tall he
stood, menaced by three spears in the hands of three Ammadian fighting
men, his strong, handsome, intelligent face reflecting fierce pride and
deep chagrin. About his shoulders were looped a heavy blackwood bow, a
quiver of stone-tipped arrows and a long grass rope. A flint knife was
thrust within the folds of a loin-cloth of panther skin.

He stood there, a barbaric figure, eyeing those three spearheads leveled
at his broad chest--eyeing them with a kind of dignified contempt that
so reminded Dylara of Tharn, greatest warrior of them all, that she felt
quick tears spring to her eyes. How truly magnificent were the men of
her own kind when compared with these underdeveloped, almost frail,
Ammadians!

Now came Ekbar, captain of Vokal's guards, pushing his way roughly
through the press of aroused warriors hemming in both captives. He
shoved his tall, square-shouldered body in front of Trakor and took in
the situation at a glance.

"Disarm him!" he barked.

Hands tore away bow, arrows, rope and knife. Ekbar moved closer, his
deep-set gray eyes moved appraisingly over the youth's splendid frame,
and the already surly cast to his countenance deepened under a scowl.

"So, barbarian," he thundered, "you sought to take your mate from us!
Only a stupid cave beast would expect to outwit Ammad's warriors. By
what name are you called?"

"Trakor," said the youth, his voice emotionless.

"Trakor, eh? Where lie the caves of your tribe?"

"I belong to no tribe."

Without warning, Ekbar brought up a calloused hand and struck the young
Cro-Magnard across the face, staggering him. "Another of your lies," he
snarled, "and I turn you over to my men as a spear target. Where are
your caves?"

Trakor made no attempt to reply. An angry red welt marked his cheek
where Ekbar's hand had landed. His eyes were gleaming like sun against
ice, but nothing else in his face betrayed the fury and hatred boiling
within him. Truly, Trakor had come a long way since that day when Tharn
had saved him from Sadu.

"How many came here with you?" Ekbar demanded.

"I came alone."

"Is this girl your mate?"

"No. I have never seen her before."

"Do you expect us to believe you risked certain capture to steal from us
a girl you never saw before?"

Trakor shrugged. "You asked me. I do not care whether you believe me."

Ekbar's scowl deepened as he turned to Dylara. "You said you were
brought here by Jotan. Was this barbarian one of his s