgeous women moving sinuously among

them carrying silver trays on which sat fresh drinks. Royce spotted a number

of

faces he knew, some of which he was surprised to encounter at such an affair.

One of them looked in his direction and recognized him.

"Good Lord, Royce, is that you?"

"Good evening, Judge Featherstone."

"Hah! Good to see you! What the devil are you standing there for? Come on in

and

have a drink."

"I'm afraid these, uh, gentlemen have not received instructions to admit us

yet," said Royce, glancing at the guards.

At that moment the young blonde returned and, with the courtly instruction

"Let

them pass" directed the guards to uncross their halbreds, which they did with

another smart slam-bang-clash worthy of a couple of regimental color

sergeants

practicing their drill. Royce looked for Judge Featherstone, but he had

already

been swept aside into another conversation and apparently had forgotten them.

"Please, follow me, gentlemen," said the blonde, dimpling prettily and giving

them another curtsy. Royce couldn't keep from smiling as he followed the girl

toward a clutch of people standing by the giant fireplace.

"Carfax really has his people do it up right and proper, doesn't he?" he

said,

looking to his companion, but suddenly there was no sign of him. It was as if

he

simply had vanished into thin air. He frowned, but before he had a chance to

wonder where the man had disappeared to, he was being introduced to his host.

"Lord Carfax," said the pretty blonde, "May I have the honor to present Lord

Llewellyn Royce Blood?"

The handsome young man who turned to face him was dressed all in black—black

hose with black velvet slippers embroidered with silver, black loose-skirted

tunic with a large embroidered silver dagger over the heart, and a long black

hooded cloak. He had a large, jeweled silver dagger in a gem-encrusted

scabbard

at his waist, and except for his black hair, which was worn short, he looked

for