ou should wed me, and appear before the people no
longer as a goddess, but as a woman who has put on the flesh for
her love's sake. I know well that I am all unworthy of such honour,
moreover, that your heart must be sore with the loss of one who was
dear to you, and little set upon the finding of another husband; also
I remember certain words that passed between us and a promise which I
made. All these things I told to Nam, and he answered me saying that
the matter was urgent, that here you could not be hid away for long, and
that if I did not take you to wife then you must die. Therefore, because
my love towards you is great, I said to him, 'Go now and ask her if she
will smile upon me if I come before her with such words.'

"Nam went, but before he went he made certain agreements with me on
matters of policy, under which I must pay a heavy price for you, Lady,
and forego revenge and forget many an ancient hate, all of which things
I have promised to do should you smile upon me, so great is my love
towards you. The hours went by, and Nam came back to me, saying that,
having weighed the matter in your mind, your answer was favourable. To
this I replied that I did not trust him, and would take it from your
lips alone.

"And now, Queen, I am here to listen to your word, and to offer myself
to you, to serve you all my life as your husband and your slave. I have
little to give you who have been bred up in sunnier lands, and among a
more gentle people; I who am but the wild chief of men whose hearts are
rugged as our mountains, and gloomy as a winter's day that is heavy with
snow to come,--only myself, the service of my soldiers' spears, and the
first place among the Children of the Mist.

"Now let me hear your answer, and be it what it may, I will accept it
without a murmur, for least of all things do I desire to force myself
upon you in marriage. Still I pray you, speak to me plainly once and for
all, for if I must lose you I would know the worst; nor can I bear, when
you have smiled upon me, to see you turn away. Nay, I would sooner die."

And once more he bowed his head, leaned upon his spear, and was silent.

Juanna considered the position rapidly. It was hopeless and cruel. Nam
and Soa were on either side of her, the latter standing near the door
with the sliding panel beyond which Leonard lay bound, and she knew well
that did she speak a single word of the truth to Olfan, it would be the
signal for her lover's de