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sought to reach the left side of the fellow's thoat a little to the rider's rear, the
only position in which he would have any advantage over his antagonist, or
rather the position that would most greatly reduce the advantage of the mounted
man, and, similarly, the Manatorian strove to thwart his design. And so the
guardsman wheeled and turned his vicious, angry mount while Gahan leaped in
and out in an effort to reach the coveted vantage point, but always seeking some
other opening in his foe's defense.
And while they jockeyed for position a rider swept swiftly past them. As he passed
behind Gahan the latter heard a cry of alarm.
"Turan, they have me!" came to his ears in the voice of Tara of Helium.
A quick glance across his shoulder showed him the galloping thoatman in the act
of dragging Tara to the withers of the beast, and then, with the fury of a demon,
Gahan of Gathol leaped for his own man, dragged him from his mount and as he
fell smote his head from his shoulders with a single cut of his keen sword. Scarce
had the body touched the pavement when the Gatholian was upon the back of
the dead warrior's mount, and galloping swiftly down the avenue after the
diminishing figures of Tara and her abductor, the sounds of the fight waning in
the distance as he pursued his quarry along the avenue that passes the palace of
O-Tar and leads to The Gate of Enemies.
Gahan's mount, carrying but a single rider, gained upon that of the Manatorian,
so that as they neared the palace Gahan was scarce a hundred yards behind, and
now, to his consternation, he saw the fellow turn into the great entrance-way. For
a moment only was he halted by the guards and then he disappeared within.
Gahan was almost upon him then, but evidently he had warned the guards, for
they leaped out to intercept the Gatholian. But no! the fellow could not have
known that he was pursued, since he had not seen Gahan seize a mount, nor
would he have thought that pursuit would come so soon. If he had passed then,
so could Gahan pass, for did he not wear the trappings of a Manatorian? The
Gatholian thought quickly, and stopping his thoat called to the guardsmen to let
him pass, "In the name of O-Tar!" They hesitated a moment.
"Aside!" cried Gahan. "Must the jeddak's messenger parley for the right to deliver
his message?"
"
"
To whom would you deliver it?" asked the padwar of the guard.
Saw you not him who just entered?" cried Gahan, and without waiting for a reply
urged his thoat straight past them into the palace, and while they were
deliberating what was best to be done, it was too late to do anything--which is not
unusual.
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