"Now ask the Silent Ones to help you! They sit afar--but surely they will hear you." The sweet voice was mocking.

"As for these two, they shall pray to the Shining One for forgiveness--and surely the Shining One will take them to its bosom! As for you--you have lived long enough, Songar! Pray to the Silent Ones, Songar, and pass out into the nothingness--you!" She dipped down into her bosom and drew forth something that resembled a small cone of tarnished silver.

She levelled it, a covering clicked from its base, and out of it darted a slender ray of intense green light.
It struck the old dwarf squarely over the heart, and spread swift as light itself, covering him with a gleaming, pale film.

She clenched her hand upon the cone, and the ray disappeared.

She thrust the cone back into her breast and leaned forward expectantly; so Lugur and so the other dwarfs.