Part 20 (1/2)
”Nais, your sister is near us in the royal pyramid this minute, and under guard, though where I do not know.” And with that I told her all that had pa.s.sed since the girl was brought up a prisoner in the galley of that foolish, fawning captain of the port. ”The Empress has decreed that Nais shall be buried alive under a throne of granite which I am to build for her to-morrow, and buried she will a.s.suredly be. Yet I have a kindness for Nais, which you may guess at if you choose, and I am minded to send her into a sleep such as only we higher priests know of, from which at some future day she may possibly awaken.”
”So it is Nais; and not Ph.o.r.enice, and not--not any other?”
”Yes; it is Nais. I marry the Empress because Zaemon, who is mouthpiece to the High Council of the Priests, has ordered it, for the good of Atlantis. But my inwards remain still cold towards her.”
”Almost I hate poor Nais already.”
”Your vengeance would be easy. Do not tell me where she is gaoled, and I shall not dare to ask. Even to give Nais a further span of life I cannot risk making inquiries for her cell, when there is a chance that those who tell me might carry news to the Empress, and so cause more trouble for this poor Atlantis.”
”And why should I not carry the news, and so bring myself into favour again? I tell you that being fan-girl to Ph.o.r.enice and second woman in the kingdom is a thing that not many would cast lightly aside.”
I looked her between eyes and smiled. ”I have no fear there. You will not betray me, Ylga. Neither will you sell Nais.”
”I seem to remember very small love for this same Nais just now,” she said bitterly. ”But you are right about that other matter. I shall not buy myself back at your expense. Oh, I am a fool, I know, and you can give me no thanks that I care about, but there is no other way I can act.”
”Then let us fritter no more time. Go you out now and find where Nais is gaoled, and bring me news how I can say ten words to her, and press a certain matter into her clasp.”
She bowed her head and left the chamber, and for long enough I was alone. I sat down on the couch, and rested wearily against the wall.
My bones ached, my eyes ached, and most of all, my inwards ached. I had thought to myself that a man who makes his life sufficiently busy will find no leisure for these pains which a.s.sault frailer folk; but a philosophy like this, which carried one well in Yucatan, showed poorly enough when one tried it here at home. But that there was duty ahead, and the order of the High Council to be carried into effect, the bleakness of the prospect would have daunted me, and I would have prayed the G.o.ds then to spare me further life, and take me unto Themselves.
Ylga came back at last, and I got up and went quickly after her as she led down a maze of pa.s.sages and alleyways. ”There has been no care spared over her guarding,” she whispered, as we halted once to move a stone. ”The officer of the guard is an old lover of mine, and I raised his hopes to the burning point again by a dozen words. But when I wanted to see his prisoner, there he was as firm as bra.s.s. I told him she was my sister, but that did not move him. I offered him--oh, Deucalion, it makes me blush to think of the things I did offer to that man, but there was no stirring him. He has watched the tormentors so many times, that there is no tempting him into touch of their instruments.”
”If you have failed, why bring me out here?”
”Oh, I am not inveigling you into a lover's walk with myself, sir. You tickle yourself when you think your society is so pleasant as that.”
”Come, girl, tell me then what it is. If my temper is short, credit it against my weariness.”
”I have carried out my lord's commands in part. I know the cell where Nais lives, and I have had speech with her, though not through the door.
And moreover, I have not seen her or touched her hand.”
”Your riddles are beyond me, Ylga, but if there is a chance, let us get on and have this business done.”
”We are at the place now,” said she, with a hard little laugh, ”and if you kneel on the floor, you will find an airshaft, and Nais will answer you from the lower end. For myself, I will leave you. I have a delicacy in hearing what you want to say to my sister, Deucalion.”
”I thank you,” I said. ”I will not forget what you have done for me this night.”
”You may keep your thanks,” she said bitterly, and walked away into the shadows.
I knelt on the floor of the gallery, and found the air pa.s.sage with my hand, and then, putting my lips to it, whispered for Nais.
The answer came on the instant, m.u.f.fled and quiet. ”I knew my lord would come for a farewell.”
”What the Empress said, has to be. You understand, my dear? It is for Atlantis.”
”Have I reproached my lord, by word or glance?”
”I myself am bidden to place you in the hollow between the stones, and I must do it.”