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dragged the girl Tara back to O-Tar. I would make amends. I would be your
friend. Here is my sword at your feet," and drawing his weapon I-Gos cast it to
the floor in front of Gahan.
The Gatholian knew that scarce the most abandoned of knaves would repudiate
this solemn pledge, and so he stooped, and picking up the old man's sword
returned it to him, hilt first, in acceptance of his friendship.
"
Where is the Princess Tara of Helium?" asked Gahan. "Is she safe?"
"She is confined in the tower of the women's quarters awaiting the ceremony that
is to make her Jeddara of Manator," replied I-Gos.
"
This thing dared think that Tara of Helium would mate with him?" growled
Gahan. "I will make short work of him if he is not already dead from fright," and
he stepped toward the fallen O-Tar to run his sword through the jeddak's heart.
"No!" cried I-Gos. "Slay him not and pray that he be not dead if you would save
your princess."
"How is that?" asked Gahan.
"If word of O-Tar's death reached the quarters of the women the Princess Tara
would be lost. They know O-Tar's intention of taking her to wife and making her
Jeddara of Manator, so you may rest assured that they all hate her with the hate
of jealous women. Only O-Tar's power protects her now from harm. Should O-Tar
die they would turn her over to the warriors and the male slaves, for there would
be none to avenge her."
Gahan sheathed his sword. "Your point is well taken; but what shall we do with
him?"
"Leave him where he lies," counseled I-Gos. "He is not dead. When he revives he
will return to his quarters with a fine tale of his bravery and there will be none to
impugn his boasts--none but I-Gos. Come! he may revive at any moment and he
must not find us here."
I-Gos crossed to the body of his jeddak, knelt beside it for an instant, and then
returned past the couch to Gahan. The two quit the chamber of O-Mai and took
their way toward the spiral runway. Here I-Gos led Gahan to a higher level and
out upon the roof of that portion of the palace from where he pointed to a high
tower quite close by. "There," he said, "lies the Princess of Helium, and quite safe
she will be until the time of the ceremony."
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