Once more he found them startled, puzzled, almost confused. A faint color crept into her cheeks. "My lord," she said, "Aphur has given her highest appreciation of your worth. That should mean much to you." "Aye," Croft found his tongue. "Since it accords me the privilege of a further word with you." She drew her hand away. "Is a word with me of so great a value?" she questioned with a somewhat unsteady laugh. "To speak with Naia of Aphur I would dare death itself." Croft did not tell her how much he had already dared for that word indeed. "You are a bold man," she said, as he paused, and went on quickly. "Yet, since you value it so highly, forget not our invitation of this morning or that house in the mountains which is ours." "I shall not forget, Princess Naia," Croft replied. His brain was in a whirl. She had repeated the invitation. Did she really wish him to come? Had he read her glorious eyes aright? Had she sensed the truth as he had sensed it the first time he had seen her? Did she feel it? Did she know? Had the call of his spirit reached the spirit which was hers? Croft hardly believed that it had. He scarcely believed that her knowledge of that call was a definite thing as yet. Still--he was sure she felt something she herself could not wholly fathom--that her invitation was sincere, dictated by the call she as yet did not understand. Therefore he promised himself as well as her, to accept. And he vowed that before that visit to her mountain home was ended, she should recognize the truth. CHAPTER XV THE MAN'S DEMAND Toward that end and what it should finally bring about, Croft now made his plans. Kyphallos he learned would leave on the morrow for Scira, and as he knew would very shortly thereafter make that promised journey to Niera, where he would once more come under the attraction of the Zollarian Magnet--that tawny Kalamita who had attended the feast on Anthra before he started south. On the following day therefore, he asked audience of Jadgor, took Robur with him when he appeared before the king and suggested the use of a spy on Cathur's heir; telling so much as he felt he dared, to support his plea. At first Jadgor was amazed. "How know you these things, Lord Jasor!" he cried. "I have heard things in the north," Croft replied without naming the location, letting Jadgor suppose it was during his days in Scira if he would. And it seemed that Jadgor did that very thing, since after a time he asked exactly what Jasor would propose. Croft suggested a consultation with Magur--and the sending of word to Abbu in the name of both Jasor and the Chief Priest of Himyra to see what Kyphallos did. That there was reason for his suggestion the very next day brought proof. A sailor from a Cathurian galley was found concealed in the shop where the new engines were being made. This following hard on the heels of Kyphallos's departure, Croft held suspicious indeed.