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Along the marble corridors Gahan guided his thoat, and because he had gone
that way before, rather than because he knew which way Tara had been taken,
he followed the runways and passed through the chambers that led to the throne
room of O-Tar. On the second level he met a slave.
"Which way went he who carried the woman before him?" he asked.
The slave pointed toward a nearby runway that led to the third level and Gahan
dashed rapidly on in pursuit. At the same moment a thoatman, riding at a
furious pace, approached the palace and halted his mount at the gate.
"
Saw you aught of a warrior pursuing one who carried a woman before him on his
thoat?" he shouted to the guard.
"He but just passed in," replied the padwar, "saying that he was O-Tar's
messenger."
"
He lied," cried the newcomer. "He was Turan, the slave, who stole the woman
from the throne room two days since. Arouse the palace! He must be seized, and
alive if possible. It is O-Tar's command."
Instantly warriors were dispatched to search for the Gatholian and warn the
inmates of the palace to do likewise. Owing to the games there were
comparatively few retainers in the great building, but those whom they found
were immediately enlisted in the search, so that presently at least fifty warriors
were seeking through the countless chambers and corridors of the palace of O-
Tar.
As Gahan's thoat bore him to the third Level the man glimpsed the hind quarters
of another thoat disappearing at the turn of a corridor far ahead. Urging his own
animal forward he raced swiftly in pursuit and making the turn discovered only
an empty corridor ahead. Along this he hurried to discover near its farther end a
runway to the fourth level, which he followed upward. Here he saw that he had
gained upon his quarry who was just turning through a doorway fifty yards
ahead. As Gahan reached the opening he saw that the warrior had dismounted
and was dragging Tara toward a small door on the opposite side of the chamber.
At the same instant the clank of harness to his rear caused him to cast a glance
behind where, along the corridor he had just traversed, he saw three warriors
approaching on foot at a run. Leaping from his thoat Gahan sprang into the
chamber where Tara was struggling to free herself from the grasp of her captor,
slammed the door behind him, shot the great bolt into its seat, and drawing his
sword crossed the room at a run to engage the Manatorian. The fellow, thus
menaced, called aloud to Gahan to halt, at the same time thrusting Tara at arm's
length and threatening her heart with the point of his short-sword.
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