I tell you she is my wife, and if
you do, I shall certainly have to hunt you."
At this drunken sally the courtiers roared with laughter, but taking Leo
by the arm Simbri hurried him from the hall.
"Friend," said Leo, when we were outside, "it seems to me that this Khan
of yours threatens my life."
"Have no fear, lord," answered the Guardian; "so long as the Khania does
not threaten it you are safe. She is the real ruler of this land, and I
stand next to her."
"Then I pray you," said Leo, "keep me out of the way of that drunken
man, for, look you, if I am attacked _I_ defend myself."
"And who can blame you?" Simbri replied with one of his slow, mysterious
smiles.
Then we parted, and having placed both our beds in one chamber, slept
soundly enough, for we were very tired, till we were awakened in the
morning by the baying of those horrible death-hounds, being fed, I
suppose, in a place nearby.
Now in this city of Kaloon it was our weary destiny to dwell for three
long months, one of the most hateful times, perhaps, that we ever passed
in all our lives. Indeed, compared to it our endless wanderings amid the
Central Asia snows and deserts were but pleasure pilgrimages, and our
stay at the monastery beyond the mountains a sojourn in Paradise. To set
out its record in full would be both tedious and useless, so I will only
tell briefly of our principal adventures.
Pages:
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161