In the silence she unclasped the bracelet and fastened it about her wrist. She could not believe what she was doing. This moment had haunted her dreams for so many months, and there had been so many bitter awakenings.

* * *

In a small room crammed under the eaves Selina Place and Grimnir waited. Both were keyed to an almost unendurable pitch. They knew well the price of failure. Not once in a thousand years had any of their kind disobeyed the charge of Nastrond, but all at some time had stood in the outer halls of Ragnarok and looked on the Abyss. Thus did Nastrond bind evil to his will.

“It cannot be long now,” said the Morrigan. “Within five minutes the stone must…”

A trail of smoke drifted under the door and floated across the room, and a bubbling sound of tears accompanied it. The Morrigan jumped from her chair her eyes were wild, and there was sweat on her brow.

“Non licet abire! ” She threw her arms wide to bar the way. “Coniuro et confirmo super…” But the smoke curled round her towards the hearth, and leapt into the chimney mouth. A wind sighed mournfully past the windows, and was still.

“No! No,” she mumbled, groping for the door; but Grimnir had already flung it open and was rushing along the corridors to the stairs. He was half-way down the first flight when there was the sound of breaking glass, and the staircase was momentarily in shadow as a dark figure blocked the window at its head. The Morrigan’s harsh voice cried out in fear, and Grimnir turned with the speed and menace of a hungry spider.

* * *

The noise roused Colin and Susan from their trance. Again the Morrigan shrieked.

“Here, let’s get out of this!” said Colin, and he pulled his sister into the hall. “As soon as we’re outside run like mad:!”ll be right behind you!”