"Oho!" Heglar nodded in tribute. "That clears up the picture. Garlud is second only to Jaltor as the most powerful man in all Ammad. With him out of the way, you, as the next in line among Ammad's noblemen, will take Garlud's place and all the benefits that go with it. I congratulate you, noble Vokal, on your shrewdness." They filled their earthen goblets and drank. After a moment Heglar said, "There is one drawback to your plan, my friend. I hesitate to mention it, for a man as thorough as you has doubtless anticipated that flaw and taken steps to overcome it." "No man is perfect," Vokal said equably. "To what do you refer?" "Garlud has a son. As is our custom he will inherit his father's position and estate even though Garlud is executed for treason." "And if the son is dead also?" Vokal said silkily. "So you _have_ thought of it! I might have known. In that case, since Garlud's mate died over a moon ago, his wealth returns to the State, except for the palace which is given to the next nobleman in line." "Precisely." "Uh-hunh. Do you know for sure that Garlud's son--let's see: his name is ... ah--" "Jotan." "Of course. A fine young man too--as I remember him. You're sure he's dead?" "If not, he soon will be." "But he is not in Ammad, I understand. Didn't he make a trip to Sephar, Vokal?" "He is due back within half a moon at the earliest." "How will you handle the matter when he arrives at Ammad's gates?" Vokal smiled his dreamy smile. "He will not arrive at Ammad's gates, O Heglar! The day you attempt Jaltor's assassination a party of my most trusted guards will leave Ammad to intercept Jotan and his men. Their orders will be to leave not one of them alive." "It is clear that you have thought of everything!" The old man gulped down his wine and stood up. "It is late, and at my age I need a great deal of sleep--especially if I am to be tortured by Jaltor's experts in that line! So, if you will pay me my thousand tals, noble Vokal, I shall leave you." "Of course." Vokal rose smoothly to his feet, went to the door and summoned a guard outside. "Arouse Yodak and instruct him to bring a thousand tals to me here." "At once, Most-High." The guard saluted and went quickly down the hall. Heglar was shaking his head admiringly. "You take some long chances, Vokal!" The gray-haired nobleman glanced sharply at him. "What do you mean?" "This matter of your guards calling you 'Most-High'. That is a mark of respect given only to kings, you know. I doubt if Jaltor would approve of your appropriating it to your own use." * * * * * The other's blue-gray eyes seemed to film over. "Kings have been known to die, noble Heglar--and at times the ranking nobleman takes his place. One must prepare for every possibility." "Even to having one's guards form the habit of saying Most-High, eh?"