"He was flogged, wasn't he?" howled Texel, his eyes two abysses of anguish.
"Flogged before I—"
Texel spat at him, and Tyr quivered and his hands came up. Sadly, he let them fall again. Force would accomplish nothing. And a god must be understanding.
"I freed Zarman and the others as they were being taken through the streets," he said patiently. "As for Katha, she is a biologist of the ardth."
"You were alone with her," Fay muttered sullenly. "Otho saw you kissing her."
"Otho! So that is where you get your news."
"The talking trees, the silver ones," said Gaarn between toothless lips. "They pick up subsonic messages. That was how we heard."
"And of course, you believe. It matters not that the ardth appointed Otho in place of Zarman. Take his word to mine. It was Otho that sent the messages out, wasn't it?"
"Yes," said a woman.
"Otho wants me as a captive. So do the ardth. Otho hopes that you will turn me in. There will be a reward for me. That is why he sent out that message. He wants to turn the Trylla against me."