osition in Ammad was determined by how near the city's center
his dwelling stood. At the metropolis' exact center was the mammoth
palace of Jaltor, king of Ammad and supreme ruler of a vast country of
jungle, plain and mountain extending a moon's march in all directions.
Like Vokal's own palace, Jaltor's rose from the crest of one of the
city's five hills; but the king's, in addition to being at the exact
center of Ammad, stood on the highest of them all. It could be seen from
the windows on the opposite side of Vokal's palace--the principal reason
his personal quarters were here. Sight of that huge sprawling pile of
white stone, its roof six levels above the ground, was a constant source
of irritation to him.

A sound of soft knocking from behind him aroused Vokal from his reverie,
and he turned unhurriedly and re-entered the room.

The knocking was repeated. Vokal sank gracefully into an easy chair
covered with the soft pelt of Tarlok, the leopard, crossed his shapely
bare legs and studied the effect with approval.

Again the sound of knocking, a shade louder this time. "Enter," called
Vokal around a yawn which he covered with the tips of two fingers.

A door opened, revealing the rigidly erect figure and carefully
expressionless visage of an officer of the palace guard.

Vokal concluded his yawn. "Yes, Bartan?"

"The noble Heglar is here, Most-High."

"Excellent! Permit him to enter immediately."

The guard executed a sharp quarter turn and stepped back, allowing a man
swathed to the chin in the voluminous folds of a black cloak to push
past him into the room.

"Greetings, noble Vokal." The words came out in a hoarse croak that
grated against the host's sensitive ears.

"Greetings, noble Heglar." Vokal's smile seemed even dreamier than
usual. "Remove your cloak, please, and be seated.... Bartan, tell a
slave to bring us wine."

"At once, Most-High." The guard withdrew, closing the door softly.

Vokal's gray-blue eyes went to his guest and he smiled blandly. "I
trust all is well with you and the members of your family, noble
Heglar."

* * * * *

Stripped of his cloak, Heglar was revealed as a man of extraordinary
thinness and considerable age. The pronounced hollows in his cheeks and
a thin nose the dimensions of an eagle's beak, together with the rocky
ridge of an underslung jaw, gave him an emaciated look. But his body was
straight as a young sapling, his shoulders for