“Knowest thou aught of what hath happened since thou wert found as if dead?”
“Most Honored and High Priest, I know naught since I fell before Amen in the inner holy place, and besought him to take me from this life.”
Oltis shrank back, and a murmur arose that swelled through the vast assemblage. This murmur grew to a shout as Queen Atlana, who had not shown herself, leaned over, and clasped Æole to her.
With a glad cry that brought tears to the eyes near her, the young girl returned the embrace, and kissed again and again the hands of this almost mother.
But soon Queen Atlana raised to her full height, to her lovely, gracious bearing, and looked about her.
“Atlanteans,” she said, with a world of meaning. Delighted cries answered her.
“Atlanteans, am I right to take her back to the palace—this fair young captive who hath grown to be my daughter?”
Deafening were the shouts:
“Yea! Yea!”
“Ye will aid me?”