"
"The king defies me, the high priest of Jad-ben-Otho?" cried Lu-don.
"It is the king's command--I have spoken," snapped Ja-don, in whose
manner was no sign of either fear or respect for the priest.
Lu-don well knew why the king had chosen this messenger whose heresy
was notorious, but whose power had as yet protected him from the
machinations of the priest. Lu-don cast a surreptitious glance
at the thongs hanging from the ceiling. Why not? If he could but
maneuver to entice Ja-don to the opposite side of the chamber!
"Come," he said in a conciliatory tone, "let us discuss the matter,"
and moved toward the spot where he would have Ja-don follow him.
"There is nothing to discuss," replied Ja-don, yet he followed the
priest, fearing treachery.
Jane watched them. In the face and figure of the warrior she found
reflected those admirable traits of courage and honor that the
profession of arms best develops. In the hypocritical priest there
was no redeeming quality. Of the two then she might best choose
the warrior. With him there was a chance--with Lu-don, none. Even
the very process of exchange from one prison to another might offer
some possibility of escape. She weighed all these things and decided,
for Lu-don's quick glance at the thongs had not gone unnoticed nor
uninterpreted by her.
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