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〃Hearken； Lord。 I knew it always； but being woman I desired to hear it
from your own lips。 Of this be certain： that though I am but what I
am； a maiden； wild…hearted and untaught； no man shall ever have a
truer and more loving wife。 It is my hope； even that my love will be
such that in it at last you may learn to forget that other lady far
away who once was yours； if only for an hour。〃
Now I shrank as from a sword prick； since first loves； whatever the
tale of them； as Quilla guessed or Nature taught her； are not easily
forgot； and even when they are dead their ghosts will rise and haunt
us。
〃And my hope； most dear； is that you will be mine； not for an hour but
for all our life's days；〃 I answered。
〃Aye；〃 she said； sighing； 〃but who knows how many these will be？
Therefore let us pluck the flowers before they wither。 I hear steps。
The lords come to summon us。 Be pleased to enter the Council at my
side and holding me by the hand。 There I have somewhat to say to the
people。 The shadow of the Inca Kari； whom you spared； still lies cold
upon us and them。〃
Before I could ask her meaning the lords entered； three of them； and
glancing at us curiously； said that all were gathered。 Then they
turned and went before us to the great hall where every place was
filled。 Hand in hand we mounted the dais； and as we came all the
audience rose and greeted us with a roar of welcome。
Quilla seated herself upon a throne and motioned to me to take my
place upon another throne at her side； which I noted stood a little
higher than that on which she sat； and this； as I learned afterwards；
not by chance。 It was planned so to tell the people； of the Chancas
that henceforth I was their king while she was but my wife。
When the shouting had died away Quilla rose from her throne and began
to speak； which like many of the higher class of this people she could
do well enough。
〃Lords and Captains of the Chanca nation；〃 she said； 〃my father； the
king Huaracha； being dead； leaving no lawful son； I have succeeded to
his dignities； and summoned you here to take counsel with me。
〃First； learn this； that I； your Queen and Lady； have been chosen as
wife by him who sits at my side。〃
Here the company shouted again； thus announcing that this tidings
pleased them。 For though by now only the common people still believed
me to be a god risen from the sea； all held that I was a great general
and a great man； one who knew much that they did not know； and who
could both lead and fight better than the best of them。 Indeed； since
I had slain Urco with my hands and overcome Kari； who as Inca was
believed to be clothed with the strength of the Sun and therefore
unconquerable； I was held to be unmatched throughout Tavantinsuyu。
Moreover； the army that had fought under my command loved me as though
I were their father as well as their general。 Therefore all greeted
this tidings well enough without astonishment； for they knew it was
their dead king's wish that I should wed his daughter and that to win
her I had gone through much。
In answer to their shoutings I； too； rose from my seat； and drawing
the sword Wave…Flame； which I wore girt about my dinted armour； with
it I saluted first Quilla and then the gathered nobles； saying：
〃Lords of the Chancas； when on an island in the sea； my eyes fell upon
this lady who to…day is your queen； I loved her and swore that I would
wed her if I might。 Between that day and this much has befallen。 She
was snatched away to be made the wife of Urco； heir to the Inca
throne； and afterwards； to escape him whom she hated； she took refuge
in the House of the Inca god。 Then； people of the Chancas； came the
great war which we shared together； and in the end I rescued her from
that house of bondage； and slew Urco while he strove to steal or stab
her。 This done； I conquered Kari the Inca； who was as my brother； yet
because I saved your lady from his god the Sun； became my enemy； and
together she and I returned to this； her land。 Now it is her will to
wed me； as it has always been mine to wed her； and here in front of
all of you I take her to wife； as she takes me to husband； hoping that
for many years it may be given to us to rule over you； and to our
children after us。 Yet I warn you that although in the great war that
has been； if with much loss； we have held our own against all the
hosts of Cuzco and won an honourable peace； by this marriage of ours；
which robs the Inca god of one of a thousand brides； that peace is
broken。 Therefore in the future； as in the past； there will be war
between the Quichua and the Chanca peoples。〃
〃We know it；〃 shouted the nobles。 〃War is decreed； let war come！〃
〃What would you have had me do？〃 I went on。 〃Leave your queen to
languish in the House of the Sun； wed to nothingness； or suffer her to
be dragged away to be one of Urco's women； or hand her back to Kari to
be slain as a sacrifice to a god whom you do not accept？〃
〃Nay！〃 they cried。 〃We would have her wed you； White Lord…from…the…
Sea； that she may become a mother of kings。〃
〃So I thought； Chancas。 Yet I warn you that there is trouble near。 The
storm gathers and soon it will burst； since Kari is not one who breaks
his oaths。〃
〃Why did you not kill him when he was in your hand； and take his
throne？〃 asked one。
〃Because I could not。 Because it would not have been pleasing to
Heaven that I should slay a man who for years had been as my brother。
Because in this way or in that the deed would have fallen back upon my
head； upon the head of the lady Quilla； and upon your heads also； O
people of the Chancas； because〃
At this moment there was disturbance at the end of the hall； and a
herald cried：
〃An embassy！ An embassy from Kari； the Inca。〃
〃Let it be admitted；〃 said Quilla。
Presently up the central passage marched the embassy with pomp； great
lords and 〃earmen；〃 every man of them； and bowed before us。
〃Your words？〃 said Quilla quietly。
〃They are these； Lady；〃 answered the spokesman of the party。 〃For the
last time the Inca demands that you should surrender yourself to be
sacrificed as one who has betrayed the Sun。 He asks it of you since he
has learned that your father Huaracha is no more。〃
〃And if I refuse to surrender myself； what then； O Ambassador？〃
〃Then in the name of the Empire and in his own name the Inca declares
war upon you； war to the end； until not one of Chanca blood is left
living beneath the sun and not one stone marks where your city stood。
It may be that a while will pass before this sword of war falls upon
your head； since the Inca must gather his armies and give a breathing
space to his peoples after all the troubles that have been。 Yet if not
this year； then next year； and if not next year； then the year after；
that sword shall fall。〃
Quilla listened and turned pale； though more； I think； with wrath than
fear。 Then she said：
〃You have heard； Chancas； and know how stands this case。 If I
surrender myself to be sacrificed； the Inca in his mercy will spare
you； if I do not surrender myself； soon or late he will destroy you
if he can。 Say； then； shall I surrender myself？〃
Now every man in that great hall leapt up and from every throat there
arose a shout of
〃Never！〃
When it had died away an aged chief and councillor； an uncle of
Huaracha； the dead King； came forward and stared at the envoys with
his horny eyes。
〃Go back to the Inca；〃 he said； 〃and tell him that the threats of the
mouth are one thing and the deeds of the hand are another。 In the late
war that has been he has learned something of our quality； both as
foes and friends； and perchance more remains for him to learn。 Yonder
is one〃and he pointed to myself〃who is about to become our King
and the husband of our Queen。 By the help of that one and of some of
us the Inca won his throne。 From the mercy of that one； also； but a
little while ago the Inca won his life。 Let him be careful lest
through the might of that one； behind whom stands every Chanca that
breathes； the Inca Kari Upanqui should yet lose both throne and life；
and with them the ancient empire of the Sun。 Thus say we all。〃
〃Thus say we all！〃 repeated the great company with a roar that shook
the walls。
In the silence that followed Quilla asked：
〃Have you aught to add； O Ambassadors？〃
〃Ay； this；〃 said the first of them。
〃The Chanca tree is about to be cut down； but the Inca still offers a
refuge to the Lion that hides among its branches because he has loved
that Lion from of old。 Let the White Lord…from…the…Sea over whom you
have cast the net of your witcheries return with us and he shall be
saved and given place and power； and with them a brother's love。〃
Now Quilla looked at me； and I rose to speak but could not； since all
that came from my lips was laughter。 At length I said：
〃But the other day when I gave him his life； the Inca named me noble。
What would he think of me if I said yes to this offer？ Would he call
me noble then and the Lion that dwells in the Chanca tree？ Or；
whatever his lips might speak； would not his heart name me the basest
of slaves and no lion of the tree； but rather a snake that creeps at
its roots？ Get you gone