"Trephor?" Lehnar pleaded with her father. "Do not hurt these two men."
"I cannot permit them to live, Lehnar. They are dangerous and they are men. They lie like demons and would sooner cut out your heart than to give you a nice greeting."
"But one pleases me, father." said Lehnar.
"Which, my dearest — the young king or his faithful teacher?"
"Young king?" Lehnar was astonished by what she heard.
"Yes, Lehnar. That young man is a king. He is called Boyce Loebh. He carries himself like a powerful leader, and that older one — he is a brilliant man, but not a scholar. The Bartletts are leaders in Besten — not students of knowledge." he told her.
"Bartlett pleases me, my dear parent. Will you spare him for me?"
"I will give him to you my sweet daughter. My designs are for the young king — that one possessed this remarkable weapon!"
Trephor took from his lynx wrap a small device. It was Boyce's laser gun. He turned to Lehnar and showed it to her.
"Scholars do not carry such things on lengthy journeys. They just use their minds to defend themselves."