Bandhor frowned. His attention seemed arrested by the question. "By Bel I know not," he stammered. "Save to learn your price of ransom without walking into the trap you laid, and thereafter to lay a counter proposal before you." "Counter proposal?" And now Kalamita sneered. "Such things require time, Bandhor. This one seems in small haste to regain a wife and child." "Or become prisoner to Kalamita," Bandhor suggested. Kalamita eyed him. Her own expression was brooding. "Enough," she said. "Your mind reaches not beyond the sweep of your sword. Go--say to Helmor I appear before him, and--say no more, save that I will make all things plain when I arrive." Bandhor nodded. "Nay, and thou canst, thou canst do more than Bandhor," he declared, once more frowning, and stalked hugely from the room. Kalamita remained seated for some time after his departure, her features cast into lines of consideration, tight lipped, a trifle drawn. "Now Bel aid me!" she cried, at last rising and lifting her jewel-circled arms in a body-stretching gesture, turned and went swiftly down to where Gor waited with her carriage, and its prancing green-plumed gnuppas. Entering the conveyance, she drew the curtains, and reclined on the padded cushions, her tawny head supported on an arm. Watching her, Croft sensed that once more her wicked brain was busy with its schemes. Bandhor met her at the palace and escorted her into a small and sumptuously furnished room. Helmor of Zollaria sat there, his face contorted into an expression of displeasure. As Bandhor and his sister entered, he half rose, and Kalamita sank swiftly to her knees. "Hail Helmor, emperor and lord," she faltered. "Rise," said the Zollarian monarch. "Thy coming was expected. Bandhor informed me as you bade him, yet seemed unminded to further use his tongue. So, then, you appear before me alone?" "Aye, Helmor." Kalamita lifted herself on shapely limbs and stood with downcast eyes. Suddenly she had adopted a meekness wholly out of keeping with her usual demeanor. "Helmor foresaw the outcome of my effort in his wisdom. All things fell out as he advised." "The Mouthpiece came not to the meeting?" "Nay. Perchance he lacked the courage on which I counted." Kalamita threw up her head. Her tawny eyes flashed for a single instant. Helmor resumed his seat. His brows knit in a frown. "I await thy story, sister of Bandhor," he said after a time. Kalamita explained. Helmor's frown deepened as she proceeded with her story. Once and once only his expression denoted satisfaction, and that when the woman spoke of the airplanes flying above the mountains. "It would seem then that he knows not the woman lies in Berla," he said, nodding. "It was so I planned. In so much is he deceived. Go on--finish the story."