The Virgin of the Sun

or a few minutes), for we were never out of eyeshot of someone in our company. Thus Kari clung to me very closely, indeed, and whe

ip in the mud or to stumble over the stones in the common path, those others would come to think that there was small difference betw

h of late he had loved to shoot at me, and withou

e jealous of the lady Quilla as

tter in his grave fa

when I was alone in a strange land, and for this and for yourself I came to love you

I said; "that of a man for man is on

an's friends when a woman has him by the heart?-although perchance they love him better than ever will the woman who at bottom loves herself best o

sked angrily, who we

ter of love. But, Master, you have not told me outright whether you lov

ll you now. I d

, which may or may not be true, or if true to-day may be

said in

he added, in another tone, ceasing from his bitter jests, "believe me that I would shield, not mock you. This Lady Quilla is a queen in a great game of pieces such as you taught me to play far away in England, and without her perchance that game cannot be won,

a game, are you not perchance one of

e lady Quilla, who, if you fall, falls with you down through the black night into the arms of the Moon, her mother. But I have said enough, and indeed it is foolish to waste breath in such talk, since Fate will have its way with both of you, and the end of the game in which we play i

, and it was long ere he spoke to me again of th

lt that I was moving in the web of a great plot that I did not understand, of which Quilla and those cold-eyed lordlings of her company and the chief whose guest I had been, and Kari hi

had been passing through rich valleys where dwelt thousands of these Chancas who, I could see, were a mighty people that bore themselves proudly and like soldiers. In multitudes they

and the dust. Moreover, as soon as she came among them Quilla's bearing changed, for her carriage grew more haughty and her words fewer. Now she seldo

that an army was approaching us, five thous

ha, King of the Chancas, whom he sends out to greet his

troops! Has h

almost as great as that of the Incas who live at Cuzco. Come now into

n a rise of ground. On my right at a little distance stood Quilla, more splendidly arrayed than

er of twenty or more and bowed deeply, first to Quilla, who bent her head in acknowledgment and then to myself. After this they went to speak with Quilla and her following, but what they said I did not know. All the while, howev

t see much except that it was very great as the darkness was falling when we entered, and afterwards I could not go out because of the crowds that pressed about me. I was borne down a wide street to a house that stood in a large garden which w

bushes, glad to be solitary and to have time to think. Amongst other things I wondered where Quilla might be, for of her I had seen nothing from the time that we entered the town. I hat

ly understand. In London he had been my servant and his ends were my ends; on our wandering he had been my companion in great adventures. But now I knew that other interests and desires

kinned people with large eyes, smiling faces, and secret hearts; its great cities, temples, and palaces filled with useless gold and silver; its brilliant sunshine and rushing riv

t were beast or man, I laid my hand upon my sword which I still wore, although I had taken off

ing; it is

e peasant women wear in the cold country, for she threw

ngerous to both of us, but I h

t would be thus, but

deal among the Yuncas. It pleased him, and since his mood was gracious, I opened my heart to him and told him that no longer did

he answe

m you do wish to be given in marriage. I will not ask his name, since if I k

guesses

have whispered in his ear, but he does not wish

ay no mor

war that the land of Tavantinsuyu has ever known, war between the two mighty nations of the Quichuas of Cuzco whereof the old Upanqui is king and god, and the Chancas whereof I am king and you, if you live, in a day to come will be the queen. No longer can these two lions dwell in the same forest; one of them must dev

it was so, and

s-Why do you not kill him and his army? Daughter, for this reason. He is very aged and about to lay down his sceptre, who grows feeble of mind and body. If I killed him what would it serve me, seeing that he has left his s

f dust, Father; how, then, can this poor dust

es to lead you away, to be Urco's bride, saying to himself, "If those rumours are true, King Huaracha will withhold his only child and heiress, since never will he make war upon Cuzco if she rules there as its queen." Therefore, if I refuse yo

t I eat this bitter bread? Before you answer, learn that you have guessed aright, and that I

in marriage. If your strait is so sore, though it would cut me to the heart, perchance it is better that you should die and go whither doubtles

ch a road to his only child, though its treading would mean woe to him and mayhap the ruin of his hopes. Still tha

u here?" I a

-none were about, and-the door in the wall was open. Indeed, it was almost as though I were left al

estion,

peak, remember that if I live we meet for the last time, since very soon I g

though my heart would burst within my breast and

desire-to li

a little as

ouled as one of Urco's women, whereas, if I die, I die clean and take my love with me

ad spoiled all this pretty plot would scarcely be left long upon the

sel from a lover's lips, Lord; such as would

they think, who reject their customs. You are not yet Urco's wife, and may be ri

eckon and love hold back. I say that I will die and make an end, as for like causes many of my blood have done, though not here and no

happens, what

god should. There are many in this land fairer and wise

. I have a stor

ut the tale of Blanche and of her en

you," she said, wh

y hands must be dyed with blood. This first terror I have borne, but if a second falls upon me then

t that!" sh

you will do yourself no harm, whatever chances, and t

that you would dare t

if you were taken from me, Quilla, I could not live on here i

glory forgetting your home across the sea, and all the sorrows that befell you there. Children you shall have also of whom you need not be ashamed, though my dark blood runs in them, and armies at command and palaces filled with gold, and all royal joys. And if perc

since through it, like light through pearl, shone a soul divine. It might have been a goddess who stood

lways. Play your part and I will play mine. Follow me wherever I am taken and keep near to me, if you may, as ever my

had glided away and w

might look upon the land where I was born, nor see the face of one my own race or blood. All my loss was paid back to me again and yet again, in the coin of the glory of this woman whom I had won. Dangers rose about us, but I

at the mouth of the Hastings cave after I had killed the three Frenchmen with as many

ping my sword, for his fac

ice which I knew t

e here? I saw no one

in the quiet of the night. I was here before yourself, behind

, you must

, because there came a point at which I shut

ri," I said between my teeth

ord. You wonder why I am here. I will tell you. It is not from any desire to watch your love-makings which weary me, who have seen such before, but r

ve to die," I exc

r before she died that against right and law, Urco, her son, should be Inca after him. Therefore he hated me because I stood in Urco's path; therefore too many troubles befell me, and I was given over into Urco's hand, so that he took my wife and tried to poison me, and the rest you know. Now it was needful to me to learn how things went, and for this reason I listene

ill you va

om ear to ear. I must lie hid, that is enough. Yet do not think that therefore I shall desert you-I, while I li

rtainly you watch well-too well, s

and if I can, bring about what you desire. That lady has a great heart, as I learned but now, and after all you did well to love her, as she does well to love you. Therefore, although the dang

t shall I do alone?

f Upanqui so desires. Nor would it be wise, for if he did, misfortune might befall you on the road. There are some women, Lord, who cannot keep their love out of their eyes, and henceforward there will be plenty to watch the eyes and hearken to the most sec

d and touched it with his lips. Another mome