At the end Koryphu was standing rigid, wide of eye and flared of nostril, with back-thrown head, Lakkon was watching, leaning against the end of a table, and Jadgor had thrown a hand across his body and was gripping the hilt of his heavy-bladed sword. "Now, by Zitu," he exclaimed, his tone a trifle hoarsened, "to fly above them, to rain death upon them--to bring them crawling for mercy where they had thought to tie our hands and despoil us at their pleasure! Mouthpiece of Zitu, O Jason, art thou rightly called. These things fail of mortal comprehension, save they be by Zitu himself inspired. Would Jadgor might go with thee on this avenging journey. Fire? Hah! Let them call on Bel if they still desire it. Tamarizia shall bring them fire from the skies themselves--clean fire--unlike that their filthy priesthood builds in their stinking god." "Aye," said Croft, well pleased by Jadgor's outburst of approval. "The fire of Zitu's justice, O Jadgor--that shall destroy the guilty wholly should the innocent come to harm." Jadgor opened his lips, paused and relaxed the tightened muscles of his throat by a swallowing movement. "By Zitu--this mission you shall ask tonight is therefore no more than a blind, a means of gaining time?" "Aye." Once more Croft assented. "Zollaria expects it. Let it be sent to occupy her mind." The lips of the Tamarizian president twitched. "Oh, aye--it departs for Mazhur beyond any doubting. We shall demand the naming of an embassy to confer with men of our choosing." Abruptly Lakkon asked a tense-voiced question--"Thou art assured she lies even now within Berla's walls?" "Aye," Croft told him, looking him steadily in the eyes. "And the father of Naia of Aphur knows well how Jason knows." Jadgor nodded, quickly sensing his meaning, and that he cared not to discuss the matter of his astral powers before Cathur's prince. "Enough," he said, rising, "we have gained an ample understanding and Cathur has been overlong aboard the galley. It were fitting now that he refresh himself." Summoning an attendant he gave orders that Koryphu be conducted to a room. Lakkon rose also, remaining until the Cathurian had quitted the apartment, then turned to Croft. "Thou hast seen her, Jason, my son?" he faltered--"thou hast seen her and the child--hast spoken with her in the spirit?" Croft smiled as he made answer--"Aye, since last I saw thee, Lakkon, many times." "She lies in Berla, indeed?" "Aye--beneath Helmor's palace." "How fares she?" Emotion thickened Lakkon's utterance. "Sent she no message by thee?" "Aye, the love and respect of a daughter." Croft explained the situation from first to last, even describing the manner in which Helmor had been warned. When next he paused Jadgor's eyes were narrowed to rigid slits, and Lakkon's features were pale and drawn.