Part 43 (2/2)

But that one was he whoh priest and Sephar's for displayed his ability tothe teh priest to the God-Whose-Name-May-Not-Be-Spoken Nor could he have ed honesty as well as a lack of a feud between Church and State was ended

Once these matters had been disposed of, Katon had sent his soldiery to assee throng had filled not only the grassy expanse but the street as well, Katon, as ruler of Sephar, had proclaie, as their king, a warrior in place of a priest

The thunderous, welcoreeted his words was all that was needed to make of Sephar a unified community Katon had iiven over to feasting and drinking; and, because he was a shrewd judge of human nature, he had announced that every citizen must sacrifice some valued article to the God, whose help had made the revolt a success

And so it was that on this night all Sephar, fro le tiny cloud tothe dark hue it at first had assuloo Tharn had had an opportunity to reflect, there had come the certainty that Dylara would be back with him before many suns Tharn knew he could cover in one day three ti men from Ammad could travel in that same period of tio on across nocturnal jungles and plains without being forced to slack his speed

Vulcar, earthen goblet in hand, was bellowing out an anecdote of the days when he had been a young warrior, when the hangings behind Tharn's bench swayed as though touched by a random current of air

Because all eyes were fixed on the speaker, and because the faint candle light failed to reach ure that stealthily pushed aside the curtain and tip-toed into the roori blade of polished stone

Nada, pausing in her eating froaze fondly at her broad-shouldered son, caught a gli the shadows directly behind the young man What was it that lurked there?

Suddenly Nada screah the babble of voices about the table

With the first notes of the screaure behind Tharn bounded forward and drove a flint knife deep into the naked back of the surprised Cro-Magnard

Nada's terrified cry was all that saved Tharn fro as the scream left her lips As a result, the knife point entered his back at an angle, ripping through the

Tharn, despite his agony, reached for the would-be assassin But another was there before him--Vulcar, the hawk-faced

The one-ti leap and with a powerful sweep of his arht theposition

”So, Pryak,” cried the hawk-faced one, ”you would add another killing to your list! Long have I waited for this--now comes your reward for the death of Urim!”

Pryak opened his lips to plead for mercy, but before the words could coure of straw Then, as the others watched in awe, Vulcar brought the screae of thesound froony and fear--and Pryak, the auests stood staring down at the broken form, a thin trickle of blood appeared at one corner of Tharn's mouth and coursed to his chin

Dazedly he lifted a hand to wipe away the stain, then his knees gave way, and before the paralyzed company could prevent, Tharn, the son of Tharn, had pitched to the floor

When coreat mound of soft skins beneath him; and he opened tired eyes to a sun-flooded roo at the stone ceiling

Later, he slowly turned his head and looked into the eyes of Nada For a few minutes mother and son did not speak; then she reached out to touch his hand

”You have come back to us, Tharn,” she said softly

Tharn pondered over her remark When he spoke he was startled by the feebleness of his voice

”How long have I lain here?”