“Bird of the gods!” said he, reverently, “hast thou not a secret message for my ear?” Then the hawk put its beak to Morven’s ear, and Morven bowed his head submissively; and the hawk rested with Morven from that moment and would not be scared away.
And Morven said:
“The stars have sent me this bird, that, in the day-time, when I see them not, we may never be without a counsellor in distress.”
So Siror was made king, and Maven the son of Osslah was constrained by the king’s will to take Orna for his wife; and the people and the chiefs honored Morven, the prophet, above all the elders of the tribe.
One day Morven said unto himself, musing, “Am I not already equal with the king? nay, is not the king my servant? did I not place him over the heads of his brothers? am I not, therefore, more fit to reign than he is? shall I not push him from his seat?
“It is a troublesome and stormy office to reign over the wild men of Oestrich, to feast in the crowded hail, and to lead die warriors to the fray.
“Surely, if I feasted not, neither went out to war, they might say, ‘This is no king, but the cripple Morven;’ and some of the race of Siror might slay me secretly.
“But can I not be greater far than kings, and continue to choose and govern them, living as now at mine own ease?
“Verily, the stars shall give me a new palace, and many subjects.”
Among the wise men was Darvan; and Morven feared him, for his eye often sought the movements of the son of Osslah.