Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 4, 2025
Come what might, I would be no butcher; I would follow my heart whithersoever it might lead me. "Cease, Madam," I said. "I have decided. Jodd, bid the messenger summon hither Heliodore and Martina, my wife and yours." "Oh!" exclaimed Irene, "if these women are to be called in counsel on my case all is finished, seeing that both of them love you and are my enemies. Moreover, I have some pride left.
What effect it produced upon the judges, I cannot say, but that it moved those present in the Court was clear enough. "Have you done?" asked the president at length when the story was finished. "Not altogether," said Jodd.
When I had finished speaking, in the silence that followed I heard Irene utter something that was half a sob and half a gasp of wonderment. Then above the murmuring of the Northmen, to whom this rede was strange, rose the great voice of Jodd.
Comrades, look on her whom the Empress ordered me to kill, and say whether, were she your affianced, you would kill her even to please the Empress," and, stepping to one side, I showed them Heliodore in all her loveliness standing against the tree, the drawn dagger in her hand. Now from those that Jodd had summoned there went up a roar of "No," while even the rest were silent.
Moreover, why should I do otherwise now that by God's justice the wheel has come round at last?" I added, pointing to the hollows beneath my brows where the eyes once had been. "Oh! Olaf," she said, "if I harmed you, you know well it was because I loved you." "Then God send that no woman ever loves me in such a fashion," broke in Jodd.
Well, supposing that by the help of gods or men or women he should find this beautiful Heliodore, unwed and still willing, and that they should marry. What then, Martina?" "Then, Captain Jodd," she answered slowly, "if you are yet of the same mind we may talk again. Only remember that I ask no promises and make none." "So you go to Egypt with Olaf?"
Presently Jodd came forward and said in his slow voice: "Olaf Red-Sword, we love you, who have always loved us, your comrades, as we have shown you to-night. You have led us well, Olaf, and, considering our small numbers, we have just won a victory of which we are proud. But our necks are in the noose, as yours is, and we think that in this case our best course is to be bold.
This morning I was seized and ordered to surrender the signet; but first I had heard that they planned your death to-day, not a sentence of banishment and murder afar off, as I told you. My last act before I was taken was to dispatch a trusted messenger to Jodd and the Northmen, telling them that if they would save you alive they must strike at once, and not to-night, as had been arranged.
"A revolution, that is all, Olaf. Jodd and the Northmen are the point of the spear, its handle is Constantine, and the hands that hold it are the Armenians. It has been very well done. Some of the guards who remained were bribed, others frightened away. Only a few fought, and of them the Northmen made short work. Irene and her ministers were fooled.
I think I embraced Heliodore before them all, and gave her into their keeping. I think I whispered into the ear of Jodd to seek out the Bishop Barnabas, and pray him to get her and her father away to Egypt without delay yes, even by force, if it were needful. Then I think I left their lines, and that, as I went, leading the Augusta by the hand, they gave to me the general's salute.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking