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Passing among the players already at their stations the two took their places
upon their respective squares. At Tara's left was the Black Chief, Gahan of
Gathol; directly in front of her the Princess' Panthan, Floran of Gathol; and at her
right the Princess' Odwar, Val Dor of Helium. And each of these knew the part
that he was to play, win or lose, as did each of the other Black players. As Tara
took her place Val Dor bowed low. "My sword is at your feet, Tara of Helium," he
said.
She turned and looked at him, an expression of surprise and incredulity upon her
face. "Val Dor, the dwar!" she exclaimed. "Val Dor of Helium--one of my father's
trusted captains! Can it be possible that my eyes speak the truth?"
"
It is Val Dor, Princess," the warrior replied, "and here to die for you if need be, as
is every wearer of the Black upon this field of jetan today. Know Princess," he
whispered, "that upon this side is no man of Manator, but each and every is an
enemy of Manator."
She cast a quick, meaning glance toward Gahan. "But what of him?" she
whispered, and then she caught her breath quickly in surprise. "Shade of the first
jeddak!" she exclaimed. "I did but just recognize him through his disguise."
"And you trust him?" asked Val Dor. "I know him not; but he spoke fairly, as an
honorable warrior, and we have taken him at his word."
"You have made no mistake," replied Tara of Helium. "I would trust him with my
life--with my soul; and you, too, may trust him."
Happy indeed would have been Gahan of Gathol could he have heard those
words; but Fate, who is usually unkind to the lover in such matters, ordained it
otherwise, and then the game was on.
U-Dor moved his Princess' Odwar three squares diagonally to the right, which
placed the piece upon the Black Chief's Odwar's seventh. The move was indicative
of the game that U-Dor intended playing--a game of blood, rather than of science-
-
and evidenced his contempt for his opponents.
Gahan followed with his Odwar's Panthan one square straight forward, a more
scientific move, which opened up an avenue for himself through his line of
Panthans, as well as announcing to the players and spectators that he intended
having a hand in the fighting himself even before the exigencies of the game
forced it upon him. The move elicited a ripple of applause from those sections of
seats reserved for the common warriors and their women, showing perhaps that
U-Dor was none too popular with these, and, too, it had its effect upon the morale
of Gahan's pieces. A Chief may, and often does, play almost an entire game
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