“You were promised in marriage to a son of the king.”
“Yes, but I was not consulted in the matter.”
“Why should you be consulted? What woman among us can elect or reject a husband without the consent of her male relatives?”
“I know it, and believed the custom was right before I had my eyes opened to the truth,” replied the girl.
“In a spirit of rebellion you ran away with an unbeliever. It was not altogether to bring you back to Gondar myself, Ashah, and Deth came across the great seas.”
“Is that terrible man, Ashah, with you?” cried Zulima.
“Have I not said so? and I do not lie,” replied Ajeeb.
The girl shuddered.
“Ashah,” she said, “does not go forth except to kill.”
“And he came out here into the West to kill,” hissed Ajeeb, his great black eyes sparkling.