Part 18 (2/2)
Why Taht be of assistance in clearing up theDylara's absence
”What do you want of Dylara, noble Tamar?” she asked
Tamar showed his surprise ”You know me, then?”
Nada smiled ”There is not a slave in the palace who does not know of you and your two friends”
Ta in being frank with this wo amiss here; Dylara's absence and this woman's concern made that evident
”I can think of no reason why you should not know,” he said ”You see, my friend Jotan has the mad idea he is in love with this Dylara I have tried to make him see that one in his position cannot mate with a barbarian; but he will not listen He ht
I cairl--to make her understand she could never be happy as the mate of ato do with e for her freedom, to return her to her own people”
It took an effort for Nada to repress a smile ”Does anyone else,” she asked, ”want to keep Jotan fro her?”
”Not that I know of,” Tamar said, puzzled by the question ”Why do you ask?”
”Because one of the guards took Dylara from here shortly before you came He said Urim wanted her, but I think he lied”
Tamar stiffened Was this some of Jotan's work? Had his friend suspected one of his coht seek to interfere, and to thwart theo back and confront Jotan with this evidence To think the man did not trust his own friends!
But what if Jotan had had nothing to do with taking the girl? Would it be better to re it would be too late to discover what had beco of selfishness and snobbery like rays of the sun through ht, far more worthy of the real Taht side by side against a coether, traveled vast distances together, sought adventure together, gone hungry and cold--together Ever since boyhood they had been companions--closer than brothers And now he, Tae of disloyalty to his own best friend!
His eyes blazing, he caught the astonished Nada by an arm
”_Who_ took her?” he demanded hoarsely ”Where is he, now?”
”It--it was Fordak,” Nada sta wide-eyed at the man's taut face, ”--Fordak and another whose face I could not see”
Tao of her arainst the opposite wall, waiting
Thean air of indifference
”Coirl I came to see has been taken to another part of the palace I have decided not to see her, after all”
As the twothe corridor, Tauard called Fordak?”