Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

any address at which you dwell more than temporarily

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

at or in the front

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

Having no one else present.

From this reading He had built a fire of dead brush, and since then the two men had waited, alone in the vast wasteland that girdles the polar cap of Mars.

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading At dusk of the day before Eric John Stark had brought him into the ruined tower and laid him down, wrapped in blankets, on the snow.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

forbid the public distribution of ( a movie or a newspaper)

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading At dusk of the day before Eric John Stark had brought him into the ruined tower and laid him down, wrapped in blankets, on the snow.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

plural of “blanket” — bedding that keeps a person warm in bed

From this reading At dusk of the day before Eric John Stark had brought him into the ruined tower and laid him down, wrapped in blankets, on the snow.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading At dusk of the day before Eric John Stark had brought him into the ruined tower and laid him down, wrapped in blankets, on the snow.

rub with a brush, or as if with a brush

From this reading He had built a fire of dead brush, and since then the two men had waited, alone in the vast wasteland that girdles the polar cap of Mars.

(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness

From this reading He had built a fire of dead brush, and since then the two men had waited, alone in the vast wasteland that girdles the polar cap of Mars.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Now, just before dawn, Camar the Martian spoke.

a tight-fitting headdress

From this reading He had built a fire of dead brush, and since then the two men had waited, alone in the vast wasteland that girdles the polar cap of Mars.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

deserving a curse; sometimes used as an intensifier

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

the first light of day

From this reading Now, just before dawn, Camar the Martian spoke.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading At dusk of the day before Eric John Stark had brought him into the ruined tower and laid him down, wrapped in blankets, on the snow.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading He had built a fire of dead brush, and since then the two men had waited, alone in the vast wasteland that girdles the polar cap of Mars.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading At dusk of the day before Eric John Stark had brought him into the ruined tower and laid him down, wrapped in blankets, on the snow.

fearful expectation or anticipation

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading At dusk of the day before Eric John Stark had brought him into the ruined tower and laid him down, wrapped in blankets, on the snow.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

start firing a weapon

From this reading He had built a fire of dead brush, and since then the two men had waited, alone in the vast wasteland that girdles the polar cap of Mars.

past form of “flame” — shine with a sudden light

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had built a fire of dead brush, and since then the two men had waited, alone in the vast wasteland that girdles the polar cap of Mars.

in a grim implacable manner

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

plural of “horde” — a vast multitude

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

-ing form of “hunger” — feel the need to eat

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

water frozen in the solid state

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading At dusk of the day before Eric John Stark had brought him into the ruined tower and laid him down, wrapped in blankets, on the snow.

a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

and nothing more

From this reading Now, just before dawn, Camar the Martian spoke.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

set down according to a plan

From this reading At dusk of the day before Eric John Stark had brought him into the ruined tower and laid him down, wrapped in blankets, on the snow.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

any art that invokes supernatural powers

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

a small reddish planet that is the 4th from the sun and is periodically visible to the naked eye; minerals rich in iron cover its surface and are responsible for its characteristic color

From this reading He had built a fire of dead brush, and since then the two men had waited, alone in the vast wasteland that girdles the polar cap of Mars.

imaginary people who live on the planet Mars

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

the force of workers available

From this reading He had built a fire of dead brush, and since then the two men had waited, alone in the vast wasteland that girdles the polar cap of Mars.

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Now, just before dawn, Camar the Martian spoke.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

having a pair of equal and opposite charges

From this reading He had built a fire of dead brush, and since then the two men had waited, alone in the vast wasteland that girdles the polar cap of Mars.

destroyed physically or morally

From this reading At dusk of the day before Eric John Stark had brought him into the ruined tower and laid him down, wrapped in blankets, on the snow.

past form of “scream” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading He had built a fire of dead brush, and since then the two men had waited, alone in the vast wasteland that girdles the polar cap of Mars.

inflected form of “slog” — work doggedly or persistently

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading At dusk of the day before Eric John Stark had brought him into the ruined tower and laid him down, wrapped in blankets, on the snow.

a ghostly appearing figure

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading Now, just before dawn, Camar the Martian spoke.

uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

having or growing on or from a peduncle or stalk

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

devoid of any qualifications or disguise or adornment

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

An object, such as an inscribed ring or stone, thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck.

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading He had built a fire of dead brush, and since then the two men had waited, alone in the vast wasteland that girdles the polar cap of Mars.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

in the direction of

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building

From this reading At dusk of the day before Eric John Stark had brought him into the ruined tower and laid him down, wrapped in blankets, on the snow.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading He had built a fire of dead brush, and since then the two men had waited, alone in the vast wasteland that girdles the polar cap of Mars.

a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading He had built a fire of dead brush, and since then the two men had waited, alone in the vast wasteland that girdles the polar cap of Mars.

past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading He had built a fire of dead brush, and since then the two men had waited, alone in the vast wasteland that girdles the polar cap of Mars.

an uninhabited wilderness that is worthless for cultivation

From this reading He had built a fire of dead brush, and since then the two men had waited, alone in the vast wasteland that girdles the polar cap of Mars.

a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind

From this reading Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel--ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures--at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!_] Through all the long cold hours of the Norland night the Martian had not moved nor spoken.

in the company of; together with

From this reading [Sidenote: _Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city--with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt.

covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak

From this reading At dusk of the day before Eric John Stark had brought him into the ruined tower and laid him down, wrapped in blankets, on the snow.