“I weep, father, because your guest, the prince Aziel, has called me ‘a girl of the groves, and a murderess of children,’” she replied.
“Then, by my head, prince that he is, he shall answer for it to me,” said Sakon, grasping at his sword-hilt.
“Nay, father, since to him I must have seemed to deserve the words. Listen.” And she told him all that had passed, hiding nothing.
“Now it seems that trouble is heaped upon trouble,” said the Phœnician when she had finished, “and they were mad who suffered the prince and that fierce Issachar to be present at the sacrifice. Daughter, I tell you this: though I am a worshipper of El and Baaltis, as my fathers were before me, I know that Jehovah of the Jews is a great and powerful Lord, and that His prophets do not prophesy falsely, for I have seen it in my youth, yonder in the coasts of Sidon. What did Issachar say? That before the moon was young again, this temple should run red with blood? Well, so it may happen, for Ithobal threatens war against us, and for your sake, my daughter.”
“How for my sake, father?” she asked heavily, as one who knew what the answer would be.
“You know well, girl. Ever since you danced before him at the great welcoming feast I made in his honour a month ago the man is besotted of you; moreover, he is mad with jealousy of this new-comer, the prince Aziel. He has demanded public audience of me this afternoon, and I have it privately that then he will formally ask you in marriage before the people, and if he is refused will declare war upon the city, with which he has many an ancient quarrel. Yes, yes, king Ithobal is that sword of God which the Jew said he saw hanging over us, and should it fall it will be because of you, Elissa.”
“The Jew did not say that, father; he said it would be because of the sins of the people and their idolatries.”
“What does it matter what he said?” broke in Sakon hastily. “How shall I answer Ithobal?”
“Tell him,” she replied with a strange smile, “that he does wisely to be jealous of the prince Aziel.”
“What! Of the stranger who this very day reviled you in words of such shame, and so soon?” asked her father astonished.