looking like a giant tongue, though covered, of course, in scales. Their
heads were small, having a little skull on which were the eyes and ears
and with a long snout that, like the Canitaurs', held their noses,
mouths, and chin. Huge, sharp teeth filled their mouths and gave them an
odd, fiercely sophisticated look. Their hands were thick with long
fingers, and though their overall appearance had an air of awkwardness
about it, they set to their tasks with great dexterity, though if it was
natural or the result of their excited state, I could not tell. Indeed,
I began to grow worried when the Zard who was removing the walls, to
check for holes or tunnels, drew near to us as he methodically pried off
the panels with a metal bar and looked for anything suspicious.

He moved along quickly and was just about to put the bar to our covering
and pull when another Zard, on the other end of the room, held aloft a
piece of paper, calling the attentions of the others to it. Our almost
discoverer went himself to the other Zard, and we were, for a moment at
least, saved from being exposed. Having read the paper, the taller Zard,
the King, said to the others, "Well done, lads. We have here a map to
the Canitaur's hidden fortress. Let us go to Nunami, gather some troops,
and surprise them. Today may prove victorious, so let us hurry."

The others assented and as a body they went up the stairs and out the
door, hurrying forth, it seemed, to do their dastardly deeds, and in
their ardor not leaving behind even a single one to guard the hideout.
Despite our good fortunes, my spirits were damp, for my sorrow of the
Canitaur's ill fate was as a wound in my bosom, knowing that I had been
the sole reason for their discovery. What a good kinsman redeemer, I
thought, for my coming may have ended the wars, or put its completion in
motion, yet not in the favor of my hosts.