Now it chanced that Lieutenant Everson, face to face with the man by whose decree his ship had perished, had fixed on the king a glance of undying hatred. None had noted it except the priest, Rhaen, who saw all things. He now asked that the naval man be turned over to the god along with Polaris. Bel-Ar nodded his assent. At a sign from the king, Oleric led Polaris back to his companions. The judgment was ended. The guards closed in around the prisoners and marched them away. CHAPTER IV "DEAD MEN ARE BEHIND US" Along the black avenue, back to the prison house of Mordo, the captives were marched. For Oleric, through the friendship Brunar bore him, won from that captain the half of a day for his friends, that they might pass it together before the separation decreed by Bel-Ar. Understanding little of what had taken place, and no word of what had been said in the audience-chamber of the king--for Oleric the Red was their only interpreter--the prisoners still had the heart to look with curiosity upon the doings in that part of Adlaz town which lay along the way that they traversed. As Zenas Wright trudged, his bright old eyes were busy, and he shook his white head often at the marvels which he saw. A group of the young bloods of Maeronica clattered by on horses. As they passed, the old geologist stared and stopped in his tracks, so that an impatient soldier of the guard hustled him with the butt of a spear. "Gold, gold, everywhere," muttered Zenas as he started on. "They even shoe their horses with it." In the hall where they had slept the friends gathered for council. Oleric had come in with them, and all eyes were turned to him. Before he would speak the captain insisted that meat and wine should be brought, and he set his helmet on the floor and ate with them. Fate willed that it should be the last time that the seven friends should sit at the same table. When the meal was ended, Oleric told simply and briefly of the judgment of Bel-Ar, holding back nothing. For a moment, silence was his answer. Then Zenas Wright brought his jaws together with a snap. "What! Me a scullion in that barbarian's greasy kitchen!" he barked. "Why not nursemaid to the royal brats?" Then Zenas groaned as his anger was swallowed in the realization of what was to befall the friends he whom had come to love so well. With his topaz eyes ablaze, Polaris Janess sprang up from the table and stood over the captain. "You, Oleric, who call yourself my friend, why did you not interpret this to us while we were in the hall yonder?" he asked quietly. "Then had this kingdom been kingless." He glanced down at his sinewy hands. Suddenly he bent over and snatched the captain's sword from its sheath. So he, who had seen so much of fighting, made ready to fight again, and for the last time. For what else was left him but to give his life for his lady and go to his appointed place?