"Aye—golden woman—and marveled at thy spirit," he made answer, ere he told her what he had accomplished and gave her Lakkon's message, mentioning at the end the possible means of rescue I had suggested.
"Zitu!" Naia faltered. "It were strange indeed, were it not, if the answer to this riddle be found by our friend of earth?"
"Aye, strange," said Jason, "yet not more so than that, despite their knowledge, I stand here now before you."
"Yet he is wise," she replied, clinging closer to him, "in that he saw quickly the true meaning of the meeting between you and herself this Zollarian woman saw fit to propose. Myself have I promised throughout the night that, once you had come again to me, I would see you warned."
Croft smiled in rueful fashion. "Jadgor, too, was against it. It would seem that all perceived the motive of it, save only Jason alone."
"Ah, but"—Naia lifted a hand to lay it against his cheek—"Jason, my beloved, was overwrought."
"Aye," he confessed; "and now it appears to him that it was on that Kalamita counted to lead him into a trap."
"And will count," said Naia, "not knowing the strange power you have taught me, by which we meet."
Croft nodded. "And through which their every move may be watched. To my mind, beloved—this meeting on which she is bent at present must be brought about."
"But not by Jason!" The fires of Naia's astral body paled in swift alarm. "Not by you, beloved."