Miriam had begun to stir, she raised her head, opened her eyes, and rubbed them sleepily as a child does in the early morning; then, she looked up, and saw Alric standing beside her.
“You were saying to me, my lord, ‘I vow to be loyal to Hatsu;’ but, we were both standing!” she looked perplexed, then troubled; “did I swoon, my lord?”
Alric laid one of his hands, with the freedom of a free man on the beautiful shoulder of the slave, with his other arm he drew her to him. With a mighty effort, she loosed herself from his hold, her face deadly pale, her nostrils distended.
“My lord,” she said slowly, “do not lay so much as the tip of your finger upon me!”
“As you will,” he said, shrugging his shoulders; “but in answer to your question, Miriam, you did not swoon, but fell asleep here, alone with me! it will not be the last time my pretty one, that this shall befall you, for I am to receive you as wife, from our princess on the day in which she weds her brother the king.”
Miriam said no word, she only looked at him as though she strove to read his soul.
“My lord,” she said at last, “the Princess will never grant this request, she knows full well that in all this land, none is so faithful as her Miriam; she knows that I have almost ceased to mourn the captivity of my people, because she is so dear to my heart. My lord, I shall be no wife to you, I am a slave, and it ill becomes me to say nay to one so high in authority, but my lord it can not be because I——”
Alric had stepped close to her. “I do not care for your why’s, and wherefores,” he said haughtily, “it is because you are so loyal, to the Princess, it is because I am bound body and soul to her service, that you must come to me. Thus only can the queen be sure to keep you beside her, enemies might, spirit away an Israelitish bondwoman; but who is there that would touch the free wife of Alric, the beloved and adopted son of Zelas, the great high priest. So there is nothing but your death, that can prevent this union of ours, and I scarcely think your aversion to me, can be so great, as for you to take that road to balk my wishes.” A ring of command sounded in his voice as he added, “Girl, I come of a race who, when they woo a maid, win her! a few days hence, with ring bell and pomgranate, will I wed you and in my city house, and on my estates amid the lake country you will reign a free woman, when your duties upon the Princess permit of your absence from service upon Her Highness.”
“I am a slave,” answered Miriam, “and it ill becomes me to say aught, to the man, that has power to take me out of bondage, and make me free. I do not lack in gratitude to you my lord, and for the Princess, I would gladly lay down my life, only I fancied I——”
“Again I bid you pause,” interrupted Alric; “telling one’s thoughts, is not often wise. Accept thou that which the Gods provide, Miriam; not troubling much. You are to be mine! and knowing this, be content; but, for your enduring comfort let me repeat, that this marriage of ours only cements your nearness to the woman that you adore,—and who adores you—I am to be the constant companion of the King; you of the Queen.”