"Aye—as I tell you. Small need of your spies in Aphur to bring you word. Myself, I left a spy to find out the secret of this new car which runs itself, as I told you. Aye—Cathur, too, knows how to plan."
Croft felt a thrill of humor at the words. He knew well what had happened to Cathur's spy. He watched while Kalamita freed herself from Kyphallos's embrace and began loading herself with jewels.
"And how does Cathur plan when the cycle is run out?" she inquired at length. "What of this pledge with Aphur, then?"
"Zollaria will be ready—then," Kyphallos said.
Zollaria would be ready. The thing was plotted then, arranged. There was a full understanding between Kyphallos and the nation which had used this beautiful vampire to bait its trap.
"And if not?" she said.
"The pledge can be forsworn—and Aphur can do what she likes."
"Your father?"
"Knows not his own mind from day to day, as you yourself know. Even now he speaks of giving me the throne."
Kalamita smiled. "Yet Bzad says Naia is very fair." She narrowed her eyes.