In a few moments the moving platform began to slow down.

It stopped in a closed chamber no larger than itself.
Rador drew his poniard and struck twice upon the wall with its hilt.
Immediately a panel moved away, revealing a space filled with faint, misty blue radiance.

And at each side of the open portal stood four of the dwarfish men, grey-headed, old, clad in flowing garments of white, each pointing toward us a short silver rod.
Rador drew from his girdle a ring and held it out to the first dwarf.
He examined it, handed it to the one beside him, and not until each had inspected the ring did they lower their curious weapons; containers of that terrific energy they called the _Keth_, I thought; and later was to know that I had been right.
We stepped out; the doors closed behind us.

The place was weird enough.

Its pave was a greenish-blue stone resembling lapis lazuli.