But Lu-don could still use him and so he let him live and sent word
to him to come to A-lur with all his warriors, for it was rumored
that Ja-don was raising a great army in the north and might soon
march upon the City of Light.
Obergatz thoroughly enjoyed being a god. Plenty of food and peace
of mind and rest partially brought back to him the reason that
had been so rapidly slipping from him; but in one respect he was
madder than ever, since now no power on earth would ever be able to
convince him that he was not a god. Slaves were put at his disposal
and these he ordered about in godly fashion. The same portion of
his naturally cruel mind met upon common ground the mind of Lu-don,
so that the two seemed always in accord. The high priest saw in the
stranger a mighty force wherewith to hold forever his power over
all Pal-ul-don and thus the future of Obergatz was assured so long
as he cared to play god to Lu-don's high priest.
A throne was erected in the main temple court before the eastern
altar where Jad-ben-Otho might sit in person and behold the sacrifices
that were offered up to him there each day at sunset. So much did
the cruel, half-crazed mind enjoy these spectacles that at times
he even insisted upon wielding the sacrificial knife himself and
upon such occasions the priests and the people fell upon their
faces in awe of the dread deity.
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