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"What would you with me, wizard and traitor?" "This only, Hafela: I would ask you what you seek here?" "That which you promised me, Hokosa, the crown of my father and certain other things." "Then get you back, Hafela, for you shall never win them.. Have I prophesied falsely to you at any time? Not so neither do I prophesy falsely now.
Moreover, they were in evil case with weariness and the want of water, as each drop they drank must be carried to them from the Great Place in bags made of raw hide, which caused it to stink, for they had but few gourds with them. "Now it is strange," said Hafela, "that these men should fight so bravely, seeing that they are but a handful.
Worst of all, these soldiers had gone to join Hafela in his mountain fastnesses; and the rumour grew that ere long they would appear again, to claim the crown for him or to take it by force of arms. Now too a fresh complication arose. The old king sickened of his last illness, and soon it became known that he must die.
"Hafela," she said, "I am Noma who was the wife of Hokosa, and for whole nights and days I have journeyed as no woman ever journeyed before, to tell you of the treachery of Hokosa and to save you from your doom." "What treachery and what doom?" asked the prince. "Before I answer you that question, Hafela, you must pay me the price of my news." "Let me hear the price, Noma."
As you know, I have two sons, calves of the Black Bull, princes of the land my son Hafela, the eldest born, and my son Nodwengo, his half-brother " At this point the king began to grow confused. He hesitated, passing his hand over his eyes, then slowly and with difficulty repeated those words which he had already said.
When all had done, the Prince Hafela came forward, lifted his spear, and cried: "A boon, King!" "What is it?" asked his father, eyeing him curiously. "A small matter, King," he replied. "A while ago I named a certain woman, Noma, the ward of Hokosa the wizard, and she was sealed to me to fill the place of my first wife, the queen that is to be.
To kill this man was evil, and of it only evil could come. What did he care whether Hafela ruled the nation or Nodwengo, and whether it worshipped the God of the Christians or the god of Fire who, by the way, had proved himself so singularly inefficient in the hour of trial.
There is this against it, however, that a messenger has but just arrived reporting that the generals have perceived the host of Hafela encamped upon a ridge over against the gorge where they awaited him. If that be so, they can scarcely have given him battle, for the messenger is swift of foot and has travelled night and day.
"So be it," he said, "though myself I have lost faith in such rites. Also, Hokosa, I think it likely that although your wife goes out with company, she will return alone." "Why, King?" asked Hokosa. "For this reason that those who travel with her have husbands yonder at the town of the Prince Hafela, and the Mount of Purification is on the road thither. Having gone so far, they may go farther.
"You blow hot and cold with the same mouth, Hafela," said Umsuka, "and in love or war I do not like such men. What have you to say to this demand, Hokosa?" Now Hokosa stepped forward from where he stood at the head of the company of wizards. His dress, like that of his companions, was simple, but in its way striking.
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