Lead them into the temple by the secret way that only the priests
know and from here we may spew them out upon the palace before they
learn the truth. Go, Pan-sat, immediately--delay not an instant."
"But stay," he called as the under priest turned to leave the
apartment; "saw or heard you anything of the strange white woman
that Ja-don stole from the Temple of the Gryf where we have had
her imprisoned?"
"Only that Ja-don took her into the palace where he threatened the
priests with violence if they did not permit him to pass," replied
Pan-sat. "This they told me, but where within the palace she is
hidden I know not."
"Ko-tan ordered her to the Forbidden Garden," said Lu-don, "doubtless
we shall find her there. And now, Pan-sat, be upon your errand."
In a corridor by Lu-don's chamber a hideously masked priest leaned
close to the curtained aperture that led within. Were he listening
he must have heard all that passed between Pan-sat and the high priest,
and that he had listened was evidenced by his hasty withdrawal to
the shadows of a nearby passage as the lesser priest moved across
the chamber toward the doorway. Pan-sat went his way in ignorance
of the near presence that he almost brushed against as he hurried
toward the secret passage that leads from the temple of Jad-ben-Otho,
far beneath the palace, to the city beyond, nor did he sense the
silent creature following in his footsteps.
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