Fifteen minutes of this was enough to satisfy him he was beyond any territory Gerdak's warriors would reach before dawn. The search would go on, of course, until Roban, dead or alive, was found; for he was son of a chief and not lightly to be abandoned.
Near the pinnacle of a towering tree Tharn lowered his two passengers to adjoining branches. While Trakor watched, he removed Roban's gag, after warning him to utter no outcry on pain of instant death. The youth nodded violently in agreement, and for a moment he was unable to speak so cramped were his jaws.
Tharn glanced to where Trakor sat, an interested spectator to Roban's discomfiture. "This is the chief's son?"
Trakor nodded. "He is Roban."
Tharn turned his sharp eyes to the captive, who was glowering at him in mingled fear and hatred, and said:
"A few suns ago you saw a party of Ammadians scaling the cliffs near your caves. Exactly where was this?"
Roban scowled unpleasantly. "I don't know what you are talking about."
"You know well enough. Answer me or die!"
"You would not dare kill me," Roban blustered. "I am Gerdak's son. Unless you let me go at once he will come with many warriors and hunt you down. He will kill you, but not quickly. First he will take his knife and...."
He broke off suddenly, gasping as Tharn's fingers bit into his skinny shoulder. "I, too, can use a knife! Answer my questions quickly or I will prove it to you!"