"Their war-cry," said Tavia.
On and on with relentless persistency the throng swarmed upward toward us. We drew our swords; it was our last stand. Tavia pressed closer to me and for the first time I thought I felt her tremble.
"Do not let them take me," she said. "It is not death that I fear."
I knew what she meant and I took her in my arms. "I cannot do it, Tavia," I said. "I cannot."
"You must," she replied in a firm voice. "If you care for me even as a friend, you cannot let these beasts take me alive."
I know that I choked then so that I could not reply, but I knew that she was right and I drew my dagger.
"Good-bye, Hadron—my Hadron!"
Her breast was bared to receive my dagger, her face was upturned toward mine. It was still a brave face with no fear upon it, and oh how beautiful it was.
Impulsively, guided by a power I could not control, I bent and crushed my lips to hers. With half closed eyes she pressed her own lips upward more tightly against mine.
"Oh, Issus!" she breathed as she took them away, and then, "They come! Strike now, Hadron, and strike deep!"