Part 10 (2/2)
It was already s, sought a place to eat, and a short time later was on his way toward The Towers of Jetan, which he had no difficulty in finding owing to the great crowds that inding along the avenues toward the games The new keeper of The Toho had succeeded E-Med was too busy to scrutinize entries closely, for in addition to the many volunteer players there were scores of slaves and prisoners being forced into the gaovernment The name of each must be recorded as well as the position he was to play and the gaames in which he was to be entered, and then there were the substitutes for each that was entered in aaht be delayed by the death or disablement of a player
”Your name?” asked a clerk as Turan presented himself
”U-Kal,” replied the panthan
”Your city?”
”Manataj”
The keeper, as standing beside the clerk, looked at Turan ”You have coreat way to play at jetan,” he said ”It is seldoames Tell me of O-Zar! Will he attend next year? Ah, but he was a noble fighter If you be half the swordsman, U-Kal, the fame of Manataj will increase this day But tell libly, ”and he sent greetings to his friends in Manator”
”Good!” exclaiame would you enter?”
”I would play for the Heliumetic princess, Tara,” replied Turan
”But ame for slaves and criminals,” cried the keeper ”You would not volunteer for such a game!”
”But I would,” replied Turan ”I saw here when she was brought into the city and even then I vowed to possess her”
”But you will have to share her with the survivors even if your color wins,” objected the other
”They ht to reason,” insisted Turan
”And you will chance incurring the wrath of O-Tar, who has no love for this savage barbarian,” explained the keeper
”And I win her O-Tar will be rid of her,” said Turan
The keeper of The Towers of Jetan shook his head ”You are rash,” he said ”I would that I ht dissuade the friend of my friend O-Zar from such madness”
”Would you favor the friend of O-Zar?” asked Turan
”Gladly!” exclaimed the other ”What ive me for my pieces all slaves from Gathol, for I understand that those be excellent warriors,” replied the panthan
”It is a strange request,” said the keeper, ”but for h of course--” he hesitated--”it is custoht payment”
”Certainly,” Turan hastened to assure hiotten that I was about to ask you what the customary amount is”
”For the friend ofa figure that Gahan, accustoht ridiculously low
”Tell ame for the Heliumite is to be played”
”It is the second in order of the day's games; and now if you will come with me you may select your pieces”
Turan followed the keeper to a large court which lay between the towers and the jetan field, where hundreds of warriors were asse their pieces and assigning theaed for weeks before The keeper led Turan to a part of the courtyard where the majority of the slaves were assened,” said the keeper, ”and when you have your quota conduct thened you by an officer there, and there you will reah from what I have heard you will be more lucky to lose than to win the slave from Helium”
After the fellow had departed Turan approached the slaves ”I seek the best swordsame,” he announced ”Men frohters”
A slave rose and approached hiaht for you as a panthan in the second game”
Another came ”I am not froht for the honor of a princess of Helium”
”Good!” exclaimed Turan ”Art a swordsreat Warlord, and I have fought at his side in a score of battles from The Golden Cliffs to The Carrion Caves My name is Val Dor Who knows Helium, knows my prowess”
The name ell known to Gahan, who had heard the man spoken of on his last visit to Helium, and his mysterious disappearance discussed as well as his renown as a fighter
”How could I know aught of Heliuhter as you say no position could suit you better than that of Flier What say you?”
The man's eyes denoted sudden surprise He looked keenly at Turan, his eyes running quickly over the other's harness Then he stepped quite close so that his words ht not be overheard
”Methinks you may know more of Helium than of Manator,” he whispered
”What el his brains for the source of this uess, or inspiration
”I mean,” replied Val Dor, ”that you are not of Manator and that if you wish to hide the fact it is well that you speak not to a Manatorian as you did just speak to me of--Fliers! There be no Fliers in Manator and no piece in their ga that name Instead they call him who stands next to the Chief or Princess, Odwar The piece has the saame as played outside Manator Remember this then and reme of Val Dor of Helium”
Turanthe remainder of his pieces Val Dor, the Heliureat assistance to him, since one or the other of them knew most of the slaves from whom his selection was to be made The pieces all chosen, Turan led the field where they were to wait their turn, and here he passed the word around that they were to fight for more than the stake he offered for the princess should they win This stake they accepted, so that Turan was sure of possessing Tara if his side was victorious, but he knew that these ht even more valorously for chivalry than for money, nor was it difficult to enlist the interest even of the Gatholians in the service of the princess And now he held out the possibility of a still further reward
”I cannot promise you,” he explained, ”but I may say I have heard that this day which ame we may even win your freedom!”
They leaped to their feet and crowded around him with many questions
”It may not be spoken of aloud,” he said; ”but Floran and Val Dor know and they assure me that you may all be trusted Listen! What I would tell you places my life in your hands, but youtoday the greatest battle of his life--for the honor and the freedom of Barsoom's most wondrous princess and for his own freedom as well--for the chance to return each to his own country and to the woman aits him there
”First, then, is my secret I ah for the uised as a Manatorian from Manataj My country and my identityupon our gas that you will fight for
”And now for that which I have but just learned U-Thor, the great jed of Manatos, quarreled with O-Tar in the palace the day before yesterday and their warriors set upon one another U-Thor was driven as far as The Gate of Eneht ht that U-Thor has sent to Manatos for reinforce that interests you U-Thor has recently taken to wife the Princess Haja of Gathol, as slave to O-Tar and whose son, A-Kor, ar of The Towers of Jetan Haja's heart is filled with loyalty for Gathol and compassion for her sons who are here enslaved, and this latter sentiment she has to so the Princess Tara of Helium and I believe that I can aid you and her and myself to escape the city Bend close your ears, slaves of O-Tar, that no cruel enemy may hear my words,” and Gahan of Gathol whispered in low tones the daring plan he had conceived ”And now,” he demanded, when he had finished, ”let him who does not dare speak now” None replied ”Is there none?”
”And it would not betray you should I cast my sword at thy feet, it had been done ere this,” said one in low tones pregnant with suppressed feeling
”And I!” ”And I!” ”And I!” chorused the others in vibrant whispers