n I have finished with Fordak."

* * * * *

When the guard had gone, Tamar turned to the man Nada had named. He
found the fellow eyeing him respectfully.

"Fordak," said the man from Ammad, "I have need of a fearless warrior to
do something for me. One who can do as instructed and, at the same time,
keep his mouth shut. You were recommended as such. Will you help me?"

Fordak rubbed one side of his bull neck with a calloused palm. "What do
you want me to do?" he asked warily.

"I cannot tell you, here," Tamar said. "Come with me to my quarters and
I will explain. You will be well rewarded for your work."

The guard's wide face lighted up. "Then I'm your man," he rumbled. "Lead
the way."

A few minutes later, Tamar, with Fordak in tow, opened the door of the
building set aside for him and his companions.

Jotan and Javan were still sleeping. Tamar closed the door and dropped
the bar into place.

"Sit down," he told Fordak, pointing to a stool. He crossed the room and
prodded the sleeping pair into wakefulness.

"Jotan and Javan," he said, when the two had risen, "this is Fordak, one
of Sephar's finest warriors. Fordak is going to help us in a little
matter, aren't you, Fordak?"

The guard nodded, his broad cheeks creased with a wide smile at being
treated so familiarly by a nobleman.

Jotan was staring at his friend in frank bewilderment.

"What are you getting at, Tamar?" he asked. "Why have you brought this
man here?"

"Yes," Tamar went on, ignoring the questions. "Fordak is going to do a
great deal for us. To begin with--" he dropped a hand lightly on the
man's shoulder "--he is going to tell us _what he did with the
slave-girl, Dylara_!"

As Tamar spoke the last few words his fingers bit fiercely into the bare
flesh beneath his hand.

The speed with which Fordak lost his smile was almost laughable. He
bellowed out something unintelligible and started to rise; but Jotan,
his face suddenly white beneath its tan, crossed the room with a single
bound and slammed him back on the stool.

Tamar flipped a knife from its sheath and pressed the point lightly
against Fordak's spine. "Sit still, you!" he said frostily.

Jotan's face was haggard. "Has anything happened to Dylara?" he asked
thickly. "In the name of the God, Tamar, tell me quickly."

"Just this," Tamar said. "While you and Javan were asleep I went to the
palace to ... on a personal matter. While there, I learne