For several minutes Tul Axtar examined Sanoma Tora with appraising eyes. He came closer to her and there was that in his attitude which I did not like, and when he laid a hand upon her shoulder, I could scarce restrain myself. "I was not wrong," he said. "You are gorgeous. How long have you been here?" She shuddered, but did not reply. "You are from Helium?" No answer. "The ships of Helium are on their way to Jahar." He laughed. "My scouts bring word that they will soon be here. They will meet with a warm welcome from the great fleet of Tul Axtar." He turned to his courtiers. "Go!" he said, "and let none return until I summon her." They bowed and retired, closing the door after them, and then Tul Axtar laid his hand again upon the bare flesh of Sanoma Tora's shoulder. "Come!" he said. "I shall not war with all of Helium--with you I shall love--by my first ancestor, but you are worthy the love of a jeddak." He drew her toward him. My blood boiled--so hot was my anger that it boiled over and without thought of the consequences I let the cloak fall from me. XIV THE CANNIBALS OF U-GOR As I dropped the cloak of invisibility aside I drew my long sword and as it slithered from its sheath, Tul Axtar heard and faced me. His craven blood rushed to his heart and left his face pale at the sight of me. A scream was in his throat when my point touched him in warning. "Silence!" I hissed. "Who are you?" he demanded. "Silence!" Even in the instant my plans were formed. I made him turn with his back toward me and then I disarmed him, after which I bound him securely and gagged him. "Where can I hide him, Sanoma Tora?" I asked. "There is a little closet here," she said, pointing toward a small door in one side of the room, and then she crossed to it and opened it, while I dragged Tul Axtar behind her and cast him into the closet--none too gently I can assure you. As I closed the closet door I turned to find Sanoma Tora white and trembling. "I am afraid," she said. "If they come back and find him thus, they will kill me." "His courtiers will not return until he summons them," I reminded her. "You heard him tell them that such were his wishes--his command." She nodded. "Here is his dagger," I told her. "If worse comes to worst you can hold them off by threatening to kill Tul Axtar," but the girl seemed terrified, she trembled in every limb and I feared that she might fail if put to the test. How I wished that Tavia were here. I knew that she would not fail, and, in the name of my first ancestor, how much depended upon success! "I shall return soon," I said, as I groped about the floor for the robe of invisibility. "Leave that large window open and when I return, be ready."