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The Sword in Doon's hand quivered； lightly and insistently。 It was guiding them toward the single broad door that was set in the front of the building at ground level。 Doon led his mount right up to the door； and rapped on the panels with Wayfinder's hilt。 Then he tugged to open it。 It proved not to be locked； but only stuck； noisily it yielded at last。
The interior revealed was not as dark as the upstairs behind those windows。 Hubert； looking past his leader； could make out a passageway； surprisingly deep and broad。 And at the end of the passage … could that be some kind of an interior courtyard？ Somehow； the closer Hubert approached to the building； the larger it became to his eyes。 Yet he was never at any point conscious of observing any unnatural change。
Hubert would have liked to delay the others； to talk over with them in whispers this fact and its implications。 But Doon was already leading them forward； into the house。 The passage was too low for a mounted man to ride through it fortably； and he continued to tug his animal after him。
Once Hubert had gotten well inside； he blinked his eyes again： Why； he thought； again it's grown bigger。 The passageway； its sides doorless and windowless； went straight on for six or eight meters； and the interior court when they reached it was ten meters square； surrounded by two…story building on all sides。 Four doors； one in each wall； were at ground level。 Only the door by which they were entering the courtyard stood open。 More dark windows showed in the walls。
〃Magic；〃 breathed Golok in the rear。 He was following Hubert and Pu Chou closely now； as if he feared to get very far from the armed men。 His word said no more than they had all already realized。 This courtyard； now that they were standing in it； was certainly bigger than the whole house had looked when they had first seen it from the road。 There were cloisters cracking into disrepair； and a dry； cracked fountain。 There were a couple of long…dead trees； and in the tile paving blank clay places that might once have been meant for flowerbeds。 Most of the paving was covered with years of blown…in dead leaves and dirt。
Golok drew in his breath with a sharp sound。 The door just opposite that they had entered by was slowly creaking open。 In a moment a huge； black furred； twolegged shape had appeared in the doorway。 The figure slouched there； almost of human shape； though it looked inhumanly broad and strong。 Bright eyes； of a different blackness than its fur； glittered at the intruders； and white teeth showed sharp in a black mouth。
It was…at least； perhaps it was…no more than a beast； and they were four men armed and ready。 Yet three of the four men started back。
Doon had already swung himself back up into his saddle； from which vantage point he now confronted the creature with drawn sword。 His mount； as if it were relieved to at last face something in the way of concrete danger； snorted but held steady。
Doon cried； to the ebon beast： 〃Be warned； if ye have power of understanding！ I am not here to be entertained by bogey…games。 Nor will I be sent hence without that which I need。 Be warned also； that this blade when in my hand is doubly magic！〃
The monstrous ape retreated。 Hubert could not tell quite how it managed the maneuver； only that one moment the midnight bulk still filled the doorway； and the next moment it was gone。
There was a faint sound from the closed door to the right。 As one； the men spun in that direction； to watch that broad door creaking open。。。
。。。 pushed by a skeletal hand。 The hanged man from the gallows was standing just inside it。 Hubert could not be mistaken about that face。
Pu Chou uttered a sound that could not be described as speech。 But Doon； wheeling his mount； faced this apparition as coolly as he had the other。 As if addressing the same entity； he went on speaking。 〃I tell you； trickery will not move me； nor will threats。 Now do you mean to fight me； or listen to me？〃
Again； the thing that he confronted disappeared。
All four men were now turning about； twisting their necks； trying to keep all four doorways under observation at the same time。 None of them were taken by surprise by the next appearance； in the doorway that had so far remained unoccupied。 The tall； richly robed figure that stood there now was that of an old man； gray but sturdy。 His massive bald crown was surrounded by a long gray fringe that matched his beard。 Great blue eyes； with something in them as innocent as infancy； looked out from under white bushy brows。
Facing Doon； this man asked in a low； impressive voice： 〃What seek you here？〃
Doon lowered his Sword slowly。 He started to speak； then looked down at his mount。 The riding beast had suddenly relaxed。
And now the Baron heaved a great sigh； as if he too felt finally able to allow himself the luxury of weariness。 When he spoke； his voice was no longer as taut as a drawn bowstring。 〃What I seek is simply wealth。 No； not yours； I suppose your treasure might be considerable； but even so it won't be enough for me； and I don't purpose to take it。 I believe that the treasure I want is elsewhere。 But for some reason the pathway to it leads through your door。〃
Now Doon's riding beast had suddenly turned its long； gaunt neck aside； and was beginning to graze on something near the ground。 Hubert； with a sensation of blurred eyes； saw that the flowerbeds were still active after all； indeed that they were richly grown with leaves and blossoms。 There was a splash from the fountain； where moments ago he had seen a cracked and dusty basin。 Doon turned his head in mild bewilderment of this new sound； then shrugged and dismounted； letting his animal graze。 But he retained his Sword in his right hand。
When a shadow wavered across Hubert's vision； he looked up to see that a bright sun in a clear sky had been intercepted by a full…leaved branch of a tree that was after all not dead。
The tall old man in the doorway was asking： 〃What is your name？〃
〃I am the Baron Doon。〃 The words were a quiet distillation of pride。
The old man nodded。 〃And I am known； for the present； as Indosuaros。 Do you need to ask my profession？〃
〃No； I think not。〃
〃Nor I yours。 Well。〃 A songbird twittered in one of the trees； and the monkbird； Dart； on Golok's shoulder replied in happy mockery。 Indosuaros added： 〃I am pleased to offer you and your men my hospitality。 Though； as you have doubtless deduced by now； my usual habit is to discourage visitors。〃
Doon needed only a moment to think about it。 〃And we are pleased to accept； with thanks。〃 He sheathed his Sword。
Now Hubert was aware that the house around them was altering even more swiftly than before。 Dust and dead leaves had disappeared from the courtyard； as had the cracks from the cloisters and the walls。 Beside the burbling fountain a table had materialized； flanked by benches and chairs and covered in snowy linen。 Hubert could half…see moving forms； whether human or not he could not tell； moving through the air around the table； juggling plates； setting and arranging。 The air held a sudden and