"You will not save me then?" she asked.
"If you were in Ja-lur," he replied, "I might protect you, even
against the king."
"What and where is Ja-lur?" she asked, grasping at any straw.
"It is the city where I rule," he answered. "I am chief there and
of all the valley beyond."
"Where is it?" she insisted, and "is it far?"
"No," he replied, smiling, "it is not far, but do not think of
that--you could never reach it. There are too many to pursue and
capture you. If you wish to know, however, it lies up the river that
empties into Jad-ben-lul whose waters kiss the walls of A-lur--up
the western fork it lies with water upon three sides. Impregnable
city of Pal-ul-don--alone of all the cities it has never been entered
by a foeman since it was built there while Jad-ben-Otho was a boy."
"And there I would be safe?" she asked.
"Perhaps," he replied.
Ah, dead Hope; upon what slender provocation would you seek to glow
again! She sighed and shook her head, realizing the inutility of
Hope--yet the tempting bait dangled before her mind's eye--Ja-lur!
"You are wise," commented Ja-don interpreting her sigh. "Come now,
we will go to the quarters of the princess beside the Forbidden
Garden. There you will remain with O-lo-a, the king's daughter. It
will be better than this prison you have occupied.
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