ath. It was possible that the king might be
able to protect her own person from violence, but if Leonard died it
mattered little what became of her. There was but one thing that she
could do--declare herself willing to become the wife of Olfan. Yet it
seemed shameless thus to treat this honourable man, the only friend
that they had found among the People of the Mist. But of a truth,
such necessities as hers cannot wait while those in their toils weigh
scruples or the law of honour.

"Olfan," she said, "I have heard you, and this is my answer: I will take
you as my husband. You know my story, you know that he who was my lord
is but this day dead," here Soa smiled approvingly at the lie, "and that
I loved him. Therefore of your gentleness, you will accord me some few
weeks before I pass from him to you, in which I may mourn my widowhood.
I will say no more, but surely you can guess the sorrow of my heart, and
all that I have left unsaid."

"It shall be as you wish, Queen," replied Olfan, taking her hand and
kissing it, while his sombre face grew radiant with happiness. "You
shall pass into my keeping at that time which best pleases you, yet I
fear that in one matter you must be troubled now, this very hour."

"What may that be, Olfan?" asked Juanna anxiously.

"Only this, Queen, that the rite of marriage as we practise it must be
celebrated between us. It is necessary for many reasons which will be
made clear to you to-morrow. Moreover, such was my bargain with Nam
sealed by an oath sworn upon the blood of Aca, an oath that I do not
dare to break."

"Oh, no, no!" said Juanna in acute distress. "Think, Olfan, how can I,
whose husband is not six hours dead, vow myself to another man upon the
altar of his grave? Give me some few days, I pray you."

"Most willingly would I do this, Lady, but I may not, it is against my
oath. Also, what can it matter? You shall remain alone for so long as it
shall please you."

Then Nam spoke for the first time, saying:

"Shepherdess, waste no breath in words, for learn that though this
garment of modesty is becoming to one new widowed, yet you must put it
from you. More depends upon this ceremony than you know of, the lives
of many hang upon it, our own, perchance, among them, and especially the
life of one of whom it does not become me to speak," and as though by
accident Nam let his eyes rest upon the door of the adjoining cell.

Of his auditors Olfan thought that he was alluding