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Updated: June 4, 2025
"They will not avail us, Deliverer," answered Olfan, "for these doors are made fast without by bars of stone thicker than my arm. Now this woman has gone to rouse the college of the priests, who will presently come to kill us like caged rats." "Quick!" said Leonard, "waste no time, we must break down the doors."
Then addressing the captains in a tone of command, she added, "Seize that priest who is named Nam, and the woman with him." Olfan looked astonished and the captains hesitated. As for Nam, he did not hesitate, but made a bound towards the door. "Stay awhile, Nam," said the king, making a barrier before him with his spear; "doubtless the Queen has reasons, and you would wish to hear them.
"The captains are here," whispered a voice. "Let them enter," said Nam. The order was obeyed, and three great men armed with spears stalked into the narrow chamber. One of them was brother to the king, and the two others were his chosen friends. Then the door closed. "My brethren," said Olfan, "I have sent for you to acquaint you with a mystery and to ask you to witness a rite.
While he did so, Juanna turned and looked behind her. Far below them she could see the forms of Olfan and his companions standing shoulder to shoulder, and even catch the gleams of light reflected from their spears, for now the sun was rising.
It was possible that the king might be able to protect her own person from violence, but if Leonard died it mattered little what became of her. There was but one thing that she could do declare herself willing to become the wife of Olfan. Yet it seemed shameless thus to treat this honourable man, the only friend that they had found among the People of the Mist.
Well, you see it is sometimes necessary to tell white lies, and I think that after to-night I am entitled to a prize for general proficiency in this respect. Of course," she added, dropping her sarcastic tone, "you will not misinterpret anything that I was forced to say to Olfan with reference to yourself, because you know that those statements were the biggest fibs of all.
"Say no more, Deliverer," answered Olfan hastily; "I have but done my duty and fulfilled my oath, though at times the path of duty is hard for a man to follow." And he looked towards Juanna and sighed.
And once more he bowed his head, leaned upon his spear, and was silent. Juanna considered the position rapidly. It was hopeless and cruel. Nam and Soa were on either side of her, the latter standing near the door with the sliding panel beyond which Leonard lay bound, and she knew well that did she speak a single word of the truth to Olfan, it would be the signal for her lover's death.
These must be the terms of the compact, that the game of the false gods being played, Olfan undertook to support Nam and the rest of his party to the best of his power, for the consideration to be received of her hand in marriage, stipulating, however, that she should give it of her own free will.
"I think not, Deliverer," answered Olfan, "for I know of no such path. I think that they have gone to bring heavy beams by means of which they will batter down the ice wall." "Still there is such a path, King," said one of the captains, "for I myself have often climbed it when I was young, searching for snow-flowers to bring to her whom I courted in those days."
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