Part 18 (2/2)
”And there I would be safe?” she asked
”Perhaps,” he replied
Ah, dead Hope; upon what slender provocation would you seek to glow again! She sighed and shook her head, realizing the inutility of Hope-yet the teled before her mind's eye-Ja-lur!
”You are wise,” coo to the quarters of the princess beside the Forbidden Garden There you will rehter It will be better than this prison you have occupied”
”And Ko-tan?” she asked, a shudder passing through her slender frame
”There are ceremonies,” explained Ja-don, ”that may occupy several days before you becoehed, then
”What?” she asked
”Only the high priest ,” he explained
”Delay!” she murmured; ”blessed delay!” Tenacious indeed of life is Hope even though it be reduced to cold and lifeless char-a veritable phoenix
15
”The King Is Dead!”
As they conversed Ja-don had led her down the stone stairway that leads from the upper floors of the Temple of the Gryf to the chambers and the corridors that honeycomb the rocky hills from which the temple and the palace are hewn and now they passed froh a doorway upon one side of which two priests stood guard and upon the other tarriors The former would have halted Ja-don when they saho it was that accohout the teh priest for possession of this beautiful stranger
”Only by order of Lu-donhiress Through the hollow eyes of the hideouswith the fires of fanaticism Ja-don placed an arm about her shoulders and laid his hand upon his knife
”She passes by order of Ko-tan, the king,” he said, ”and by virtue of the fact that Ja-don, the chief, is her guide Stand aside!”
The tarriors upon the palace side pressed forward ”We are here, gund of Ja-lur,” said one, addressing Ja-don, ”to receive and obey your commands”
The second priest now interposed ”Let them pass,” he admonished his companion ”We have received no direct commands from Lu-don to the contrary and it is a law of the teo without interference”
”But I know Lu-don's wishes,” insisted the other
”He told you then that Ja-don er?”
”No-but-”
”Then let them pass, for they are three to two and will pass anye have done our best”
Gru, the priest stepped aside ”Lu-don will exact an accounting,” he cried angrily