Behold your servant, Prince, who is appointed to
wait upon you.
Sothere you have my answer, and, as you said, I am
not one who breakshis word. Next moment he, too, was gone and the massive door had
shut, leavingKhian alone.
The man made a certain sign, which, by habit as it
were, Khiananswered.
I swear it, Nefra; also that as you are to me, so I
will be to you. So would I, Tau, but he is gone and now it is too late. How am I to
know a womans reasons in such a matter, your Majesty? That he has left the roll
matters nothing, since what his earshave heard his tongue can tell.
Then he boweddeeply as though in farewell, so that
his lips came close to the earof Khian.
Moreover, he is very rash and the rash fall into
pits fromwhich other men escape.
Moreover, he is very rash and the rash fall into
pits fromwhich other men escape. Yet I will not hide fromyou that the peril of all
of us is great. Trouble comes toall at times but it cannot change the blood in the
veins.
You look thinand changed, too, as though you had
been keeping company with ghosts. Khian, I say that you are a thief, a liar, and
atraitor, and that as such I will deal with you.
Khian was set in the midst of them and led away,
Anathwalking before them.
Then he boweddeeply as though in farewell, so that
his lips came close to the earof Khian. By all the gods of the Shepherds and the
Egyptians, no, Prince. Then, Khian, you shall die and not before. I am glad to hear
that, interrupted Khian, when at length Ru pausedto take breath.
By all the gods of the Shepherds and the Egyptians,
no, Prince.