e
visitors?" asked the arch-priest loftily.

Jotan acted as spokesman. "By granting us permission to set out for
Ammad. Already have we delayed longer than was intended. To avoid the
rainy season we should like to leave at once."

Pryak thought for a moment. He must not let them go so easily. They
might think that he was relieved to be rid of them--that his hospitality
was less than Urim's had been.

He said, "Would you start on so perilous a journey without first showing
honor to your God? Tomorrow the Games begin. It would be wise to attend
the first two days; otherwise misfortune may beset your path to Ammad."

Jotan was shrewd enough to yield. He guessed that Pryak was expecting to
strengthen further his position as king by exhibiting the three
Ammadians to the crowd as his intimates.

"Agreed," he responded. "I know that Jaltor, my king, will be greatly
interested in an account of the lavishness of Sephar's Games."

It was then that Pryak found a solution to his problem!

Jotan, thinking the interview ended, had turned to go.

"Wait, Jotan of Ammad!"

The men from Ammad turned, surprised by the urgency in the high priest's
voice. Pryak had risen and was coming toward them.

"There is something you can do for me, Jotan--a small matter, but one
that will relieve a rather delicate situation."

"Of course," Jotan said quickly.

"It concerns Alurna--Urim's daughter. She is not happy here. Since her
father's ... passing, she seems anxious to leave Sephar.

"It is my thought that she go with you to Ammad. Her uncle, Jaltor,
would welcome her, I am sure; and she would be content there. Will you
take her with you?"

Jotan saw his chance! Ever since Dylara had been taken from him by
Pryak's men a few hours before, Jotan had been at his wits' end for a
way to get her back. The guards, learning she was an escaped slave, had
taken her from the Ammadians as a matter of course; for, as a slave, she
was the property of Sephar's king. Jotan had not demurred, partly
because it would have been useless to argue the point with anyone
lacking authority to make a decision, and partly because he was
confident that Urim, when asked, would give the girl to him.

But upon learning of Urim's death, and of Pryak's seizure of power,
Jotan's hopes began to fade. Pryak's reluctance toward granting favors,
however trivial, was a matter of common gossip. This, coupled with the
fact that the high priest might not be inclined to be