ne," he said testily. "This is
not Dylara."

The guard scratched his head, baffled. "She should be here. This is her
room. Urim told Nada, here, to teach her our customs."

Nada came forward and placed a hand on Tamar's arm.

"Do you seek Dylara?" she asked tensely.

Tamar nodded. "Do you know where she is?"

The woman looked meaningly at the staring guard. "If I may speak with
you alone...."

Tamar sent the man out, and closed the door.

"Well ..." he prompted.

Nada looked at him searchingly. Since Dylara had been taken from the
room over three hours ago her concern for the girl's safety had steadily
grown. She was convinced Urim had not sent for Dylara, but realized she
was powerless to act in her aid.

Why Tamar had come here puzzled her; but he might be of assistance in
clearing up the mystery surrounding Dylara's absence.

"What do you want of Dylara, noble Tamar?" she asked.

Tamar showed his surprise. "You know me, then?"

Nada smiled. "There is not a slave in the palace who does not know of
you and your two friends."

Tamar hesitated. Something told him he would lose nothing in being frank
with this woman. And there was something amiss here; Dylara's absence
and this woman's concern made that evident.

"I can think of no reason why you should not know," he said. "You see,
my friend Jotan has the mad idea he is in love with this Dylara. I have
tried to make him see that one in his position cannot mate with a
barbarian; but he will not listen. He means to ask Urim for her tonight.
I came here to talk to the girl--to make her understand she could never
be happy as the mate of a man so far above her. If she promises to have
nothing to do with my friend, I will promise to arrange for her freedom,
to return her to her own people."

It took an effort for Nada to repress a smile. "Does anyone else," she
asked, "want to keep Jotan from having her?"

"Not that I know of," Tamar said, puzzled by the question. "Why do you
ask?"

"Because one of the guards took Dylara from here shortly before you
came. He said Urim wanted her, but I think he lied."

* * * * *

Tamar stiffened. Was this some of Jotan's work? Had his friend suspected
one of his companions might seek to interfere, and to thwart them, had
the girl removed to another place?

He would go back and confront Jotan with this evidence. To think the man
did not trust his own friends!

But what if Jotan had had