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Then we began to speak with hope and fear of that mysterious Hesea who had sent the letter from the Mountain, commanding the Shaman Simbri to meet us: the priestess or spirit whom he declared was "mighty from of old" and had "servants in the earth and air."
That is why I thought you might have described yourself as a magician, though it is true that you may have been but fishing in those waters." "Certainly I was fishing, stranger Holly for men, and I caught two." "Fishing by chance, host Simbri?" "Nay, by design, guest Holly.
The Khania Atene also is mad with rage against thee and our holy College. Labouring night and day, she has gathered two great armies, one of forty, and one of twenty thousand men, and the latter of these she sends against the Mountain under the command of her uncle, Simbri the Shaman. In case it should be defeated she purposes to remain with the second and greater army on the plains about Kaloon."
"Indeed," added Simbri, with meaning, and glancing at Leo, out of the corners of his eyes, "the folk say openly that it would be a good thing if the Khan, who oppresses them and whom they hate, should die, so that the Khania might take another husband while she is still young.
Then there was a pause while we studied one another, till a trumpet blew and heralded by footmen in a kind of yellow livery, two figures were seen advancing down the passage beyond the curtains, preceded by the Shaman Simbri and followed by other officers. They were the Khan and the Khania of Kaloon.
You know it well, Simbri. I charge you by the close bond of blood between us, brew me another draught " "That we may be bound yet closer in a bond of murder! Nay, Atene, I will not; already your sin lies heavy on my head. You are very fair; take the man in your own net, if you may, or let him be, which is better far." "I cannot let him be. Would that I were able.
"I can quite believe it," I answered. "I can believe anything. Leo, I say that we are but gnats meshed in a web, and yonder Khania is the spider and Simbri the Shaman guards the net. But tell me all you remember of what has happened to you, and be quick, for I do not know how long they may leave us alone."
"And to see that we do not give him the slip in it," muttered Leo. Then the drivers whipped up their ponies, and we went on again. "Look behind you," said Simbri presently, "and you will see the city where you will sleep to-night." We turned ourselves, and there, about ten miles away, perceived a flat-roofed town of considerable, though not of very great size.
Now those upon the bank saw him, and a sweet voice spoke through the mist, saying "Lay down that weapon, my guest, for we are not come to harm you." It was the voice of the Khania Atene, and the man with her was the old Shaman Simbri. "What shall we do now, Horace?" asked Leo with something like a groan, for in the whole world there were no two people whom he less wished to see.
"Simbri," he answered, "and, as I told you by the water, my title is Hereditary Guardian of the Gate. By profession I am the royal Physician in this land." "Did you say physician or magician?" I asked carelessly, as though I had not caught the word. He gave me a curious look. "I said physician, and it is well for you and your companion that I have some skill in my art.
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