Pale Shadow

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They came wearily through the woods, Tara the War Maid and Evalla, the young and lissom girl-child she had rescued from her vile captivity to the horde of Hunza, and who had become her lover. For two days and two nights had they made their way through the Perilous Wood, ever alert for prowling monsters or savage men, but the luck of Xargo seemed to have been with them, for naught had occurred to trouble them on the way hither.

They walked like the lovers they were, arms about each other’s waist, and from time to time the little girl nuzzled amorously against Tara’s supple nakedness. Yestereve they had loved in a soft bed of moist moss like velvet: Evalla, usually the passive partner, had for once played the aggressor. Tara had lain back, permitting her little lover to take her hungrily, as she wished. For hours had they loved, finally slumbering, satiated, in close embrace.

Now they entered upon a glade in the Perilous Wood, and paused to inspect it. For a long, low house stood before them; builded all of rough gray stone it was, and roofed with slate, with diamond-paned windows of varicolored glass nestled under overhanging eaves, like half-lidded eyes.

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