“I left Incubu wounded, but leading the advance against Sorais last night at sundown; therefore let thy heart have rest. Sorais is beaten back all along her lines, and thy arms prevail.”
“I knew it,” she cried in triumph. “I knew that he would win; and they called him Outlander, and shook their wise heads when I gave him the command! Last night at sundown, sayest thou, and it is not yet dawn? Surely—”
“Throw a cloak around thee, Nyleptha,” I broke in, “and give us wine to drink; ay, and call thy maidens quick if thou wouldst save thyself alive. Nay, stay not.”
Thus adjured she ran and called through the curtains towards some room beyond, and then hastily put on her sandals and a thick cloak, by which time a dozen or so of half-dressed women were pouring into the room.
“Follow us and be silent,” I said to them as they gazed with wondering eyes, clinging one to another. So we went into the first ante-room.
“Now,” I said, “give us wine to drink and food, if ye have it, for we are near to death.”
The room was used as a mess-room for the officers of the guards, and from a cupboard some flagons of wine and some cold flesh were brought forth, and Umslopogaas and I drank, and felt life flow back into our veins as the good red wine went down.
“Hark to me, Nyleptha,” I said, as I put down the empty tankard. “Hast thou here among these thy waiting-ladies any two of discretion?”
“Ay,” she said, “surely.”
“Then bid them go out by the side entrance to any citizens whom thou canst bethink thee of as men loyal to thee, and pray them come armed, with all honest folk that they can gather, to rescue thee from death. Nay, question not; do as I say, and quickly. Kara here will let out the maids.”