The Swordsman of Mars by Otis Adelbert Kline Read Free Book Online

took her hand and pressed it to his lips. She seemed startled. "Why did you do that?"
     
    "On my world it is homage one pays to a lady at greeting or parting."
     
    "What a queer custom," she exclaimed. "But I rather like it."
     
    Thorne smiled. "Farewell, little comrade," he said. "Again I thank you for my life, for my entertainment, and most of all for the pleasure of having been with you. As soon as I have attended to my duties at Castle Takkor I will return with Yirl Du, and together we will search for your father."
     
    "Deza go with you, and keep you safe from harm. I will be waiting for you and be expecting you."
     
    Resolutely he turned away and stepped over the side of the boat. He stood there in the shallows watching until the little craft vanished around a bend in the narrow channel.
     
    Keeping to the margin of the lake, he eventually reached the docks without mishap. Most of its occupants were fishermen, and those whose duty it was to tend the gawrs. But he saw a number of warriors standing about, and was surprised to note that they wore the insigne of the Kamud. As he made his way toward the gate which led to the castle, two of them stopped him.
     
    "Where are you going, fellow?" asked one. "And whom do you seek?"
     
    "I go to Castle Takkor," replied Thorne, "and whom I seek is my own affair."
     
    "None of your insolence," growled the other soldier. "When you speak to us, you address the Kamud."
     
    "When you speak to me, you address the Rad of Takkor," Thorne retorted. "Out of my way!"
     
    "Sharp words call for sharper weapons," said one soldier. "Throw down your sword, or you die."
     
    For answer, Thorne came on guard. Then both men attacked him simultaneously. While he could easily have bested either of them alone, he was sorely put to it to keep the two blades from reaching him. Presently, however, one soldier left his head unguarded. Instantly Thorne's sword sheared down through his brain.
     
    For a moment Thorne's blade was held by that cloven skull; then, with a desperate jerk, he freed his weapon and easily disarmed his remaining foe, who instantly turned and fled, bawling lustily for help.
     
    At this juncture a big man, resplendent in purple head-cloak and gold trappings came down the steps that led from the castle gate, followed by a group of lesser officers and a file of soldiers.
     
    "What's all this?" he roared. "Must I have brawling on the first day of my arrival?"
     
    Thorne looked up and recognized Sel Han, against whom the Martian code of honor now forbade him to raise his weapon. Instantly he was surrounded by warriors.
     
    "This imposter who murdered Tir Hanus claims to be the Rad of Takkor," cried the disarmed soldier, "yet we scattered his ashes this morning."
     
    Sel Han looked at Thorne. "You have heard the words of this soldier," he said. "Do you still cling to your preposterous claim?"
     
    "You scattered the ashes of Sheb Takkor the elder. Not mine."
     
    "We also scattered the ashes of Sheb Takkor the younger," replied Sel Han. "His two comrades, Lal Vak and Yirl Du, reported his death yesterday. He fell from his gawr, a distance that would crush him to pulp, therefore it is impossible that he could be alive today. Word was sent to Irintz Tel, and the Dixtar appointed me to administer the estates in the name of the Kamud. As we could not obtain the body of the unfortunate Rad, who fell in the marsh, we performed the ceremony by proxy, using ashes of the aromatic sebolis tree, as is the custom."
     
    "Am I to understand from this that I am officially dead?"
     
    "You are to understand from this that the Rad of Takkor is dead. Also, the title has been abolished. Hereafter the estates will be strictly administered in accordance with the rules of the Kamud. As to who you are, that has not been established. You came to us armed with a sword of the Ma Gongi, and impersonating the dead Rad. When questioned, you slew a soldier of the Kamud. Under the circumstances, it is my