"If he can look out--even listen--through any mirror without beingdetected; if he can step out; assassinate someone, and escape by the sameroute--yes, I can understand it."

The night suddenly seemed very cold. Rhanda's eyes widened. I moved tothe chair where I had thrown my garments and began dressing myself.

"Yes, do that," she said.

"There's more, isn't there?"

"Yes. The hidden one has located and brought back an abomination to ourpeaceful realm. Somewhere, he found a guisel."

"What is a guisel?"

"A being out of our myth, one we had thought long exterminated in themirrorworld. Its kind nearly destroyed the shroudlings. A monster, it tookan entire family to destroy what was thought to be the last of them."

I buckled my sword belt and drew on my boots. I crossed the chamber tothe mirror and held my hand before its blackness. Yes, it seemed the sourceof the cold.

"You closed them and locked them?" I said. "All of the mirrors in thisvicinity?"

"The hidden one has sent the guisel through the ways of the mirrors todestroy nine rivals to the Throne. It is on its way to seek the tenth now:yourself."

"I see. Can it break your locks?"

"I don't know. Not easily, I wouldn't think. It brings the cold,however. It lurks just beyond the mirror. It knows that you are here."

"What does it look like?"

"A winged eel with a multitude of clawed legs. It is about 10 feetlong."

"If we let it in?"

"It will attack you."

"If we enter the mirror ourselves?"

"It will attack you."

"On which side is it stronger?"

"The same on either, I think."

"Well, hell! Can we enter by a different mirror and sneak up on it?"

"Maybe."

"Let's give it a shot. Come on."

She rose, dressed quickly in a blood-red garment, and followed me