"He may be an animated grease-pot for all I care if he will make me his Jeddara," said Sanoma Tora.
"Then there is no hope for me?" I asked.
"Not while you have so little to offer, Padwar," she replied.
It was then that a slave announced Sil Vagis, and I took my leave. I had never before plumbed such depths of despondency as that which engulfed me as I made my unhappy way back to my quarters, but even though hope seemed dead I had not relinquished my determination to win her. If wealth and power were her price, then I would achieve wealth and power. Just how I was going to accomplish it was not entirely clear, but I was young and to youth all things are possible.
I had tossed in wakefulness upon my sleeping silks and furs for some time when an officer of the guard burst suddenly into my quarters.
"Hadron!" he shouted, "are you here?"
"Yes," I replied.
"Praised be the ashes of my ancestors!" he exclaimed. "I feared that you were not."
"Why should I not be?" I demanded. "What is this all about?"
"Tor Hatan, the fat old treasure bag, is gone mad," he exclaimed.