u let us slay her and make an end,' for these fools thought that I
could be killed. Allan, I conquered them, but their captain, who also
is named Rezu and whom they held and hold to be an emanation of the god
himself walking the earth, I could not conquer."

"Why not?" I asked.

"For this reason, Allan. In some past age his god showed him the same
secret that was shown to me. He too had drunk of the Cup of Life and
lives on unharmed by Time, so that being in strength my equal, no spear
of mine can reach his heart clad in the armour of his evil god."

"Then what spear can?" I inquired helplessly, who was bewildered.

"None at all, Allan, yet an _axe_ may, as you shall hear, or so I
think. For many generations there has been peace of a sort between the
worshippers of Lulala who dwell with me in the Plain of Kor, or rather
of myself, since to these people _I_ am Lulala, and the worshippers of
Rezu, who dwell in the strongholds beyond the mountain crest. But of
late years their chief Rezu, having devastated the lands about, has
grown restless and threatened to attack on Kor, which is not strong
enough to stand against him. Moreover he has sought for a white queen to
rule under him, purposing to set her up to mock my majesty."

"Is that why those cannibals carried away the daughter of my companion,
the Sea-Captain who is named Avenger?" I asked.

"It is, Allan, since presently he will give it out that I am dead or
fled, if he has not done so already, and that this new queen has arisen
in my place. Thereby he hopes to draw away many who cling to me ere he
advances upon Kor, carrying with him this girl veiled as I am, so that
none may know the difference between us, since not a man of them has
ever looked upon my face, Allan. Therefore this Rezu must die, if die he
can; otherwise, although it is impossible that he should harm me, he may
slay or draw away my people and leave me with none to rule in this
place where by the decree of Fate I must dwell on until he whom I seek
returns. You are thinking in your heart that such savages would be
little loss and this is so, but still they serve as slaves to me in my
loneliness. Moreover I have sworn to protect them from the demon Rezu
and they have trusted in me and therefore my honour is at stake, for
never shall it be said that those who trusted in She-who-commands, were
overthrown because they put faith in one who was powerless."

"What do you mean about an axe, Ayesha?" I ask