There was something behind all this that did not meet the eye. Had the would-be assassin been anyone other than old Heglar he would have dismissed his involvement of Garlud as a trumped up lie and executed the man on the spot. Had Heglar lied? Was there some motivation so strong that the old man had been forced into bearing false witness against one of the most loved noblemen in all Ammad? Was all this some intricate plot, with Garlud instead of Jaltor as the real victim? Jaltor, stern, ruthless and high-handed though he was, was a man with ideals and a strong sense of honor. Also, he was extremely intelligent and a veteran of the machinations of intrigue. The more he thought about this whole business the more certain he was that all the facts were not yet revealed. For a long time he stood there on the small balcony, staring out over Ammad with unseeing eyes. After a while a slow smile came to his strong lips and he nodded his head a time or two in satisfaction. There was a way.... Leaving the balcony he strode quickly to the room's single door and threw it wide. "Quick!" he snapped to one of the startled slaves, "tell Curzad I want him here at once!" When the captain of the guards, as alert and bright-eyed as though he had not been dragged from a sound sleep by Jaltor's summons, appeared in the doorway the king bade him enter and close the door. "Curzad," he said, "you have known the noble Garlud almost as long as I have. Does it seem likely to you that he would be mixed up in a plot to kill me?" The iron-faced warrior shook his head impassively. "No, Most-High. His love and respect for you are beyond doubt." "You think I acted unwisely in finding him guilty?" "That is not for me to say, Most-High." "I _know_ that! But you are not made of stone; you must have formed some opinion." "It is not wise to hold an opinion which differs from that of Ammad's king." * * * * * Jaltor gestured with sharp impatience. "This is man to man, Curzad. Give me your honest impressions of this affair." "If you command it, Most-High. I do not believe the noble Garlud had anything to do with old Heglar's attempt to knife you. I think the old one hated Garlud for some reason and named him because of that hatred." "But you knew Heglar's reputation as a completely truthful man?" "I do not say he would lie for another's purpose. But for his own ... that is a different matter." "But he did not give Garlud's name willingly, Curzad. Only after prolonged torture could we wrest the name from his lips." The captain shrugged. "Would you for even a moment have believed him otherwise. Old Heglar was no fool, Most-High. Were his motive strong enough for bringing ruin to Garlud he would have planned it exactly that way. An accusation lightly given is usually lightly taken."