Ogier scratched his stubble. «I do not think that the Izmir will live to see it finished. He is too ambitious. It must go yet another 300 feet higher and there are to be gardens on top. If he had another hundred thousand slaves it might be possible, but he has not. No, the old man will never see it finished.»

They started on. Blade said, «Who builds this? Who is the architect, the engineer?»

Ogier nearly smiled. «A man called Thane. He is a Hitt and something of a wizard himself. I know him slightly. It was I, in fact, who took him prisoner when he first came across the narrow water.»

Blade gave his Captain a puzzled glance. «I do not understand. I was told that the Hitts never surrendered and never became slaves. How is this, then?»

«I know. That is true. But this Thane is an exception. He is not a slave. Ordinarily he would have been killed, but the truth is that I took to him, liked the man, and when he sought audience with the Izmir I permitted it. The old man, not the fool that many think, gave Thane a chance to prove himself as a builder. He is marvelously fine at it. So now he is a free man, with some rank, and has all the privileges of Zir.»

«I will see and talk to him,» Blade said. «If I am to fight Hitts I would know what they are like.»

«You are a fool if you fight Hitts,» said Ogier bluntly, «but that is your affair. I have had my say about it. As to Thane, he is no common Hitt. The story is told that he had a falling out with Bloodax, the Hitt leader, and had to flee for his life. I do not doubt it. Thane is an intelligent man, and educated, and never should have been a Hitt in the first place. Bloodax is a stupid barbarian.»

«We will speak of Bloodax later,» said Blade, «when our councils of war begin. Today, after I have seen this priest, you will introduce me to this Thane»