Blade feigned doubt, though he knew that in the end he must agree. With the Izmir dead he was in a weak position. He must bide his time, play along and await developments. So he nodded.

«So far I agree. With these conditions-I am to have complete command of the armies. I will choose my own officers. I will take whatever diamonds I find as my share of the loot. Other than that, and if Hirga agrees to the marriage, I am in accord.»

Casta put the skull down. «I see no quarrel. Hirga will do as I bid her. So go now, back to the palace-city and await word from me. In the meantime you can make plans for the invasion, subject to the interruption of funeral and marriage services. I think they will not greatly hinder you?»

«No,» said Blade. «I will get on with it. Goodbye, Casta.»

The High Priest did not rise. He gave Blade a thin smile. «Goodbye. Hirga will be waiting for you. Since you are to wife her, Blade, it might be as well to pay her some attention and do as she lists. Spend some time with her and listen-she is not a fool. And think not of treachery, Blade, for I will know of it and there would be trouble and great loss to both of us. Think always that, though we are not friends, we need not be mortal enemies. Let your brain rule and not your emotions. Farewell for now.»

At the leather curtain Blade halted and looked back. «I would have a word with this Thane, the builder. I may have use for him. I will need an engineer for the Hitt invasion.»

Casta shrugged. «See him. Talk. Arrange it as you will. Goodbye, Blade.»

Hirga was waiting for him in the cavern. She took his hand and drew him into an adjacent corridor and thence to a bare cubicle in which there was only a cot. She wore only the silver trousers and atop her piled red hair sparkled the coronal. Blade sought for diamonds in it and could see none.

There was an odd smell in the cubicle. Blade could not identify it, but it was unpleasant. A burnt smell, a rotten smell, somehow an odor of feces and death and rot that yet eluded those names.

Hirga's green eyes were bold and her teeth gleamed. She took Blade's hands and placed them on her jutting breasts. «Since we are to marry we had best get acquainted.»

Blade was aroused physically but felt no real desire for her. This he accounted strange indeed for he was a sensual man. He kissed and caressed her briefly and she drew him to the cot. Her eyes were wild and out of focus and she did not lie down for him at once, but insisted on loosing his kilt and making a long study of his phallus. She fondled it and stroked and leaned closer to see it, and Blade, for the first time in his life, sensed that he was found wanting in the genital department. She did not speak of it, and when they coupled on the cot she gave every outward sign of enjoyment, but he knew. She lay on the cot and watched as he arranged his clothing and armor and buckled on his sword, and he saw discontent in the green eyes. He had not satisfied her. He could not understand it.

The foul smell was in the cubicle again and as he went to the door he saw something shining on the floor. He stooped to pick it up. It was of silvery sheen, a hard substance, leathery and pliable, and he thought it some sort of scale. A fish scale? On impulse he sniffed at it and the foul odor was there. He flung it away and glanced back at the cot. Hirga was watching him with her mouth half open, her red tongue lolling out and her eyes narrowed. She was laughing at him. She knew something that he did not, about a subject that he could not fathom. Blade stared at her.

«Something amuses you, Hirga? Tell me. Matters have not gone so well today that I could not use a laugh.»

Hirga laughed. She covered her breasts with her arms and swung her feet off the cot and smiled at him. «It is nothing, Blade. Nothing you will know of, or understand, ever. I am sorry. Goodbye, Blade. I will see you next at the marriage ceremony. Casta wishes it so. Until then goodbye.»

For the second time in half an hour he had been summarily dismissed. He nodded coldly and left the cubicle. Anger rose in him and he forced it down. He must walk carefully. He would marry her, for in that direction lay his fortunes of the moment, but he did not look forward to it.

And he rankled-never in his life had he failed to satisfy a woman, to bring her to cries of pleasure and orgasm. What had gone wrong with Hirga?

Blade scowled and shrugged it away. Matters of greater moment were afoot. There was no time to waste in vanity or in brooding over lost sexual powers. But that was just the point-he had been strong and of long duration, had used time-proven techniques, and yet Hirga had not come to climax. She had not bothered to fake and she had not reproached, but they both knew. And her knowing look at the last- what did she know? Blade cursed heartily and made himself forget it.

The tall priest waited for him by the platform. He was led out into the sunlight at the entrance where Ogier paced impatiently. He greeted Blade and scowled darkly at the priest.

«Another few minutes, Blade, and I meant to come seeking you, priests or no. I would love to put my steel into those black bellies, in any case.»

They were alone by the archway. The two priests had gone. Ogier's men lolled a little way off. Blade clapped the Captain on the shoulder.

«Listen to me, Ogier, and listen well. Then you must decide. For much has happened and I need a friend now as never before.»

He told Ogier of the interview with Casta and that the Izmir was dead. He spoke of his promised marriage to Hirga. He said nothing of the interlude in the cubicle.

Ogier, arms akimbo, stepped back a pace and surveyed Blade. His face was dark. «And you agreed to all this?»

«I had to, Ogier. I was in a weak position. I had no power to strike a better bargain.»

Ogier shook his head. «You have me. I have sworn an oath and I will bide by it. So will my men.»

«Ogier! Think, man. You and a dozen soldiers, no matter how loyal?»

«I could get other men. I am not the only soldier who hates the priests.»

«How many men, Ogier?»

The Captain scratched at his stubble. «Perhaps a thousand. Or even more.»

Blade smiled wryly. «And how many priests are there in Zir? I want a cool answer, Ogier. Forget your prejudice and anger. Give me an officer's answer.»

Ogier frowned. «At last intelligence, Casta had some ten thousand priests to his back. I admit the number. But it is of no matter. Give me a thousand good men and I will slit their throats as if they were pigeons and not black crows. Only we had best hurry before Casta can organize. Give me the word, Blade-«

Blade shook his head. «No. It is my game and I will play it my way.»

Ogier looked his disgust. «As you say. I promised the Izmir I would obey you, and I will-but you are a fool. For one thing-cannot you see why Casta sends you to invade the Hitts? To get you out of the way, and at the same time do his dirty job for him. For it is true that the Hitts are a menace to our north flank and we dare not invade elsewhere until they are pacified.»

Blade grinned at him. «That is better. That is the soldier thinking. Keep to such thoughts, Ogier, and let me worry about the plots and the intrigues. I am not a child at such matters. Now take me to this Thane.»

With his little party trailing along behind, Blade was directed to a cluster of huts nearby on the plain. In the largest of the huts he found the man called Thane and so glimpsed his first Hitt.

Thane was as tall as Blade and thicker in the chest and shoulders. His yellow hair fell to his shoulders and his eyes were wide set and an icy blue. He wore leather trousers and a vest and the hair on his bare chest was thick and as yellow as his head. He did not rise as they came into the hut. There was a cup on the table and a large jar of wine nearby and it was evident that Thane was drunk. For a moment Blade thought to come another time, or have the man brought to him, then he realized that here was a man who could drink and still hold to his senses. The voice was thick and the eyes bloodshot, but Thane knew what he was about.