“He lives!” she gasped. “Or he lived. Where is the messenger?”
As she spoke the words a guard appeared escorting an officer who was travel-stained and weary.
“One who craves audience with you, Prince Abeshu, and at once,” said the leader of the guard.
Tau looked at the officer and knew him again. It was he whom the King had sent from Babylon to search for the missing outpost.
“Your report,” he said, and waited with fear in his heart.
“Prince,” answered the man, saluting, “we won through to the outpost and found all well there, since it is so strongly placed that the Shepherd skirmishers have not dared attack. Also we found those travellers who were missing.”
Again Nefra paled and leaned against the chariot, for she could not speak.
“What of them?” asked Tau.
“Prince, the priest is well. Four brethren who travelled with them were slain one by one in a certain pass; they died nobly defending those in their charge. The lord whose name is not spoken, who escaped with the priest, is still sick, that is, he is wounded in the left knee and the wound runs. He cannot walk, and though now it is believed that his leg will be saved, always he must be lame, for the knee is stiff.”
“Did you see him?” asked Tau.