Part 8 (1/2)
Dylara obeyed without further urging Nada watched her in silence until the girl's appetite had been dulled, then said: ”How did they happen to get you?”
Dylara told her, briefly For so herself tobeneath a Sepharian club, brought a sharp ache to her throat
There was a far-away expression in Nada's eyes as Dylara finished her story ”I knearrior once--one veryhty chief--and o I was captured near our caves as I walked at the jungle's edge A war party froht, planning to raid us at dawn They seized me; butme with them
They lost their way in the darkness, and afterparty froht that followed they killed al only three--and ht the undercurrent of utter hopelessness in the woman's words, and she felt a sudden rush of sympathy well up within her
”Tharn was a chief's son,” she said ”Had he lived, I am sure he--” She stopped there, stricken into silence by the horror on Nada's face
The slave woman rose unsteadily from the bed and seized Dylara's hands
”Tharn--did you say _Tharn_?”
The girl, shocked by the pain and grief in the face of the woain Dylara nodded
Nada swayed and would have fallen had not Dylara held tightly to her wrists Tears began to squeeze from her closed eyes, to trickle down the drahite cheeks
And then Dylara found her voice ”What is it, Nada? What is wrong?”
The wo for control ”I,” she whispered, ”aht she meant he whom the Sepharians had slain And then the truth came to her
The Tharn she had knoas Nada's son!
Ihtly until the tearing sobs subsided For a little while there was silence within the rooan to speak ”It was my son ith you Twelve suave him his own name And now he is dead He is dead”
A draft of air fro the shadows dancing
Nada sat up and dried her eyes ”I will not cry any s”
Dylara pressed her hand in quick understanding ”Of course Tell me, Nada, ill happen to me in Sephar?”
”You are a slave,” Nada replied, ”and belong to Uriiven certain duties in the palace, or the hter of some noble may ask for you as a hand-maiden As a rule they treat us kindly; but if we are troublesoive us to the priests That is the worst of all”
”They have Gods, then?” Dylara asked