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CHAPTER XXI - A RISK FOR LOVE
"Ey, ey, he is a craven and he called me 'doddering fool'!" The speaker was I-Gos
and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-
Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"
"
"
Who says that A-Kor is dead?" demanded one of the chiefs.
Where is he then?" asked I-Gos. "Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar
thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"
The chief shook his head. "And I thought that, or knew it, rather; I'd join U-Thor
at The Gate of Enemies."
"S-s-st," cautioned one; "here comes the licker of feet," and all eyes were turned
upon the approaching E-Thas.
"Kaor, friends!" he exclaimed as he stopped among them, but his friendly greeting
elicited naught but a few surly nods. "Have you heard the news?" he continued,
unabashed by treatment to which he was becoming accustomed.
"
What--has O-Tar seen an ulsio and fainted?" demanded I-Gos with broad
sarcasm.
"
"
Men have died for less than that, ancient one," E-Thas reminded him.
I am safe," retorted I-Gos, "for I am not a brave and popular son of the jeddak of
Manator."
This was indeed open treason, but E-Thas feigned not to hear it. He ignored I-Gos
and turned to the others. "O-Tar goes to the chamber of O-Mai this night in
search of Turan the slave," he said. "He sorrows that his warriors have not the
courage for so mean a duty and that their jeddak is thus compelled to arrest a
common slave," with which taunt E-Thas passed on to spread the word in other
parts of the palace. As a matter of fact the latter part of his message was purely
original with himself, and he took great delight in delivering it to the discomfiture
of his enemies. As he was leaving the little group of men I-Gos called after him.
"At what hour does O-Tar intend visiting the chambers of O-Mai?" he asked.
"
Toward the end of the eighth zode*," replied the major-domo, and went his way.
*
About 1:00 A. M. Earth Time.
We shall see," stated I-Gos.
"
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