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CHAPTER VI

JALTOR'S DECISION

Knuckles pounding heavily against his door awakened Garlud, nobleman of
Ammad. There was an urgency in the sound that brought him bolt upright
from his pillow in alarm.

"Who's there?" he called out.

"Open!" thundered a heavy voice. "Open in the name of Jaltor of Ammad!"

Hardly able to believe his ears Garlud left his bed and groped for the
brazier of coals kept in one corner of the room. Igniting a
tallow-soaked bit of cloth from it, he lighted two of the room's
candles, crossed to the door and unbarred it.

Four stalwart warriors wearing the tunics of Jaltor's personal guard
pushed into the room, leaving Garlud's major-domo, who had brought them
there, hovering anxiously outside. At sight of the latter's worried face
Garlud smiled a reassurance he was far from feeling and said, "Return to
your bed, Bokut. I will see my visitors to the door when they are ready
to leave."

He closed the door on Bokut's unrelieved expression and turned to
Jaltor's men. One of them he recognized immediately as Curzad, captain
of the king's guard, whose strong intelligent face was set in grim
lines.

"Well, Curzad," Garlud said lightly, "your expression is forboding
enough to put fear in the bravest of men. What errand brings you here?"

"My master's respects, noble Garlud," the captain replied woodenly, "and
he bids me escort you to the palace at once."

"Does it require four of you to help me find my way to Jaltor's palace?"
Garlud demanded, his voice suddenly sharp.

The captain's face seemed even bleaker. "I obey my orders, noble Garlud.
I must ask you to don clothing at once and come with us."

For a moment it seemed that Garlud was about to refuse ... then a slight
smile crooked the corners of his mouth and he turned to take up his
tunic. He slipped into the garment without haste, drew the strings of
his sandals tight about his ankles, then straightened.

"I am ready," he said.

* * * * *

It was a cold, forbidding room, its walls, ceiling and floor of bare
roughened gray stone, and located deep beneath the palace of Jaltor,
supreme ruler of all Ammad. Against the far wall was a narrow bed
occupied by the naked body of an elderly man. It was a body thin to the
point of emaciation, the ribs standing out sharp and distinct beneath
yellowing skin. Two middle-aged men, their expressions grave, were
gingerly applying liquid-soaked cloths agains