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"He sorrows that his warriors have not the courage for so mean a duty and that their jeddak is thus compelled to arrest a common slave," with which taunt E-Thas passed on to spread the word in other parts of the palace. As a matter of fact the latter part of his message was purely original with himself, and he took great delight in delivering it to the discomfiture of his enemies.
"Kaor, friends!" he exclaimed as he stopped among them, but his friendly greeting elicited naught but a few surly nods. "Have you heard the news?" he continued, unabashed by treatment to which he was becoming accustomed. "What has O-Tar seen an ulsio and fainted?" demanded I-Gos with broad sarcasm. "Men have died for less than that, ancient one," E-Thas reminded him.
As Tara was departing from the chamber with E-Thas and the guard, O-Tar leaned close to her ear and whispered: "Consider well during these seven days the high honor I have offered you, and its sole alternative." As though she had not heard him the girl passed out of the banquet hall, her head high and her eyes straight to the front.
"These last few days I have thought upon it much and I would forget it; but I have sought to appease the wrath of my worst enemies. I have been very kind and indulgent with them." "You, too, read the voiceless message in the air?" demanded the jeddak. E-Thas was palpably uneasy and he did not reply. "Why did you not come to me with your apprehensions?" demanded O-Tar. "Be this loyalty?"
Thankful was O-Tar that he had gone alone to that chamber of fright, for now no one could deny the tale that he should tell. E-Thas rushed forward to greet him, for E-Thas had seen black looks directed toward him as the tals slipped by and his benefactor failed to return. "O brave and glorious jeddak!" cried the major-domo.
"They want a jeddak as brave as the bravest," replied E-Thas, though his knees shook as he said it. "They think I am a coward?" cried the jeddak. "They say you are afraid to go to the apartments of O-mai the Cruel." For a long time O-Tar sat, his head sunk upon his breast, staring blankly at the floor.
"They dare suggest the name of a slave's bastard for the throne of O-Tar!" "He is your son, O-Tar," E-Thas reminded him, "nor is there a more beloved man in Manator I but speak to you of facts which may not be ignored, and I dare do so because only when you realize the truth may you seek a cure for the ills that draw about your throne."
O-Tar had slumped down upon his bench suddenly he looked shrunken and tired and old. "Cursed be the day," he cried, "that saw those three strangers enter the city of Manator. Would that U-Dor had been spared to me. He was strong my enemies feared him; but he is gone dead at the hands of that hateful slave, Turan; may the curse of Issus be upon him!" "My jeddak, what shall we do?" begged E-Thas.
"But they say that you did not go," pursued E-Thas, "and that they will have none of a coward upon the throne of Manator." "They said that treason?" O-Tar almost shouted. "They said that and more, great jeddak," answered the major-domo.
* About 8:30 P. M. Earth Time. Now E-Thas knew that the real meaning concealed in these fine words was that he should conduct the prisoner under a strong guard to the women's quarters and confine her there in the tower for seven days, placing about her trustworthy guards who would prevent her escape or frustrate any attempted rescue.
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