ad claimed her as his mate. The fortunes of war had made that same man
Jotan's ally during the night just past. Could Jotan, then, turn against
his ally because he too loved the girl whom Jotan desired above all
others?

He stole a glance at the radiant young woman who held his heart in the
hollow of one slender hand. How lovely she was! And how closely she
leaned toward the young giant of the caves who sat beside her. Her
smiles were for the man of her own kind; as the minutes passed they
seemed more and more to belong to each other.

Well, it was up to Dylara now. Soon she would be called upon to make a
decision: to accompany the cave man back across the vast expanse of
plain and forest and mountain range to the caves of his people ... or to
remain within Ammad as the mate of Jotan, nobleman of Ammad.

Beside Jotan, no less lovely in a completely different physical
appearance, was Alurna of Sephar, daughter of one king and niece of
another. Often her eyes strayed to the handsome young nobleman next to
her. She saw his eyes go to the girl of the caves and back to his plate
again as a wave of color poured up into his cheeks. She knew what was
going on in his mind--knew it as if he had spoken the words aloud! The
next few hours would decide what her future life would be: Jotan's mate
or a woman who had lost her bid for happiness.

In all that room, perhaps, only two men did not feel the cross currents
of emotions that seemed to make electric the very air about them. One
missed it entirely because he was very young and interested in only one
person--that was Trakor. The other was Tharn; and while he understood
what lay behind Jotan's studied preoccupation, he was indifferent to it.
Dylara belonged to him--and though an entire nation might stand between
them, he would claim her for his own.

As for Dylara, she smiled warmly at everyone and said little. For she
too was waiting--waiting with the serenity of one whose mind is made up
as to the course her life would take.

"All of you are weary," Jaltor said finally. "I suggest slaves show you
to the quarters I have set aside for those of you who wish to remain as
my guests."

His eyes went to the three cave people questioningly. There was a moment
of weighted silence ... and into it Tharn said:

"Dylara, Trakor and I are far from the caves of our people. I, for one,
am anxious to start back. Perhaps we will sleep until tomorrow's
sun--then begin our journey."

As h