"Well ..." he prompted.
Nada looked at him searchingly. Since Dylara had been taken from the room over three hours ago her concern for the girl's safety had steadily grown. She was convinced Urim had not sent for Dylara, but realized she was powerless to act in her aid.
Why Tamar had come here puzzled her; but he might be of assistance in clearing up the mystery surrounding Dylara's absence.
"What do you want of Dylara, noble Tamar?" she asked.
Tamar showed his surprise. "You know me, then?"
Nada smiled. "There is not a slave in the palace who does not know of you and your two friends."
Tamar hesitated. Something told him he would lose nothing in being frank with this woman. And there was something amiss here; Dylara's absence and this woman's concern made that evident.
"I can think of no reason why you should not know," he said. "You see, my friend Jotan has the mad idea he is in love with this Dylara. I have tried to make him see that one in his position cannot mate with a barbarian; but he will not listen. He means to ask Urim for her tonight. I came here to talk to the girl—to make her understand she could never be happy as the mate of a man so far above her. If she promises to have nothing to do with my friend, I will promise to arrange for her freedom, to return her to her own people."
It took an effort for Nada to repress a smile. "Does anyone else," she asked, "want to keep Jotan from having her?"
"Not that I know of," Tamar said, puzzled by the question. "Why do you ask?"