“It is O-Tar’s wish,” explained U-Dor to this one, “that she be kept until the next games, when the prisoners and the common warriors shall play for her.  Had she not the tongue of a thoat she had been a worthy stake for our noblest steel,” and U-Dor sighed.  “Perhaps even yet I may win a pardon for her.  It were too bad to see such beauty fall to the lot of some common fellow.  I would have honored her myself.”

“If I am to be imprisoned, imprison me,” said the girl.  “I do not recall that I was sentenced to listen to the insults of every low-born boor who chanced to admire me.”

“You see, A-Kor,” cried U-Dor, “the tongue that she has.  Even so and worse spoke she to O-Tar the jeddak.”

“I see,” replied A-Kor, whom Tara saw was with difficulty restraining a smile.  “Come, then, with me, woman,” he said, “and we shall find a safe place within The Towers of Jetan—­but stay! what ails thee?”

The girl had staggered and would have fallen had not the man caught her in his arms.  She seemed to gather herself then and bravely sought to stand erect without support.  A-Kor glanced at U-Dor.  “Knew you the woman was ill?” he asked.

“Possibly it is lack of food,” replied the other.  “She mentioned, I believe, that she and her companions had not eaten for several days.”

“Brave are the warriors of O-Tar,” sneered A-Kor; “lavish their hospitality.  U-Dor, whose riches are uncounted, and the brave O-Tar, whose squealing thoats are stabled within marble halls and fed from troughs of gold, can spare no crust to feed a starving girl.”

The black haired U-Dor scowled.  “Thy tongue will yet pierce thy heart, son of a slave!” he cried.  “Once too often mayst thus try the patience of the just O-Tar.  Hereafter guard thy speech as well as thy towers.”

“Think not to taunt me with my mother’s state,” said A-Kor. “’Tis the blood of the slave woman that fills my veins with pride, and my only shame is that I am also the son of thy jeddak.”

“And O-Tar heard this?” queried U-Dor.

“O-Tar has already heard it from my own lips,” replied A-Kor; “this, and more.”

He turned upon his heel, a supporting arm still around the waist of Tara of Helium and thus he half led, half carried her into The Towers of Jetan, while U-Dor wheeled his thoat and galloped back in the direction of the palace.

Within the main entrance to The Tower of Jetan lolled a half-dozen warriors.  To one of these spoke A-Kor, keeper of the towers.  “Fetch Lan-O, the slave girl, and bid her bring food and drink to the upper level of the Thurian tower,” then he lifted the half-fainting girl in his arms and bore her along the spiral, inclined runway that led upward within the tower.