Part 4 (2/2)
Not far to the south, Dylara saw a low range ofto the horizons Narrow valleys cut between the peaks, none of the latter high enough to be snow-capped Through one ravine tuht, reflected froave the scene an aura of ht to the lips of the girl
”Beyond those heights lies Sephar” It was Vulcar, he of the hawk face, who spoke froreat pride in his expression
”Sephar?” she echoed questioningly
”Ho you have ever seen We do not live in caves; we are beyond that It is froo the people of Sephar and Areater and wiser, and learned s which you of the caves do not knoe have come to think of your kind as littlethey were underway once more Shortly before noon they scaled the last few yards to a great tableland alimpse of Sephar
A little belohere she stood was a wide, shallow valley, le Directly in the center of this valley, a jewel in a setting of green, lay a city A city of stone buildings, gray and box-like, erected in the n With a few exceptions, all buildings were of one story; none more than two Broad, clean streets werespokewise to converge at the exact center of the wheel-like pattern Encircling all this was a great wall of dull gray stone
But thefeature of the entire city was situated at the hub of it all Here, rising four full stories above the carefully tended plot of ground surrounding it, stood a tre walls adding iven the awe-struck Dylara
A hand touched her shoulder Vulcar was s at her expression
”That,” he said proudly, ”is Sephar”
The girl could find no words to answer hi that all the tales repeated around a hundred cave-fires, during the rainy seasons, had never approached Here ht dwell the Gods; those who sent the rain and the fla bolts from the skies
”Come,” Vulcar said at last, and the little party started down the grass-covered incline toward the valley floor--and Sephar
The princess Alurna was angry A few o she had driven her slave woirl's departure with a thrown vase Raging, the princess paced the chas fros were scattered about the floor, flung there during this--her latest--tantrum
It is doubtful whether Alurna, herself, knehat brought on these savage fits of teirl--still in her early twenties--went on in Sephar in the sarandfather had led a host across the tremendous valley between the present site of Sephar and the northern slopes of Ammad
Finally the princess threw herself face down on the disordered bed and burst into hysterical weeping She had about cried herself out, when a hand touched her ar up ”I told you to stay out until I sent for you”
”It is I,” said a deep voice, ”Uriirl scra away the traces of tears
”I'ht it was Anela, come back to look after , she won't be back until you fetch her She is huddled in one corner of the hall outside, shaking as though Sadu had chased her!”
Despite his fifty years, Urier than the average Sepharian, he had retained iven him Of late years, however, he had been content to lead afondness for foods and wine, had added inches to hisstill further a kindly disposition
Alurna sat down on the edge of her bed and sought to tidy the cloud of loosely bound dark curls fra her lovely head She was taller, by an inch or two, than the average Sepharian girl, with a lithe, softly rounded figure, small firm breasts, rather delicate features and a clear olive skin She earing a sleeveless tunic which fell froht at the waist by a wide belt of the sas were bare, the feet encased in heelless sandals of leather
Urim drew up a chair and sat down He watched Alurna as she freshened her appearance, his face reflecting a father's pride
”Come, child,” he said at last ”It is tis out what I came to tell you”