WHEN THE TABLES WERE TURNED
And when night came down once more on Scira he was ready. Once he had
ventured forth, gone to the harbor, in seeming a priest, and conferred
with the captain of his ship, telling him to be prepared to sail on the
word that night.
Back in the pyramid he waited Abbu's coming with what patience he
could. The monk came about noon. "All things are ready, my lord, so far
as time permits," he made his report.
"You saw the maid?"
"Aye."
"And what said she?"
"At first she was amazed, bewildered, I think, as was her father whom
she summoned after I had told my tale, that I might relate it again
to his ears. That was after I said to her the words you told me to
repeat. Hearing them, she believed and called Prince Lakkon at once.
His anger was great. He was for carrying the thing to Kyphallos himself
and compelling him to admit or deny. But--both the maid and I prevailed
upon him to see that by so doing he would destroy not only himself but
her. In the end they agreed to summon me to the palace as soon as it
fell dark."
"That is well," said Croft. "The rest is prepared."
"The driver and the standard, aye. I shall give you the robe before you
depart."
"You shall live to receive your reward," said Croft. "Now we have
naught to do save wait."
And waiting proved the hardest part as the day dragged past. Of the
adventure of the evening he had no fear. In fact he chafed to be at
it as a restive horse frets at restraint. Never had the hours of a
single day seemed so long in their course. He marked mid-afternoon,
and watched the lowering sun. He welcomed evening and the creeping
twilight. Dusk was a boon to give thanks for, and yet he raged because
dusk having fallen, Naia did not send for Abbu the monk.
Yet in the end Abbu appeared before him and whispered that the time
was come--that a chariot from the palace waited without the pyramid.
He carried a tightly rolled package in his hands and gave it to Croft.
"The robe, my lord," he declared. "Zitu aid you in its use."
"Zitu reward you, as I shall see you rewarded in a time to come," Croft
told him, donning his own robe and thrusting the other beneath it.
"Farewell for the present, Abbu. Your service is done."
Leaving the pyramid he entered the chariot sent to fetch him and rode
swiftly to the palace. Once as he noted his driver he smiled as he
imagined the man's consternation could he dream who his passenger was
despite his priestly seeming and the final results of this drive. But
he spoke no word while they threaded the streets or when the chariot
pausing, he descended, passed inside the palace, and was led by a page
to the Princess Naia's door.
That door he entered, and for the first time in months found himself in
the presence of the woman he loved.
She rose and stood before him. "I have done as I promised my father,
what more must I do?" he heard her sweet-toned voice.
"Aye, what more have you to tell us, Abbu, you could not tell us
before?" asked Lakkon, rising from a couch placed farther back from the
door.
Croft threw off his enveloping cowl and robe. He stood before them, his
cuirass with the sun of Aphur shining on its metal breast, sending a
sparkle of light through the room. "Not Abbu this time, Prince Lakkon,"
he said.
"Jasor!" Naia's eyes went wide. She started back a pace while her color
faded swiftly, and she lifted her hand to her breast.
"Jasor of Nodhur, by Zitu!" Lakkon cried. "Come, my lord, what means
this priestly disguise?"
"Life--for yourself--life and honor for your daughter, as I hope, since
I know she would not live without the latter," Croft returned. "Hark
you, Lakkon of Aphur. You are a man with a sword at your belt. Tell me
is your daughter's serving-maid, Maia, of your party here?"
"Aye," Lakkon returned, visibly impressed by Croft's presence and
bearing. "Yet--"
"Enough," Croft cut him short. "Here is an extra robe of a priest. Let
the princess and Maia don them and pass out of the palace doors. You
and I shall walk forth together. To any who seek to stay us, I am your
friend. I wear Aphur's arms. Let them stop two nobles of Aphur at their
peril. Without the palace, the princess and the maid will turn to the
right and walk down the street toward the harbor which is by happy
chance toward the Scira pyramid. We shall overtake them. We shall enter
a carriage and drive to the harbor and leave this nest of treason. Abbu
has told before this what is planned."
"Aye--but--" Lakkon stammered.
"I shall prove his words true," Croft flashed. "Summon Maia quickly
lest something intervenes."
"Father--do as my lord advises." Naia laid a hand on Lakkon's arm.
"By Zitu--I like it not, yet--if it be for your safety. Were it
not--were it for myself alone--summon your maid." Jadgor's counselor
yielded to her plea.
The thing was so simple, indeed, that it made Croft smile. Inside five
minutes the two women were prepared. Naia's wealth of hair was lost
beneath the cowl. Croft opened the door and they sallied forth.
"Be of good heart," he found means to whisper into Naia's ear. "You see
I did not forget, O maid of gold."
His reward was a quiet smile and a deep glance out of her eyes. Then
she was gone, a monk seeming, with Maia at her side. Croft felt sure of
their escape. Priests were no unusual sight about the palaces of the
Tamarizian states. He doubted they would be questioned, even though two
went out where one had come in.
Hence he waited with the frowning Lakkon until some five minutes had
passed. Then opening the door he strode forth and turned down toward
the palace doors. Beside him Lakkon stalked in silence. "Talk to
me--seem to converse for the sake of your daughter at least," Croft
urged.
Lakkon complied. In seemingly friendly converse they progressed. They
reached the portals giving on the entrance court and passed the guards
the more easily, perhaps, since none there as yet suspected what
Kyphallos really planned, and so were not on guard against any act of
the father of Cathur's queen-to-be, or some Aphurian friend of his, who
wore the sun of Aphur in silver shining on his breast.
Thus what might have proved difficult, proved easy. They left the
court, overtook the women, led them to the carriage and drove swiftly
to Croft's ship. There he paid and dismissed the driver and took his
passengers aboard. Only when his sailors cast off the moorings did
comment arise at his acts. Then a harbor guard appeared and questioned
the proceeding. And by then Croft was once more a priest, while Maia
had resumed her natural part. And the priest explained he must return
to Himyra quickly. The guard saluted and withdrew with the monk's
commendation of his attention to duty. The ship left the quay. It
passed the harbor gates and floated free. Croft heaved a sigh of
relief.
* * * * *
"On the fifth day you and your daughter would have journeyed to
Anthra," he turned to Lakkon to say. "Midway you would have been met by
Bzad of Mazzer and your vessel rammed. Death for yourself and dishonor
for your child would have swiftly followed. Lakkon of Aphur, I told you
I would prove my words true, and I will. We shall meet this galley of
the Mazzerian's midway to Anthra on the fifth day."
Lakkon beat the planks of the deck with his foot. "Jasor of Nodhur, you
are a bold man," he said. "You seem to have faith in your words. Yet
should you fail to prove them, I think I shall have your head."
"Then take mine with it, father," Naia who had approached unseen by
either man burst forth. "Once before has Jasor saved our lives. Now
saves he our lives and that which I prize higher still. You are hard to
persuade, if you call him not son in the end."
"Ah--fall it so!" Lakkon turned upon her. "To your quarters, girl. Is
it seemly for her who values honor so highly, to offer herself to a
man?"
"To the one man, yes," she retorted, turning to go below. "Between him
and her is no question of honor, nor of aught, save love. To that man
she belongs, nor will yield to any other while Zitu gives her breath."
"Azil, Giver of Life, and Ga, the Virgin!" Lakkon swore.
"Peace!" Croft's hand fell on his arm. His heart was singing in his
breast at Naia's words. "Hold, Lakkon. Let me prove my words true."
And now Croft carried out the change he had made in his plans. All
the succeeding day he sailed in circles, drawing nearer and nearer to
Anthra rather than to Zitra. He lay to at night, keeping no more than
headway on the ship.
Just what Kyphallos might think when he found his affianced princess
flown he did not know, but he smiled more than once as he fancied
a pretty to-do in Scira, and a somewhat confused rage in the young
reprobate's mind. For indeed as he saw it Kyphallos must sense himself
in a rather precarious plight. His hostage to Bzad was gone. As yet
there was no war. He might hardly send word to Aphur, that their
princess and Lakkon were gone he knew not where. He must find it an
embarrassing thing to explain the incident to Zollaria as well--a hard
thing to make them swallow. A thing which might very well shake their
confidence in himself.
Indeed, as Croft saw it, Kyphallos would put off the explanation so
long as he might, hoping to find some trace of the Aphurians themselves
and thereby obviate any necessity of explaining anything at all.
Yes, Croft chuckled to himself, Kyphallos was in something of a fix.
Probably, though, failing to find his escaped guests the first day, he
would go in person to meet Bzad. That must be foreseen. Hence it were
best for Croft to be ready with his arms. He got them out and saw them
loaded--and since he had chosen a war galley for his trip north, he
had men aboard he had already trained in their use. He distributed the
weapons to a selected number and was ready for what might occur.
Lakkon saw the rifles in the hands of the men and questioned concerning
it at once. Croft, nothing loath, explained the entire situation as
he viewed it. "You have asked proof, and proof I intend to give you,
Prince Lakkon," he declared.
Lakkon's face grew grave. "Indeed, I think you believe all you say, my
lord," he replied. "What do you intend?"
"To meet Bzad close to Aphur," Croft explained. "To hang forth the
standard of Cathur. To lure him close, and give you proof of what I
have said from the man's own mouth."
For so he had planned and was bent on carrying out. The morning of the
fifth day found him therefore close to Anthra--yet not too close.
Before its shores were more than a faint blur on the horizon the
lookout reported a galley heading west.
Croft called Lakkon and bade him stand beside him on the deck. He
directed the standard of Cathur hung from the stern and ordered the
speed of the engines increased. The galley surged toward the meeting at
top speed. And the other galley came on.
"She will sail very close," said Croft.
Lakkon frowned.
"At the last I am supposed to give a wrong order," Croft spoke again.
"My helmsman knows his duty. We shall crush her near bank of oars."
* * * * *
The two ships drew nearer still. Croft fancied Bzad would be surprised
at their speed, but--Cathur's standard rippled in the breeze. He would
think everything well.
Closer and closer. Croft raised his hand. Two sailors sprang to the
rail in the waist. They carried grappling hooks attached to ropes.
Closer still--
Croft dropped his hand. The bow of his galley veered.
Crash! The near bank of oars snapped like straws. The vessels ground
together. The men in the waist cast their hooks and lashed all fast.
Bzad appeared on the after-deck. His face was dark, yet he seemed not
yet to comprehend the full bearing of what had occurred. Lakkon was
in full sight of the Cathurian galley, and Lakkon he knew was to be
aboard. Kyphallos was not visible, but another man in armor was by
Lakkon's side.
Bzad lifted his voice. "What means this?" he cried.
"There has been a change of plan," Croft returned.
"A change of plan!" the Mazzerian repeated. "Yes, a change of plan
indeed it would seem, when you crash into my side and destroy my oars
instead of crossing my bows as 'twas arranged. Still, small matter. I
have others. Where is the maid?"
"Below," said Croft, sensing Lakkon stiffen at his side. "Do you wish
her still?"
"Do I wish her? Adita, goddess of beauty, was she not promised me for
myself as a part of the price?" Bzad roared.
Again Croft lifted an arm. Men appeared with rifles in their hands.
"Then if so be you wish her, come and take her, aid of Zollaria and man
of an unclean tribe. If you wish her, come and take her from a ship of
Aphur, Bzad."
And now the Mazzerian understood at last. He started back and raised
his voice: "Aboard them--strike, slay! We are betrayed. Let none live
save the maid of the yellow hair!"
His men were no cowards. They rallied to his cry. Seizing weapons they
hurled themselves toward the close lashed rails.
"Fire," said Croft, as an arrow whistled between himself and Lakkon.
His men responded with a will. This was the first trial of the new
weapon in actual war. They fired and loaded and fired again. On board
Bzad's vessel men fell. They slumped to the deck or toppled back from
the rail which they had reached.
Bzad appeared among them. He was beside himself with rage. He sprang
on the rail. A sailor fired pointblank in his face and missed him. He
reached the deck and charged with drawn sword toward Lakkon and Croft.
With a strange tingle running through his entire body, Croft drew his
own sword and set himself before Aphur's prince. And then, before they
could come together, Bzad staggered and fell. The sailor had not missed
his second shot.
Bzad struggled for a moment. He forced himself halfway up and sank
back. His limbs twitched oddly for a moment, and he died.
Beyond him the deck of his own craft was a shambles. Men lay on Croft's
deck as well, some of them his, more of them Bzad's, of whom no more
than six survived out of a possible score. Of Croft's none had been
killed and the whole affair had taken no more than five minutes from
beginning to end.
Croft's voice boomed forth. "Overboard with the dead. Bind the
remaining men and take them with us. Board the galley and sink it. We
shall leave no trace of this."
Then as his men sprang laughing to do his bidding he turned to where
Lakkon stood by the body of Bzad. "Will you go below and reassure your
daughter, Prince Lakkon?" he said.
"Come--we will go together," Jadgor's brother-in-law replied.
Croft complied. The two men went below. They entered the quarters where
Naia sought to look from a tiny port, and Maia crouched in a corner as
far from the opening as she might.
"Come, my child," said Aphur's prince; and as she advanced slowly
toward himself and Croft, stretched out his hand for hers.
"Behold your lord," he went on and laid her hand in Croft's. "To him
shall you be given by Magur himself, when this thing is ended. In the
mean time shall you lie with the Virgins at Zitra, even as he has
decreed."
Naia flushed. A soft color dyed her face and perfect throat. She
lowered her eyes, and suddenly throwing all reticence aside, she lifted
her arms and laid them about Croft's neck and raised her lips to his.
"Ah!" exclaimed Lakkon somewhat aghast. "Naught can keep you from her
now with honor, Jasor of Nodhur--my son."
"Nothing shall keep me from her save death," Croft told him and held
her very close.
And lying against him, Naia turned her head. Her eyes were glowing
with the light of a sacred fire. But she laughed. "My father--you have
called him son," she reminded. "Recall that I said you should."
"I ask no better privilege, my son and daughter," Lakkon yielded with a
smile. "Zitu himself knows I liked not the other arrangement. He knows
this pleases me well."
The captain tapped on the door. He reported the Mazzerian's galley
sinking, and the decks as cleared.
Two minutes later, Croft's vessel was headed for Zitra south by east.
Behind was an empty sea. If Kyphallos had started a galley to inform
Bzad of what had occurred at Scira, it was apt to search long and
vainly for him it was meant to meet.