“King Atlano, I am nineteen.”
“Thou art of age to be a warrior. Wouldst thou be a captain?”
“I would be a warrior like my father. I care not to war for the sake of it, but I would joy to war if it was to save my land, my home.”
The queen glanced at him in reproof. His honesty and fearlessness she was ever dreading. The king glared for a moment, then, smiling, inquired:
“Æole, how old art thou?”
“King Atlano, I am sixteen.”
“Thou art of age to be a handmaid. Æole, wouldst thou be a handmaid in the great temple?”
The queen checked a cry of dismay, and became so white that Hellen, in his fear, moved nearer her.
Æole, also, was alarmed, though, after taking the queen’s hand, she spoke out with a fine bravery:
“King Atlano, I would not be a handmaid. I would stay with Queen Atlana while I am here.”