Part 14 (2/2)
”It is not wise to hold an opinion which differs from that of Ammad's king.”
Jaltor gestured with sharp impatience. ”This is man to man, Curzad. Give me your honest impressions of this affair.”
”If you command it, Most-High. I do not believe the n.o.ble Garlud had anything to do with old Heglar's attempt to knife you. I think the old one hated Garlud for some reason and named him because of that hatred.”
”But you knew Heglar's reputation as a completely truthful man?”
”I do not say he would lie for another's purpose. But for his own ...
that is a different matter.”
”But he did not give Garlud's name willingly, Curzad. Only after prolonged torture could we wrest the name from his lips.”
The captain shrugged. ”Would you for even a moment have believed him otherwise. Old Heglar was no fool, Most-High. Were his motive strong enough for bringing ruin to Garlud he would have planned it exactly that way. An accusation lightly given is usually lightly taken.”
Jaltor smote a fist into his palm. ”By the G.o.d, Curzad, I believe you've hit it! Only my thought is that the plan was not his. When a man hates another both are usually aware of that hatred--and Garlud was at a complete loss to understand why he was accused.”
”That is true, Most-High.”
”Very well, here's what must be done.” Jaltor began to pace the floor, speaking the while. ”I want you to speak with the guards who were with you when I questioned Garlud tonight. Swear them to complete secrecy on the entire matter on pain of death. The same goes for the two attendants who were working over Heglar at the time.”
”It shall be done, Most-High.”
”Good! Now who in Garlud's household knows you brought him here?”
”We encountered only Bokut, his chief steward, and two guards--one at an outer gate and one stationed at his palace entrance.”
”Very well, take those three into custody. Question them as to whom they told of the incident and place _those_ under arrest as well. Leave no one who can spread word that Garlud was brought to the palace at my orders.”
”You see what I'm getting at, Curzad? Let us say there is someone whose ident.i.ty we do not know at the bottom of this plot against Garlud.
Heglar makes his clumsy attempt at killing me and fails according to plan. I order him tortured to learn the names of others involved. He gives me Garlud's name.”
”Now, if I believe the charge, Garlud is arrested and executed, and the mysterious someone is satisfied. But if I do not believe the charge Garlud remains free, and this unknown person must try again or give up and the matter is never solved.”
”But say Garlud simply disappears without anyone knowing what's become of him. Has he learned of what was in store for him and gone into hiding, trying the while to learn who is responsible for his plight? Or have I executed him secretly? Is Heglar still alive and in a position to eventually expose the true culprit?”
”The man we want is going to have to get answers to those questions, Curzad. He'll use great care at first; but when each effort meets a blank wall he'll become increasingly desperate. Desperate men make false moves, Curzad--then is when we'll have him!”
The captain nodded expressionlessly but there was a gleam of admiration in his deep-set eyes. ”And what of Garlud himself, Most-High? Shall I have him removed from the pits and placed in more comfortable quarters?”
Jaltor pulled thoughtfully at his lower lip. ”N-no, I think not. Let him stew there awhile. I am not giving up my suspicions of him entirely, Curzad; old Heglar's dying statement can not be utterly disregarded until we have proof he was lying.”
”And should Jotan, his son, return from Sephar while his father languishes in the pits?”
The king nodded. ”I have thought of that. It may be necessary to take him and his men into custody before they reach the city itself. It would defeat my purpose were he allowed to enter Ammad and start hunting for his father. On the other hand I cannot arrest him openly; it would tell our mysterious enemy more than I want him to know.”
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