Part 42 (2/2)

Those last words came out with an effort But sooner or later his father was bound to learn he had taken a mate by force

The elder h to come very close to the true state of affairs But what of it? His own courtshi+p had been none too easy Afterward, Nada and he had been closer than words could express He had never, nor would ever, lose the pain that had coe tribe so o

Katon, at mention of his name, had stepped forward

”This,” Tharn said, ”is Katon--my friend”

There was immediate approval in the eyes of both the blue-eyed Sepharian and the Cro-Magnard chief

”Dylara probably is in the slave quarters,” Katon said ”If you will come with me, I will lead you there”

And shortly thereafter, father and son stood before a great door while Katon ree, sunlit roo and old, who shrank away from them in alarm

There was one, however, who did not draay Her lovely face was registering astonishment and disbelief--and hope One hand lifted slowly to her throat as she stared into the eyes of Tharn's father

Nor was she alone in displaying tangled eh unable to credit the evidence of his own eyes

And then the asp than a word

”Tharn--ht up in his ar, at first, the significance of that single word his father had uttered Then, as the chief turned toward him, an arm about the woman's shoulders, he understood

Then his ar years, father, son, and mother were reunited

None of the three hadthe next fewspeech i ht to be dead He was everything Dylara had said he was She reht-backed, sturdy-legged youngster, whose inquisitive nature and coiven her so e he had shown promise of the extraordinary physical developreatest pride and satisfaction caray eyes--eyesa fine, sensitive soul and an equally fine mind

”Tell me,” Nada said at last, ”how did you knoas here?”

”I did not know,” admitted her mate ”Did you, Tharn?”

Their son shook his head ”I never dreamed you were in Sephar As a irl--Dylara, ht she would be with the slaves”