"It is true that I spoke with him this morning," Garlud said slowly. "We did not talk for long, nor were we 'guarded' about it." "I see!" Jaltor's tone was triumphant. "And what did the two of you talk about?" "He sought me out as I entered the room on my way to the audience chamber. He drew me into a corner and asked if I had had word from Jotan, my son, recently. I told him I had not, but that I expected him to return within half a moon, perhaps even sooner." Understanding dawned suddenly in Garlud's face and he added: "I wondered then why he drew me aside to ask the question, but at the time I thought little about it." "And now?" Jaltor urged mockingly. "I am beginning to see he had a reason of his own." "You deny any part in the plot to kill me?" "I do." "But you knew there was such an attempt made this afternoon?" "I heard some such rumor." "But," persisted Jaltor, "you did not think it necessary that you learn if your friend--your _brother_, as you said a moment ago--had been injured in that attempt?" "I was assured you were not even scratched," Garlud replied quietly. "Humph!" Jaltor paced up and down a time or two, his face working, the great hands opening and closing spasmodically. Abruptly he stopped in front of the other and bent until his face almost touched Garlud's. "Before you walked into this room, if anyone had asked for your opinion of Heglar what would you have said?" "That I knew him well and liked and respected him." "Would you have said he was an honorable man?" "Certainly." "Have you ever known him to tell a lie?" "Not to my knowledge." "Does he have any reason to hate you?" "None that I know of." "Have you any idea why he tried to kill me?" "None. I am completely surprised that he tried to do so." "Then why," Jaltor thundered suddenly, "did he say his attempt to kill me was engineered by _you_?" Garlud met his angry glare without visible emotion. "I can hardly be expected to answer that question, Most-High, since this is the first I have heard of such a charge." "Then Heglar lied in so naming you?" "He--is mistaken." Jaltor snorted. "Don't bandy words with me! When one man says he talked with another about killing a third, he cannot be _mistaken_. He is either telling the truth or lying. Which is it, in this case?" "If Heglar's mind was clear at the time he so accused me, then he lied!" "But my good Garlud," cried Jaltor, his reasoning tone a mockery, "you told me only a moment ago that to your knowledge Heglar is an honorable man and does not tell lies." "Then it must be," Garlud said, openly serene, "that he has started to tell them now. Either that or his mind has become affected by his disease. It is common knowledge that there is a sickness in his throat and he has only a few moons of life remaining." * * * * *