“It seems a slight thing to have so deep an effect!” he muttered.
“All magic is pretense,” said Zarga looking up at him. “We may be deceived in the efficiency of this spell. Torpeon may count on that!”
“Can Lamara, you Highest, be deceived?” exclaimed Jack, surprised.
“You heard her say that the nature of the spell had not been solved. She is wise and prudent: but perhaps gives too much weight to Aunion’s opinions. He, too, is wise, but age has made him timid. In their presence it didn’t become me to speak.”
“Do you know something they do not?”
“The blood of the Torides is in my veins,” replied Zarga, “and it gives me an understanding of their nature which a pure Saturnian could not have. It led me, out of curiosity, to make a study of their magic, though secretly. We hold it to be unlawful, and instead of mastering its methods, we confine ourselves to seeking antidotes against it. I am foolish to have told you this—but I believe you are too noble to denounce me. My only wish is to serve you and Miriam, if I may. I think this mark could be easily annulled. Your own intuition about it was truer than our science.” She met his troubled gaze for a moment, and added, “You said that love is enough!”
“Tell me all in your mind—you need have no fears!”
“Give me your hand,” said Zarga. She took it between her own, pressing her left palm against his, and continuing to look into his eyes. He was conscious of a keen thrill or vibration that passed from her hand to his heart, and again from his eyes to hers, establishing a circuit between them. There was something sweet in it, but also perilous. He felt that there had been a disclosure, which might better have been avoided; and yet what could he apprehend from this girl? Lamara trusted her.
“You are what I thought,” she said after a while, relinquishing his hand, with an enigmatic smile. “I will tell you my belief, and you can weigh its value in your own mind. Every moment that this mark remains on Miriam’s forehead, its roots grow deeper, and the harder it will prove to take it off. Before Aunion’s science can reach it, it will have become part of her being, which it would be death to disturb. Each swoon into which she sinks makes her more Torpeon’s, and less yours. No one but the man who loves her can break the spell: and the time to break it is now! If the prince wins her from you, you can never win her back. Even her love for you will be destroyed!”
“That cannot be true!” answered he drawing back.