I stood in silence before her, and Lah took up again the thread of her discourse.
“Behold, every day we grow weaker, and the food less. I had not thought to be a captive in mine own Palace, nor had I thought to give my heart into another’s keeping, as weaker women do. Yet have both issues come to pass.”
She turned once more to me. “My Dering, I had looked to ask thy wisdom in this matter; but no. On me alone shall rest the burden.”
She clapped her hands, and a slave came forward and stood with folded arms and bowed head, awaiting the royal word.
“Go, bid my ministers proclaim from the Palace walls my answer, for which the High Priest waits. Before the people, at the third hour, shall Zobo the Mighty wrestle, and to the friend of Edba and of Hed, victory.”
And thus the die was cast. I cannot tell with what feverish eagerness I awaited the result of this new move in the game, whose stakes were life and death. Lestrade was wild with alternate thrills of joy and fear when I told him of the matter. That was his nature. As for me, I saw well what the Queen’s defeat would mean to us, her captives, but I confess that the thought of her victory raised little hope in my breast.
As for the maid, to the blackness of Astolba’s despair there was just then no light. The poor girl was haunted by the thought of the flower of death, and the horror of it did what I much doubted the evil blossom itself could do. She was wasting away, and kisses, even mine, could not call back again, as once, the pretty color to her white cheeks. I did my best to comfort her, however, and when the third hour—the time appointed for the wrestling—came, Lestrade arrived and took my place beside her.
So, knowing Astolba to be in good hands, I again sought the Queen, and found from her that the meeting was to be in the open square before the Palace walls.
Already this was black with the mass of waiting people. From within I could see all that went on below, but it irked me that Lah had forbidden me to join her.
A raised platform, richly ornamented and hung with multicolored silks, had been hastily set up directly before the great centre gate. This gate had been opened, and there the Queen was to sit enthroned and surrounded by the guard.