The Cath was pushed rudely forward, his chains jangling over the soft music as the musicians played on, paying no heed to the grisly tableau being enacted so near them.
The Khad leered at both Blade and the Cath. 'You have seen this man before, Blade?'
'Never.' More truth. The Cath was wearing the Mong leather armor, with markings of a subchief. His lemony skin had been darkened, the dye now wearing off, and some shreds of dark beard still clung to his face. They had cut the beard off a dead Mong and pasted it on this man in an effort at disguise.
The Khad turned to the Cath and pointed to Blade. 'You have seen this man before, Cath?'
The Cath gazed at Blade without expression. 'I have seen him. He is the great Sir Blade, Courier-Chief from Pukka. He slew your champion in fair battle and was taken when his horse threw him. Because of treachery, I was sent to speak with him and plan his escape. I have never spoken with him.'
The Cath had given up. He was plunging to his own destruction, yet he was trying to save Blade - and himself, as Blade found out a moment later.
'I have spoken the truth,' the Cath went on, 'for which I was promised an easy death.'
The Khad's eye rolled and glittered. 'I made no such promise.'
'Your men did, when I was being tortured.' The Cath was standing slim and tall, but he had begun to sweat. Blade's heart went out to him. He would not have an easy death.
Sadda leaned toward the Khad, her eyes on Blade.
'You have seen, brother, and you have heard. Blade has not been plotting to escape, so give him back to me unharmed. I still have use for him.'
The Khad went into a roar of manic laughter. He slapped his chest and the tears welled from his eye. 'I know, sister. I know! He must please you greatly, by Obi! And so I will not judge him. Not I. I will let my horse judge him. Bring my Thunderer to me. He shall decide.'
Blade got it immediately and did not dare look at Morpho. So he was to be judged by a horse!
If the dwarf, who was a fool but no fool, meant to play him false now was the time for it.
Thunderer was led into the tent. The stallion was as shaggy as the other Mong ponies, but much larger. He was docile and the music did not appear to disturb him. Blade guessed that it was not the first time the Khad played such a joke.
A black slave took the reins and led Thunderer to the dais. The Khad, reaching painfully, stroked the animal's velvety muzzle for a moment and his voice softened.
'You will answer my questions, old war friend. First about the Cath. Is he guilty of spying?'
Blade watched carefully. The black made a slight movement and the reins twitched. Thunderer nodded. The dwarf's lips did not move at all.
'The Cath is guilty,' said the horse. Blade was amazed and puzzled. Not at the ventriloquism but at the art of it. He had never heard a horse talk, but if a horse could talk he would, Blade thought, have spoken exactly as Thunderer did.
The Khad laughed' like a child. 'I agree with you, Thunderer. And we know the punishment is death - but shall it be swift and easy? Or cruel? On this, Thunderer, I will follow your advice.'
Blade, who had great empathy, found himself holding his breath. But what could the little fool do? Only, of course, what the Khad expected and wanted him to do!
Thunderer spoke again. 'He must die a cruel death, master. He is a confessed spy and must suffer for it.'
Blade risked a sidelong glance at the dwarf. Morpho, spinning his colored balls, stared back with his deathly grin.
The Khad pointed at Blade. 'And this one, Thunderer? What of this one? Is he so innocent as he claims, and as my good sister claims?'
The horse was silent. The brightly colored balls twirled in the air. The black did not twitch the reins, waiting for his cue.
'Blade is not a fool,' the horse said. 'He is innocent of this thing. He waits, though not patiently, for the ransom that will free him. In all this your sister speaks truth, great Khad. Let Blade not be punished for that he did not do.'
The Khad turned sideways to leer at Sadda. 'My Thunderer agrees with you, little sister. I find that interesting. Have you been feeding him sweets on the sly?'
Sadda joined in the laugh. Her dark eyes glowed at Blade. 'You are wise, brother, to listen to Thunderer. The horse may be wiser than both of us.'
The Khad raised a hand. 'Blade is not guilty. I return him to Sadda to be slave as before. Let the Cath be taken to the execution place at once. Summon all who do not have pressing duties to attend.' The doomed Cath was dragged to his feet and led out.
Blade, no longer a prisoner, accompanied Sadda to her apartment, walking a few paces behind her as befitted a slave. She had women with her, but as they drew near the big tent she waved them aside and fell back to speak with him.
'That was too near a thing,' she said. She studied him over the veil. 'I do not understand why I try so hard to keep you alive, Blade.'
He allowed himself a smirk that was in character. 'Because I please you, my lady?'
'Perhaps. But you will cease to please me if I find you in more trouble.'
'The trouble was not of my making, my lady.'
'That is true - this time. And it puzzles me why Rahstum was so insistent that you be questioned. Rahstum himself puzzles me a great deal.'
