Part 13 (2/2)
The girl see her covertly, said:
”He loves you, Dylara”
The cave-girl nodded ”I know Who is he, Nada? I'm certain he's never seen me before Do men fall in love so quickly?”
Her companion smiled ”They have been known to,” she observed drily ”He is Jotan, the son of a nobleman of Ammad He has been in Sephar only a day or two”
”I like him,” Dylara said ”You lanced sharply at the girl ”I know only what is told by palace slaves and guards Such tales are not always true”
The guards stopped before the door of the rooht before Nada said, ”This is where we are to stay until Uriive you to some woman of the court”
As the door closed behind the us food, shortly While we eat, I shall tell you all I can about Sephar and Aainst Woman
As the door closed behind Tharn and Katon, the forreat cell was empty of life
”Where are the others?” he asked, as they sat down on a pile of skins near one wall
”In the arena, I suppose,” Katon replied ”We must have exercise in the open air alht during the Games”
”Just what are these 'Games,' Katon? From what I could make out, both of us are to take part in them”
”Shortly before each rainy season,” Katon said, ”sacrificial Games are held in honor of the God-Whose-Name-May-Not-Be-Spoken-Aloud These Games consist of battles between ht, and hundreds die
”Each succeeding day the victors of the day before are pitted against one another, until, on the last day, only one is left alive That one, whether man or beast, is acclaimed as favorite of the God and is set free Always, however, that one is an animal; never in Game history has a man survived And that, ed, unimpressed ”Perhaps not We may escape before then”
Katon shook his head ”No, Tharn Ale are either locked in here or re exercise periods in the arena
”No, there is no escape--unless you can overco man and half-starved beast of the Gaht smile on Tharn's lips No shadow of fear, no hint of concern clouded the cave-ray eyes Lith and nerves of granite, had rendered impotent the ominous note in Katon's words
The Sepharian felt a bit exasperated What was the use of warning this headstrong wild- to him?
”Don't you understand?” he exclai the Gaet it”
Tharn's smile widened ”We are not dead yet Much can happen before the Gain The rainy season is almost a moon away”