The Virgin of the Sun

at Urco had given poison to his daughter Quilla, who, if she still lived at a

ill I see this hound, Urco, dead, and hang up his skin st

the lady Quilla to this Urco for your own

. "I only know you as the servant or slave of the White-Lord-from-the

ked, he had already robbed me of my inheritance. Then, to make sure, he strove to poison me as he has poisoned your daughter, with a poison that would make me mad and incapable of rule, yet leave me living-because h

a stared at him ast

it, what do you

o overthrow Urco, who is very strong, b

d Urco is overthrown, what d

wise must soon be destroyed, and certain other ad

, if she still lives?" ask

ell you. Henceforward no man may look upon her, who is the Bride of the Sun, for if I suffered this, certainly the curse of the Sun would fall upon me and upon my people. He who lays

thing to say in that matter," said Huaracha

ance and, when it came to battle, what help Kari cou

e to another chamber, wher

if he has his way, neither you nor I will ever set eyes on Q

retender, since without his help I did not think that it would be possible to defeat the armies o

ing that without doubt she is dead and only vengeance re

s, numbering at least forty thousand Chancas and twenty-five

proach. At length one night we camped upon a hill named Carmenca and saw beneath us at a distance the mighty city of Cuzco standing in a valley through which a river ran. There it was with its huge fortresses built of great bloc

aid Kari to me grimly as

as though they reigned jointly. This embassy of great lords who all wore discs of gold in their ears asked us what was our

t she is dead?" a

," replied Huaracha

the Sun, whence none come out and where none go in. Hearken, O Huaracha. Go back whence you came, or

wered Huaracha, and without m

ecovered somewhat from his sickness. Also they said that now the feud between him and Urco was bitter, but that Urco had the upper hand and was still in command of the armies. These armies, they declared, were immense and would fight us on the morrow, adding, howev

sued them with murder and sudden death. They were poisoned at their food; they were stabbed as they walked through the streets at night; their wives, if young and fair, vanished away, as they believed into the houses of those who desired them; even their children were kidnapped, doubtless to become the servant

ir foolishness they worshipped, believing me to be in truth a god. Then he told

lay down to sleep awhile, wondering whether it were the last time I should do so upon the earth and, to tell the truth, not caring overmuch who, believing that Quilla was dead, had it not be

one soul which was akin to mine, that of a beautiful woman who loved me and whom I had come to love and desire. But what was the end of it? Owing to the necessities of statecraft and her own nobleness,

folk. Even if Kari became Inca, it would not help me or her, should she still live, since he was the fiercest bigot of

use of his crime against Quilla. And, if things went well and this chanced, what of the Future? Of what use to me were rewards that I did not want, and the worship of the vulgar which I hated? Rather would I have lived out my life as the humblest f

not far off and came to help me to buckle on my armour. Then I went forth and together with Huaracha arranged our army for battle. Our plan was to advance

he Inca hosts that were encamped upon its farther side, for thus protected by their walls we hoped that we should be more equal to them. Yet things happened otherwise, since with the first light, without which we did no

Yuncas as a reserve behind, should eat and make ready. In the centre of our main division, which numbered some fifteen thousand of the Chanca troops, and a little in front of it, was a low long hill upon the highest point of which I took my place, standing upon

he rising sun, with a mighty shouting the Inca hosts began to advance across the plain towards us. Reckoning them with my eye I saw that they outnumbered us by two or three to one; indeed their hordes seemed to be countless, and always more

should charge, but this I counselled Huaracha not to do, who desired that the Quichuas should break their strength upon us. At length some word was given; the splendid "rainb

trained in vain stood like rocks and slew and slew and slew till the dead could be counted by the thousand. Again and again they strove to storm the hill on which I stood, hoping to kill me,

afts of the god!" they cried,

se-mouthed, hideous man who wielded a big axe of copper and carried a bow longer than any I had seen in that land. Hooking the axe to his belt, he set an a

my shaft, that I had aimed at his head, cut away the fringe about his brow and carri

O Urco, an

for the White Wizard

my shield, and striking back with Wave-Flame, shore through the shaft of the axe that he had lifted to guard his head as though it h

ch other's arms. What chanced after this I do not know, for others rushed in and all grew confused, but presently Kari limped back

ny, while the rest fled, also that our right was wavering. I sent messengers to Huaracha, bidding him call up the Yunca rear guard. T

nca ranks, and presently a great body of men, five or six thousand of them that had seemed to be in reserve, ran forward shouting, "Kari! Kari!" and fell upon those who were pursuing our shat

ning its dead and wounded, drew back sullenly on to the plain, and th

appeare

It is our hour! The h

d up which the foe had not come, because these were less cumbered with dead and wounded. Presently I saw why those of Cuzco had left these lanes untrod, for of a sudden some warriors, who had outstripped me, vanished. They had fallen into a pit covered over with earth laid upon canes, of which the bottom was set with sharp stakes. Oth

usly, and though the Incas still outnumbered us by two to one, because of my training our regiments drove them back. Lord after lord rushed at me with glaring eyes, but my mail turned their copper spears an

rs grew afraid

is indeed a god. He cannot

ed, bloody and f

how you whether he

t I was weary, had leapt in front of me. They fought, and Hua

blow upon my shield, but so great was the giant's strength that it brought me to my knees. Next second I was up and at him. Shouting, I smote with both hands, for

s flung about my shoulders, a noosed rope that was hauled tight. In vain I struggled. I was

ell how to throw, the red sword Wave-Flame still hanging by its thong from my right wrist. Whilst I stood thus, like a bull in a net, they gathered round

itter was borne forward, till at length the noise of shouting and tumult grew low. Twisting myself round I peered through the back curtains and saw that the Inca host and that of the C

women and children stood at the doors of the houses gazing, and

ad in broidered linen led me through a gateway and across a garden where I noted a marvellous thing, namely: that all the plants therein were fashioned of solid gold with silver flowers, or sometimes of silver with golden flowers. Also there were

self in a splendid chamber hung with tapestries fantastically wrought and having cushioned seats, and tables of rich woods incruste

laved me with warm, scented water, rubbed my bruised limbs, and clothed me in wonderful soft garments, also scented and fastened about my middle with a golden belt. This done, food and spiced drinks of their native wine were brought to me in golden vessels. I ate and drank and, being very wear

ut the room. By their light I saw the chamberlain of whom I have spoken standing before me. I asked him his erra

earied me till I could have welcomed that of humble brick or wood. At the end of this chamber that was also lit with lamps, were curtains. Presently these were drawn by two beautiful women in jewelled skirts and head-dresses, and behind them on a dais I saw a co

o you have come to visit me after all

ght to visit you,

, though I expect that was by your own will as you had

I answer

and that you shot and cut down men by scores. Also that when the prince Urco tried to kill you, although he is the strongest man in my kingdom, you knocked him over as though

lf that so did I,

he battle

rowling at each other like two angry lions which are afraid to fight again. Indeed, I do not want them to fight, and now that Urco cannot interfere, I shall put a stop to all

rco, has poisoned, or tried to

Urco. But, Lord, as it chanced on our journey together, although I am old-well, she became enamoured of me, and prayed me to protect her from Urco. Such things happen to

it, Inca? Who, after seeing y

women, who want time to pray and think of holy things; also if I had done what she wished, some might have thought that I had behaved badly to Urco. At the same time, a woman's he

t she was not

on her with a drug which would have made her all swollen and hideous and covered her face with blotches, also perhaps have sent her mad. Luckily one

lives,

ven I ought not to have done. It was a dreary business, Lord Hurachi, for though those Virgins may be so holy, some of them are very old and hideous and of course Quilla as a novice came last in the line conducted by two Mama-conas who are cousins of my own. The odd thing is tha

blinded daught

r, and her husband, would burn us all up. Still, perhaps, we could come to an agreement for Huaracha must have had enoug

k on,

lk the two women of whom I have spoken and the chamberlain had withdrawn to the end of the chamber where they waited with their hands folded, like those who adore before

hearken. You had a servant with you, a very strange man, who is said also to have come out of

rmy of Huar

banner with the sun blazoned on it, and that thereon certain re

ngs of this land have many childre

s mother fought with Urco's mother whom I loved, because she never scolded me, which the other did. So Urco was named to be Inca after me. Yet that was not enough for him who remained jealous of his brother Kari who outpassed him in all things save strength of body. They wooed the same beautiful woman and Kari won her, whereon Urco seduced her from him, a

to life again s

might be the same man grown older. And-why did those regiments, all of them officered by men who used to love Kari, go over to Huaracha to-day, and why d

because you want to kill him who is

r used to think much. But who can tell? No one except my father, the Sun, and he guards his secrets-for the present. At least Urco wearies me with his coarse crimes and his drunkenness, though the army loves him because he is a butcher and liberal. We quarrelled the other day over the small matter of this lady Quilla, and he threatened me till I grew wrath and said that I would not hand him my crown

I help you, Inca, who am bu

f yours has bitten deep, and during that time all power is mine. Messengers are at your service; you are free to come and go as

, will the lady Quilla be

es-not that. Myself I should not dare to lay a finger on her who rests in the arms of t

oodshed may be stayed, I will do my best to bring him who was my servant to your pre

wards we will talk again. F