"Aye."
"Thou comest to Himyra, why?"
"To assist the State—to safeguard Tamarizia from the designs of Zollaria perhaps."
"Hold!" Magur cried. "What know ye of Zollaria's plans?"
"Zollaria desires Cathur and plots the downfall of Tamarizia, Priest of Zitu. Think that I bring no knowledge to my task?"
"Yet, were you Jasor indeed, thou mightest know somewhat of Zollaria's plans to some extent," said the priest.
"And Jasor was a dullard, as the schools of Scira will declare," Croft flashed back. "Let my works show whether I stand a fool or not."
"Thy works?" Magur inquired.
"Aye—those I shall do in Tamarizia's name. The first shall be one which shall span the desert twenty times as quickly as the sarpelca caravan—or drive a boat without sails or oars, or propel a carriage without any gnuppa, and so haul ten times the load."
"Thou canst do this?" Magur laid the tablets on the lap of his robe and sat staring at the man who spoke such words.