there was a green-and-gold embroidered black carpet running the length of the hall , and burning torches had been lit and placed in brackets on the walls every few yards ; at the end of the corridor stood eight kindred in formal uniforms of green-and-gold over tight fitting black cloth that covered their arms , legs , and neck : four had the insignia of a white sword sewn into their high collar and four the insignia of a white dagger .