Even in the instant my plans were
formed.
What could I have done under like circumstances
burdened with SanomaTora? I judged that they were scouts watching for the comingof
an expected enemy fleet.
How might one thus burdened have time forthoughts
of love? A long time ago, after we first met, she said, you told me that weshould be
comrades in arms. I believe that I have never seen somany women alone together
before.
There were women of all agesand of every type, but
there was none that was not beautiful.
The floor was highly polished wood, in the center
of which was a largepool of water.
Keep close beside me so that they cannot cut you
off. I am afraid that it will have to be quickly, she said. Thanks be to all my
ancestors that it was not you.
It was not the apartment of a Jeddara; it was a
little better than thecell of a slave. No men butTul Axtar are permitted upon this
level. I made him rise and walk to the window and there I assisted him to
thesill.
Sanoma Tora had slightly recovered her poise and
control of her nerves. I opened my pocket pouch and reached in to withdraw the
cloak. SanomaTora crouched against the wall, apparently overcome by terror. They had
no seed and they had developed ataste for human flesh.
As I sat there on the ground, my head bowed in
misery. The sight of all these ships filled me with the direct forebodings
ofcalamity. Hiscraven blood rushed to his heart and left his face pale at the sight
ofme.
There was something nasty in the tone of his voice
which made hispromise sound more like a threat.
I opened my pocket pouch and reached in to withdraw
the cloak.
Hiscraven blood rushed to his heart and left his
face pale at the sight ofme. What thoughts were passing in that beautiful head?
Following him I closed the hatch and lighted a single dim light withinthe
hull.
Then I turned myattention to my own antagonist. Oh
name of my first ancestor, if I could but hope, she cried.
I hold you to your word, Tan Hadron ofHastor. A
moment later Tul Axtar entered the room, followed by half a dozen ofhis female
courtiers.
Then I returned to the closet where Tul Axtarlay
bound and gagged.
From my left you will pass before him, one by
one.
The place of theslave is with her
master.
What thoughts were passing in that beautiful
head?
Through the inventive genius of Phor Tak, and the
compound ofinvisibility that I filched from him. Well, her ambition would be
fulfilled, but at what a hideous cost. Very well, I said; fightat my right, for thus
you will be between two swords. I shall return soon, I said, as I groped about the
floor for the robeof invisibility.
This is one of the outlaying provinces of
Jahar.
Was Sanoma Tora, a slave, less desirable to methan
Sanoma Tora, daughter of the rich Tor Hatan?