Jotan rose and tossed the knife aside. "Get some water," he said. "One treatment like that should be enough."
They removed the gag from the unconscious man's mouth and doused water in his face. After a moment he groaned weakly and opened his eyes.
"Where is Dylara?" Jotan asked, for the third time.
Words came spilling out. "I—I'll tell you. Don't burn me again. I can't stand it. I'll talk. We took her—Meltor and I. Meltor made me help him take her. He said Alurna told him to do it."
"Alurna?" Jotan was astonished. "What had she to do with it?"
"She wanted it done. Meltor said she ordered him to take the girl to the house of Rydob outside Sephar. He was to take her there and kill her, then hide the body so no one would know what had happened to her."
Jotan paled. "Where is this house of Rydob?"
Fordak gave directions. When he had finished, Jotan said: "Tamar, get three or four of our men and meet Javan and me at the Gate of the Setting Sun. Hurry!"
Tamar went out.
"Get our weapons together, Javan," Jotan ordered. "We'll meet the others at the gate."