Croft smiled.
Naia approached. Her face was devoid of color—as white as though the bullet had pierced her heart instead of the body of the unknowing sacrifice to developing science, now lying in swift dissolution beside the lake. Slowly she put forth a finger and touched the shining thing in Croft's hands. "This is the new weapon?" she said in a sibilant whisper, and lifted her face to his.
"Aye. And having shown Lakkon its power, I must return to Himyra." Croft turned toward the car. He hoped she would understand his abruptness, since after Lakkon's words he was afraid to meet the glance of her eyes.
"Return?" she cried protestingly. "Must you go so soon, my lord?"
"The need presses," Lakkon cut in. "Lord Jasor came but to show us the last fruits of his wonderful knowledge. I called you to witness the test. You need not remain."
"You see," he went on as Naia turned with a quivering lip and slowly mounted the stairs.
"What?" Croft met him eye to eye.
"That my daughter is a woman, Jasor of Nodhur, and that your name is a word on every tongue in Aphur, and that the princess is pledged to Cathur."
"Who will foreswear his pledge," Croft interrupted, knowing Jadgor must have told the counselor what they had discussed.
"If your words be true?"