Rachel looked upwards, studying the stars.
“She takes counsel with the Heavens, she who is their daughter,” muttered one of the indunas in a low voice.
As he spoke it chanced that a bright meteor travelling from the south-west swept across the sky to burst and vanish over the kraal of Umgugundhlovo.
“It is a messenger to her,” said one. “I saw the fire shine upon her hair and vanish in her breast.”
“Nay,” answered another, “it is the Ehlose, the guardian ghost of the Amazulu that appears and dies.”
“Not so,” broke in a third, “that light shows the Amaboona travelling from the south-west to be eaten up in the blackness of our impis.”
“Such a star runs ever before the death of kings. It fell the night ere the Black One died,” murmured a fourth as though he spoke to himself.
Only Dingaan, taking no heed of them, said, addressing Rachel:
“Read thou the omen.”
“Nay,” she replied upon the swift impulse of the moment, “I read it not. Interpret it as ye will. Here is my answer to thy question, King. Those who lift the spear shall perish by the spear.”