The insolence of Hubla’s fiendish laughter choked me with rage, but I met her taunts in silence; and if Lestrade had but followed my lead in the matter, the red witch would have lacked food for merriment.
As for Astolba—the poor maid was crushed. So near to freedom, and now back to the manifold horrors of the gorgeous gilded cage we called our prison. She followed blindly, as one in a dream, and her white face was the best spur to my resolve to save her. This attempt should not be the last. Edba and Hed and all the powers of darkness; the Queen, the priests, the ravening mob,—all against one man’s promise; yet even in the face of this disgraceful entry to the Palace I bound myself again by a new oath, Astolba should be saved.
I like not to think even now of that disgraceful journey to the royal house. I saw the frenzied people shrink from the hag who drove us reluctant onward; even the priests turned aside in fear at her approach.
Thus in the early dawn we came, unmolested and unquestioned, to the secret entrance by which we had left. The guard received us. I saw Hubla whisper a word into the ear of Zobo, and he ungraciously bade us enter. The smiling, malicious face of the red witch was for an instant pressed close to mine. I drew back with a smothered exclamation of disgust. Her jeering laugh rang again through the stone corridor, and she had gone. May she receive a just reward! Through her we were once more prisoners.
After an hour’s rest I sought the Queen, for it was no plan of mine to make, without need, a new enemy. One glance at her face assured me that, for reasons of her own, Hubla had kept our secret. As for Zobo, I had no fear. It was for his interest, as much as mine, that he should be silent as to that night’s doings.
Lah was pacing up and down the open court where she was wont to receive me. The tinkling fountain, the tapestries, the jewelled banquet cups, the heavy perfumed flowers, the Queen’s very beauty, filled me with a new unrest, but I hid the feeling. Lah was hardly mistress of herself in that hour, else it was very like she would have read me. As it was, I saw that something of importance had happened, and that for the time, at least, I was quite safe.
“Agno’s messenger has but now gone,” she said. “Some day I will have the neck of that arch-traitor, the High Priest, beneath my heel. But now he knows his power, yet knowing it fears mine.
“This then is his message. The justice of our quarrel shall the gods decide. To-day, if so it be my will, Zobo shall wrestle with the Head Man of Edba’s Temple. I know the fellow; he is a giant in size and strength, but slow of wit.
“Agno believes that my faithful Captain is worn with lack of sleep and much watching. It is also in the compact that the People’s Champion be oiled from head to foot; he alone, not Zobo. Then shall these two wrestle, and from the gods, judgment. Zobo holds the guard still loyal. If he be slain, then I look for such mercy as the priests may show. But if he be the victor—”
The Queen’s eyes glowed with a strange fire. “Then am I once more in my rightful place, the mistress of my people,—” she spoke softly,—“and revenge is strangely sweet.”