«They live across the narrow water and are savages and barbarians. They defeated my father and his father and even his father before that. I have sworn to avenge all these defeats and, before I die, to invade and conquer the Hitts. Casta has promised this most of all-that the child to come would lead my soldiers victorious against the Hitts. Now you will do it-unless, of course-you fail to grow as you say you will and I must have you strangled. But enough of that for now-here come my servants.»

The two servants who entered were both fat men and wore only loin cloths and soft hats like fezzes. They bowed to the Izmir and stared with round eyes at Blade. When the old man had given orders and they had gone he said to Blade, «Slaves. From the south, of course. I have never had a Hitt slave because they will never surrender. When they are beaten, which is not often, they kill themselves. You cannot make a slave of a corpse. But those you just saw are of a different breed-ball-less now, because they go into my harem occasionally and I do not want them at my women.»

Blade said nothing, but something in his expression made the Izmir chuckle and nearly fall into another fit of coughing.

«You are wondering, Blade, what an old fool like me can do with a harem of five-hundred women? I do not blame you. Often I wonder myself-but now and again I manage. My cock is not more senile than my brain and with five or six soft and tender young girls I can sometimes achieve.»

Blade kept silence. The Izmir looked at him sharply and went on, «When you get your growth and strength-if you do-I suppose that will be a problem. Do not fret about it. I will give you a harem of your own.»

The food came and Blade fell on it like a wolf. As he ate he felt the electric ticking in him and understood that the crystal was working again and that he had grown another year. Lord L would know, when the computer decoded Blade's thought impulses and printed them out, just how he was progressing.