lot to
kill me?"

The iron-faced warrior shook his head impassively. "No, Most-High. His
love and respect for you are beyond doubt."

"You think I acted unwisely in finding him guilty?"

"That is not for me to say, Most-High."

"I _know_ that! But you are not made of stone; you must have formed some
opinion."

"It is not wise to hold an opinion which differs from that of Ammad's
king."

* * * * *

Jaltor gestured with sharp impatience. "This is man to man, Curzad. Give
me your honest impressions of this affair."

"If you command it, Most-High. I do not believe the noble Garlud had
anything to do with old Heglar's attempt to knife you. I think the old
one hated Garlud for some reason and named him because of that hatred."

"But you knew Heglar's reputation as a completely truthful man?"

"I do not say he would lie for another's purpose. But for his own ...
that is a different matter."

"But he did not give Garlud's name willingly, Curzad. Only after
prolonged torture could we wrest the name from his lips."

The captain shrugged. "Would you for even a moment have believed him
otherwise. Old Heglar was no fool, Most-High. Were his motive strong
enough for bringing ruin to Garlud he would have planned it exactly that
way. An accusation lightly given is usually lightly taken."

Jaltor smote a fist into his palm. "By the God, Curzad, I believe you've
hit it! Only my thought is that the plan was not his. When a man hates
another both are usually aware of that hatred--and Garlud was at a
complete loss to understand why he was accused."

"That is true, Most-High."

"Very well, here's what must be done." Jaltor began to pace the floor,
speaking the while. "I want you to speak with the guards who were with
you when I questioned Garlud tonight. Swear them to complete secrecy on
the entire matter on pain of death. The same goes for the two attendants
who were working over Heglar at the time."

"It shall be done, Most-High."

"Good! Now who in Garlud's household knows you brought him here?"

"We encountered only Bokut, his chief steward, and two guards--one at an
outer gate and one stationed at his palace entrance."

"Very well, take those three into custody. Question them as to whom they
told of the incident and place _those_ under arrest as well. Leave no
one who can spread word that Garlud was brought to the palace at my
orders."

"You see what I'm getting at, Curzad? Let us