Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 4, 2025
Then the captains descended, and last of all came Olfan. "We have little time to spare, Deliverer," said the king; "the door is falling," and as he spoke they heard a great crash above. Otter jerked furiously at the rope, till by good luck one end of the stake slid over the edge of the hole and it fell among them.
"See now, Shepherdess," said Olfan after thinking awhile, "shall we take this man for a guide and return down the cliff to the city, for there, unless fate is against us, we may find friends among the soldiers and fight out this battle with the priests." "No, no," answered Juanna almost passionately, "I would rather die than go back to that dreadful place to be murdered at last.
"Can you find it now, friend?" asked Olfan eagerly. "I do not forget a road that I have trod," said the captain, "but it is one not easy to follow."
But of a truth, such necessities as hers cannot wait while those in their toils weigh scruples or the law of honour. "Olfan," she said, "I have heard you, and this is my answer: I will take you as my husband. You know my story, you know that he who was my lord is but this day dead," here Soa smiled approvingly at the lie, "and that I loved him.
She made no resistance and said nothing; indeed it seemed as if a certain lassitude had followed her outbreak of rage, for she leaned her head back and slept, or made pretence to sleep. The day passed uneventfully. Olfan visited them as usual, and told them that the excitement grew in the city.
"I may as well die warm as cold, Baas," he explained, "for of cold I shall know enough when I am dead." At the palace gate Olfan and a guard were waiting, but they found no opportunity of speaking with him. Here also were gathered a great number of priests, who preceded and followed them.
Then followed a scene of confusion, for even Olfan and Nam were amazed at what seemed to them little short of a miracle, while Leonard and Juanna had eyes for each other only, and the three captains stared at Otter like men who think they see a ghost. But one person in that company kept her head, and that person was Soa.
"We are friendless here except for Olfan, and he has little real power, for the priests have tampered with the captains and the soldiers who fear them. How can we get out of this city? And if we got out what would become of us, unarmed and alone? All that we can do is to keep heart and hope for the best.
This was the plot, Olfan: to marry me to you, partly because the woman yonder, who was my nurse, did not desire my death, and partly that Nam might use me to save himself from the anger of the people. But do not think that you would have kept me long, Olfan; for this was in the plot also, that when you had served their purpose you should die by secret means, as one who knew too much."
Olfan loves you, and in these troubled times it is necessary that Nam and the priests should gain his support, which has been bought but now by the promise that you will be given to him in marriage on this very day. For you, Shepherdess, although you might have wished to wed one of your own race, at the least you will rule a queen, and that is better than to perish miserably."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking