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"Speak not of it, O-Tar," begged E-Thas. "These last few days I have thought upon
it much and I would forget it; but I have sought to appease the wrath of my worst
enemies. I have been very kind and indulgent with them."
"You, too, read the voiceless message in the air?" demanded the jeddak.
E-Thas was palpably uneasy and he did not reply.
"
Why did you not come to me with your apprehensions?" demanded O-Tar. "Be
this loyalty?"
"
I feared, O mighty jeddak!" replied E-Thas. "I feared that you would not
understand and that you would be angry."
"
What know you? Speak the whole truth!" commanded O-Tar.
"
"
There is much unrest among the chieftains and the warriors," replied E-Thas.
Even those who were your friends fear the power of those who speak against
you."
"
"
What say they?" growled the jeddak.
They say that you are afraid to enter the apartments of O-Mai in search of the
slave Turan--oh, do not be angry with me, Jeddak; it is but what they say that I
repeat. I, your loyal E-Thas, believe no such foul slander."
"No, no; why should I fear?" demanded O-Tar. "We do not know that he is there.
Did not my chiefs go thither and see nothing of him?"
"But they say that you did not go," pursued E-Thas, "and that they will have none
of a coward upon the throne of Manator."
"
"
They said that treason?" O-Tar almost shouted.
They said that and more, great jeddak," answered the major-domo. "They said
that not only did you fear to enter the chambers of O-Mai, but that you feared the
slave Turan, and they blame you for your treatment of A-Kor, whom they all
believe to have been murdered at your command. They were fond of A-Kor and
there are many now who say aloud that A-Kor would have made a wondrous
jeddak."
"
They dare?" screamed O-Tar. "They dare suggest the name of a slave's bastard
for the throne of O-Tar!"
"
He is your son, O-Tar," E-Thas reminded him, "nor is there a more beloved man
in Manator--I but speak to you of facts which may not be ignored, and I dare do
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