I thought they woke." "What have you heard, Shaman (i.e.wizard) ?" she asked angrily.
"I?
Oh! I heard the grating of a dagger in its sheath and the distant baying of the death-hounds." "And what have you seen, Shaman ?" she asked again, "looking through the Gate you guard ?" "Strange sight, Khania, my niece.

But--men awake from swoons." "Aye," she answered, "so while this one sleeps, bear him to another chamber, for he needs change, and the lord yonder needs more space and untainted air." The Guardian, whom she called "Shaman" or Magician, held a lamp in his hand, and by its light it was easy to see his face, which I watched out of the corner of my eye.

I thought that it wore a very strange expression, one moreover that alarmed me somewhat.

From the beginning I had misdoubted me of this old man, whose cast of countenance was vindictive as it was able; now I was afraid of him.
"To which chamber, Khania ?" he said with meaning.
"I think," she answered slowly, "to one that is healthful, where he will recover.

The man has wisdom," she added as though in explanation, "moreover, having the word from the Mountain, to harm him would be dangerous.