"In the same way that I know much else. Lady, it would have been better
if you had spoken all the truth."
Now Atene's face went ashen and her cheeks sank in.
"Who told you?" she whispered. "Was it you, Magician?" and she turned
upon her uncle like a snake about to strike. "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."
"Lady," I said blandly, "am I also a magician?"
"Aye," she answered, "I think that you are, and that you have a mistress
who dwells in fire."
"Then, Khania," I said, "such servants and such mistresses are ill to
meddle with. Say, what answer has the Hesea sent to your report of our
coming to this land?"
"Listen," broke in Leo before she could reply. "I go to ask a certain
question of the Oracle on yonder mountain peak. With your will or
without it I tell you that I go, and afterwards you can settle which is
the stronger--the Khania of Kaloon or the Hesea of the House of Fire."
Atene listened and for a while stood silent, perhaps because she had no
answer. Then she said with a little laugh--"Is that your will? Well, I
think that yonder are none whom you would wish to wed.
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