She Led Him Up the Ancient Stairway Page 295
Gonzalvo stared at her incredulous, she was crediting him with a power that would place him high in the Castilian camp––if he could win! And more––she was to give him her own intense, glowing, restless self!
“I also hate Tahn-té,––that is why!” she said frankly, “and I love only men who are brave above all other men. Your fire sticks of thunder must not be heard on the heights of Pu-yé, but when Tahn-té and the witch meet there in the night, your arrows must send them together to the Afterworld––not one alone––but together! When the men of Te-hua find the dead witch (for the men of Te-gat-ha and the Navahu can witness that it is the one!) and when they find the lion robe of Tahn-té on her body,––and other gifts of Tahn-té––and find them dead the one beside the other, then the man who has made this happen will be a great man! Even the men of Te-gat-ha will come with gifts, and the men of Te-hua will give you honor, and will open the trail for you to the sun symbol. There will be no Tahn-té to put evil magic on them for doing so! When he is found dead with the witch maid they will see clearly that his magic was evil magic, and they will have breath that is deep and free again. Also I––Yahn Tsyn-deh––will walk beside you where you choose.”
Low and rapid was her speech there in the shadow of the adobe wall––and so fair was the dream she 285 made clear for him, that he felt himself grow dazed with the glory of it––yet he was a strong man!
If it was true that Tahn-té and the witch nested together in the ruins of Pu-yé, he knew well that the day of the young Ruler was ended in Povi-whah, or in any Te-hua council where it was known. But the strange mental or spiritual power of Tahn-té made it a thing of danger to let him live after accusal had been made. The way of Yahn seemed the best of all ways. If he was found dead beside the maid accursed, the evidence would be clear against him––and the True Faith would have the credit for such extermination!
He knew this was not a thing to speak of to Don Ruy––and though the padre was enemy to every thought of Tahn-té––he feared even the padre––that strange man who knew so much that was hidden in Indian life, would so clearly see that Yahn Tsyn-deh was as much the motive as gain of the gold, or glory for Mother Church.
No,––it was a thing to think out alone.