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"We would have her wed you, White Lord-from-the-Sea, that she may become a mother of kings." "So I thought, Chancas. Yet I warn you that there is trouble near. The storm gathers and soon it will burst, since Kari is not one who breaks his oaths." "Why did you not kill him when he was in your hand, and take his throne?" asked one. "Because I could not.
"Lord-from-the-Sea," he said, "you have played a man's or a god's part to-day. Had you bidden my daughter bide here, she would have done so for love of you and the Chanca people must have been destroyed, for as that old Inca or his spokesman told us, the breaking of my oath would have been taken as a declaration of instant war. Now we have breathing time, and in the end things may go otherwise."
Why he called me "Hurachi" at the time I could not guess, but afterwards I learned that it was because of the arrows painted on my shield, hurachi being their name for arrows. At any rate, thenceforth by this name of Hurachi I was known throughout the land, though when addressed for the most part I was called "Lord-from-the-Sea" or "God-of-the-Sea."
These and many other things are mine, the trappings of power, the prerogative of the Lord-from-the-Sea who brought victory to the Chanca people and led them back to their ancient home where they might live safe, far from the Inca's rage.
This is what she said: "'Tell my father, King Huaracha, that I have fulfilled his oath, but that I cannot marry Urco. Therefore I seek refuge in the arms of the Sun, as the oracle Rimac foretold that I should do, having to choose between this fate and that of death. Tell my Lord-from-the-Sea what has befallen me and bid him farewell to me.
Yes, I grew wrath and hated him for whose sake I had sinned because his mother bewitched me. Lord-from-the-Sea," here his voice dropped to a whisper, "I am afraid of Urco. Even a god such as I am can be murdered, Lord-from-the-Sea. That is why I will not go to Yucay, for there I might die and none know it, whereas here I still am Inca and a god whom it is sacrilege to touch."
"Yes, yes, Lord-from-the-Sea, that happens; the gods who took them away bring them back and this servant of yours they say he is so like to Kari that he might be the same man grown older. And why did those regiments, all of them officered by men who used to love Kari, go over to Huaracha to-day, and why do rumours run through the land like the wind that springs up suddenly in fine weather?
I looked to the left and there were more of them, while in front beyond the gold-laid board stood the traitor, Larico, laughing. "You have the first fruits, but it seems that another will reap the harvest, Lord-from-the-Sea," he jeered. "Seize her," cried Urco in his guttural voice, pointing to Quilla with his mace, "and brain that white thief."
Bring this servant of yours to my presence, for doubtless he trusts you. I would speak with him, O Lord-from-the-Sea." "If I should do this, Inca, will the lady Quilla be given back to her father?" "Nay, it would be sacrilege. Ask what else you will, lands and rule and palaces and wives not that. Myself I should not dare to lay a finger on her who rests in the arms of the Sun.
Now, Lord-from-the-Sea, at whose coming my sleeping heart awoke to love and whose sword saved me from shame and death, giving me back to life and light, here, before this company of our people, I, the Daughter of the Moon, defying the Sun who held me captive, and all his servants, take you to husband with this kiss," and leaning forward Quilla pressed her lips upon my own. . . .
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