Part 40 (2/2)

Tharn's free hand closed on the hapless leader's jaw, tightened, then wrenched the head in a vicious half-circle that left a broken neck in its wake

When Tharn released the clay that once had been Wotar, master of Sephar's Games, he found no other foe alive within the corridor Dead on the floor were the two guards, torn and e fury of those who had snuffed out their lives Eightinstructions

The cave dweller singled out two of them

”Go back and open both cells First, free those in our own room; Vulcar may not have convinced the others to join us If so, ourthem!

”Tell them the way is open to this room Caution all to silence, that none overhears us and warns those we hope to surprise”

Tharn thensix into the arms-room There, each armed himself with a bow, arrows, knife and a spear

Soon they heard sounds of naked feet within the corridor, and into view, three abreast, came the former prisoners At their head was Katon; beside hiuards

Tharn halted the the ranks, and what he saw brought a smile of satisfaction to his lips

As far back as his eyes could eere men There were at least a hundred and fifty--perhaps er for weapons and a chance to use theain their attention ”Remember,” he said, ”march into the arena quickly and in silence Do not so nal And when that signal comes, seek to kill only priests and warriors To attack the people of Sephar without cause would only ht an entire city

”Come forward now--three each tiive you”

Three entered the arms-room To each went a bow, quiver of arrows, complete with shoulder band; a knife and a spear Tharn then opened the outer door and passed the the next three

In that fashi+on twenty-seven were sent into the amphitheater before Tharn called a halt Di murmur from the packed stands, and he knew that all ell--thus far, at least

He suave them weapons identical to those issued to the others, and ith the as door-keeper

In a wide semi-circle at the far end of the sandy field stood the twenty-seven who had gone before the wall, one end of which was ales occupied by Pryak and the Council of Priests It was toward this section that Tharn and his two companions bent their steps

The cave lord took a position less than four paces froh priest and ruler of Sephar, deep in conversation with Orbar

Now, the second contingent of warriors began to issue froed and took up positions near the wall at the arena's opposite end

When an equal number were at either end of the enclosure, the influx of arroups of five, now, they appeared and for in the same direction There were fully four score in the open by this time--and still they ca when suspicion would become aroused by this unprecedented concentration of warriors Already a few priests were peering down at them, puzzled expressions on their faces

The buzz of conversation began to fade; and here and there spectators were rising to their feet

Pryak stood up, suddenly, and leaned over the railing