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these two foolish creatures who have not the brains to escape without help. They
befriended me and saved my life. I owe them this debt. Do not slay them--they are
harmless. Slay me if you will. I offer my life if it will appease your ignorant wrath.
I cannot return to Bantoom and so I might as well die, for there is no pleasure in
intercourse with the feeble intellects that cumber the face of the world outside the
valley of Bantoom."
"
Hideous egotist," said O-Tar, "prepare to die and assume not to dictate to O-Tar
the jeddak. He has passed sentence and all three of you shall feel the jeddak's
naked steel. I have spoken!"
He took another step downward and then a strange thing happened. He paused,
his eyes fixed upon the eyes of Ghek. His sword slipped from nerveless fingers,
and still he stood there swaying forward and back. A jed rose to rush to his side;
but Ghek stopped him with a word.
"Wait!" he cried. "The life of your jeddak is in my hands. You believe me a Corphal
and so you believe, too, that only the sword of a jeddak may slay me, therefore
your blades are useless against me. Offer harm to any one of us, or seek to
approach your jeddak until I have spoken, and he shall sink lifeless to the
marble. Release the two prisoners and let them come to my side--I would speak to
them, privately. Quick! do as I say; I would as lief as not slay O-Tar. I but let him
live that I may gain freedom for my friends--obstruct me and he dies."
The guards fell back, releasing Tara and Turan, who came close to Ghek's side.
"
Do as I tell you and do it quickly," whispered the kaldane. "I cannot hold this
fellow long, nor could I kill him thus. There are many minds working against
mine and presently mine will tire and O-Tar will be himself again. You must make
the best of your opportunity while you may. Behind the arras that you see
hanging in the rear of the throne above you is a secret opening. From it a corridor
leads to the pits of the palace, where there are storerooms containing food and
drink. Few people go there. From these pits lead others to all parts of the city.
Follow one that runs due west and it will bring you to The Gate of Enemies. The
rest will then lie with you. I can do no more; hurry before my waning powers fail
me--I am not as Luud, who was a king. He could have held this creature forever.
Make haste! Go!"
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