e disordered bed and
burst into hysterical weeping. She had about cried herself out, when a
hand touched her arm.

"Go away, Anela!" she snapped, without looking up. "I told you to stay
out until I sent for you."

"It is I," said a deep voice, "Urim, your father."

The girl scrambled hastily from the bed, at the same time wiping away
the traces of tears.

"I'm sorry, father. I thought it was Anela, come back to look after me."

The man chuckled. "If I know anything, she won't be back until you fetch
her. She is huddled in one corner of the hall outside, shaking as though
Sadu had chased her!"

Despite his fifty years, Urim, ruler of Sephar, was still an imposing
figure. Larger than the average Sepharian, he had retained much of the
splendid physique an active life had given him. Of late years, however,
he had been content to lead a more sedentary life; this, and a growing
fondness for foods and wine, had added inches to his middle and fullness
to his face, while mellowing still further a kindly disposition.

Alurna sat down on the edge of her bed and sought to tidy the cloud of
loosely bound dark curls framing her lovely head. She was taller, by an
inch or two, than the average Sepharian girl, with a lithe, softly
rounded figure, small firm breasts, rather delicate features and a clear
olive skin. She was wearing a sleeveless tunic which fell from neck to
knees, caught at the waist by a wide belt of the same material. Her
shapely legs were bare, the feet encased in heelless sandals of leather.

Urim drew up a chair and sat down. He watched Alurna as she freshened
her appearance, his face reflecting a father's pride.

"Come, child," he said at last. "It is time for the mid-day meal. And
that brings out what I came to tell you."

Alurna glanced at him with quick interest. "I thought so! I can always
tell when you've got some surprise for me. What is it this time?"

"Visitors," Urim replied. "Three noble-born young men have traveled from
Ammad to pay their respects. They have brought gifts from your
uncle--many of them for you!"

Visitors from the mother country were rare, since few elected to attempt
the perilous journey to Sephar. Alurna's uncle was king in Ammad, and
the two brothers were warm friends. Urim, himself, had been born in
Ammad, having come to Sephar as ruler when the former king, old Pyron,
had died childless. Alurna had never seen the city of her father's
birth, having been born in Sephar.