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Updated: June 14, 2025
They urged me to it; yes, even you, Simbri, my uncle, and for that deed accursed be your head urged me, saying that it was necessary to end the war between Rassen's faction and my own. That I was the last of the true race, moreover, which must be carried on; saying also that my dreams and my rememberings were but sick phantasies. So, alas! alas! I yielded, thinking to make my people great."
Instantly he seemed to thaw into life, his limbs relaxed, his breast heaved, he was as he had always been: ancient, gnarled, malevolent. "I hear thee, mistress," he said, bowing as a man bows to the power that he hates. "Thou seest, Simbri," and she waved her hand. "I see. Things have befallen as Atene and I foretold, have they not?
"Oh! if so, be sure that I shall learn it, and though we are of one blood and have loved each other, I will pay you back in agony." "Atene, Atene," Simbri broke in, holding up his claw-like hands, "you know well it was not I." "Then it was you, you ape-faced wanderer, you messenger of the evil gods? Oh! why did I not kill you at the first? Well, that fault can be remedied."
Then in my thirst for knowledge I grew bold, and stealing to the door, looked through one of the cracks in its wood. Opposite to me, in the full flood of light thrown by a hanging lamp, her hand resting on a table at which Simbri was seated, stood the Khania.
After a few words to me about our journey, the Khania turned to Leo and talked to him for the rest of the evening, while I devoted myself to the old Shaman Simbri.
Three days went by, during which time I saw no more of the Khania, who, or so I was informed by Simbri, the Shaman, had returned to her city to make ready for us, her guests. I begged him to allow me to rejoin Leo, but he answered politely, though with much firmness, that my foster-son did better without me.
"The Khan! The Khan!" said Simbri, bowing, and I could see that he was afraid. Now he too was gone, and after him came his guards. I counted eight of them, all carrying whips, with which they flogged their horses. "What does this mean, friend Simbri?" I asked, as the sounds grew faint in the distance.
Then suddenly Atene sprang to her saddle, and turning her horse's head rode it back through the water to the shore, followed by old Simbri, who lifted up his crooked hands as though in woe and fear, muttering as he went "You have entered the forbidden river and now, Atene, the day of decision is upon us all upon us and her that predestined day of ruin and of war."
Simbri was looking at her earnestly, with fear and doubt written on even his cold, impassive features. "What passed between you, then?" he asked, peering at her. "I questioned him closely as to the reason of his coming to this land, and wrung from him the answer that it was to seek some beauteous woman he would say no more.
As the Shaman Simbri followed the Khania, the priest Oros caught his horse's bridle and said to him "Magician, we have met before, for instance, when your lady's father was brought to his funeral. Warn her, then, you that know something of the truth and of her power to speak more gently of the ruler of this land.
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