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The people said openly in the market-places that there was not a man in the country to touch Curtis in personal appearance, as with the exception of Sorais there was no woman who could compete with Nyleptha, and that therefore it was meet that they should marry; and that he had been sent by the Sun as a husband for their Queen.
One fine day, Good having gone out hawking, Sir Henry and I were sitting quietly talking over the situation, especially with reference to Sorais, when a Court messenger arrived with a written note, which we with some difficulty deciphered, and which was to the effect that 'the Queen Sorais commanded the attendance of the Lord Incubu in her private apartments, whither he would be conducted by the bearer'.
To be heartless that is to conquer all. Passion is like the lightning, it is beautiful, and it links the earth to heaven, but alas it blinds! 'And thou thinkest that my sister Sorais would levy war upon me. So be it. She shall not prevail against me. I, too, have my friends and my retainers.
All the same there was a look in her eye, and a sort of suppressed energy in her manner towards him, that makes me think that she had not forgotten the affair, but was keeping it for a private occasion. Just after Curtis arrived the officer returned, and reported that Sorais was gone.
At first we expected that Sorais was going to attack us at once, as the clouds of cavalry which hung upon her flanks executed some threatening demonstrations, but she thought better of it, and there was no fight that day.
Opposite our right wing, and forming Sorais' left wing, was a great army of dark, wild-looking men, armed with sword and shield only, which, I was informed, was composed of Nasta's twenty-five thousand savage hillsmen. 'My word, Good, said I, when I saw them, 'you will catch it tomorrow when those gentlemen charge! whereat Good not unnaturally looked rather anxious.
Somehow, Nyleptha's way of putting the thing, though true and forcible enough, was not altogether pleasant. 'I understand, stammered Curtis, looking at Good, 'I understood that he were attached eh attached to to the Queen Sorais.
'Will the Queen be pleased, I said, bowing low before Sorais, 'to sing to her servants? 'My songs, Macumazahn, are not such as to lighten the heavy heart, yet will I sing if it pleases thee, she answered; and she rose and went a few paces to a table whereon lay an instrument not unlike a zither, and struck a few wandering chords.
This picture perfectly horrified me, but I was a little reassured when she nodded sweetly and proceeded to make a fourth drawing a man again uncommonly like Sir Henry, and of two women, in whom I recognized Sorais and herself, each with one arm around him, and holding a sword in protection over him.
So, drawing half the people after her, Sorais was soon passing like a whirlwind through the Frowning City on her road to her headquarters at M'Arstuna, a fortress situated a hundred and thirty miles to the north of Milosis.
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