Part 32 (2/2)

Pryak, aroused by the abrupt cessation of sound, looked up questioningly At sight of the newcomers his eyes opened wide in surprise; then his lips curled in a s than the blackest frown

”By the God!” he exclaihter of Urim! I was told you were dead, princess--taken frole And now you have co of your adventures”

The thinly veiled conteht a wave of red across Alurna's pale, grief-stained face Then she spoke--and her words, barely audible fro e as to hold Pryak petrified on his chair

”Murderer!” she whispered ”Little man of filth! It was you who caused the death ofdo you think you can hold Urim's place before some _real_ man takes your place--and twists your wrinkled neck?”

Pryak, his face livid with rage, leaped from his stool and lifted his hand to strike her into silence

The blow never found its otten by the others, had moved almost before Pryak was off the stool

And so it was that Pryak, Voice of the Great God, found his bony wrist seized by fingers of steel and his swinging arh it had encountered one of the room's stone walls

Before the startled priest could cry out or his astounded followers interfere, he was snatched bodily froth of the cha body; those human cushi+ons were all that saved Pryak from injury

Tharn went down, then, beneath a horde of fanatical priests And before they had hiht of his fists and the strength of his ared him to his feet and stepped aside as Pryak, rumpled and bruised, carowled hoarsely, ”you shall pay in blood and suffering When the lions hunt you down in the arena during the Games, wild ”

Tharn laughed in his face ”Better the fangs of Sadu,” he gibed, ”than the stench of a priest!”

Stung by the taunt, Pryak hite Unexpectedly, he lashed out with a bony fist, catching the young cave-e under the blow, but so crept into his eyes thatthe captive was bound and helpless, he drew back his arure stood between him and Tharn--Lodorth, under-officer in Sephar's forces

”You wish the prisoner taken to the pits, O Voice of the God?” The contempt in Lodorth's tone was poorly concealed

For athe man aside He hesitated, then nodded assent and turned away

”And the princess?” Lodorth called after him

”Leave her here”

”This way,” said the soldier to young Tharn, and together they moved toward the exit

It was clear to Tharn that this warrior was no adthened by the incident in which Lodorth had saved him from a second blow He wondered if others in Sephar felt so toward their new ruler

Presently they reached the entrance to the subterranean cell Releasing the monstrous bar, Lodorth cut Tharn's bonds and motioned for hiht was that he had been brought to another cell Instead of the score or so of prisoners he had expected, there were fully a hundred an to pick out familiar faces; and an instant later his doubts were dispelled as Katon ca with pleasure