ur kind
as little more than animals."

* * * * *

Early the following morning they were underway once more. Shortly before
noon they scaled the last few yards to a great tableland among the
peaks. And it was then that Dylara got her first glimpse of Sephar.

A little below where she stood was a wide, shallow valley, most of it
filled with heavy forest and jungle. Directly in the center of this
valley, a jewel in a setting of green, lay a city. A city of stone
buildings, gray and box-like, erected in the most simple of
architectural design. With a few exceptions, all buildings were of one
story; none more than two. Broad, clean streets were much in evidence,
the principal ones running spokewise to converge at the exact center of
the wheel-like pattern. Encircling all this was a great wall of dull gray
stone.

But the most arresting feature of the entire city was situated at the
hub of it all. Here, rising four full stories above the carefully tended
plot of ground surrounding it, stood a tremendous structure of pure
white stone, its shining walls adding materially to the dazzling effect
given the awe-struck Dylara.

A hand touched her shoulder. Vulcar was smiling at her expression.
"That," he said proudly, "is Sephar."

The girl could find no words to answer him. Here was something that all
the tales repeated around a hundred cave-fires, during the rainy
seasons, had never approached. Here might dwell the gods; those who sent
the rain and the flaming bolts from the skies....

"Come," Vulcar said at last, and the little party started down the
grass-covered incline toward the valley floor--and Sephar.

* * * * *

The princess Alurna was angry. A few moments ago she had driven her
slave woman from the room, hastening the girl's departure with a thrown
vase. Raging, the princess paced the chamber's length, kicking the soft
fur rugs from her path. Bed coverings were scattered about the floor,
flung there during this--her latest--tantrum.

It is doubtful whether Alurna, herself, knew what brought on these
savage fits of temper. Actually, it was boredom; life to the girl--still
in her early twenties--went on in Sephar in the same uneventful fashion
as it had since her great-great grandfather had led a host across the
tremendous valley between the present site of Sephar and the northern
slopes of Ammad.

Finally the princess threw herself face down on th