`He said I was but an earthly sprite, knowing naught of the deeper gulfs of cosmic sorcery. Well, this world contains all I desire – power, and pomp, and glittering pageantry, handsome men and soft women for my paramours and my slaves. He had told me who I was, of the curse and my heritage. I have returned to take that to which I have as much right as you. Now it is mine by right of possession.’
`What do you mean?’ Taramis sprang up and faced her sister, stung out of her bewilderment and fright. `Do you imagine that by drugging a few of my maids and tricking a few of my guardsmen you have established a claim to the throne of Khauran? Do not forget that I am Queen of Khauran! I shall give you a place of honor, as my sister, but-‘
Salome laughed hatefully.
`How generous of you, dear, sweet sister! But before you begin putting me in my place – perhaps you will tell me whose soldiers camp in the plain outside the city walls?’
`They are the Shemitish mercenaries of Constantius, the Kothic voivode of the Free Companies.’
`And what do they in Khauran?’ cooed Salome.
Taramis felt that she was being subtly mocked, but she answered with an assumption of dignity which she scarcely felt.
`Constantius asked permission to pass along the borders of Khauran on his way to Turan. He himself is hostage for their good behavior as long as they are within my domains.’
`And Constantius,’ pursued Salome. `Did he not ask your hand today?’
Taramis shot her a clouded glance of suspicion.
`How did you know that?’
An insolent shrug of the slim naked shoulders was the only reply.
`You refused, dear sister?’
`Certainly I refused!’ exclaimed Taramis angrily. `Do you, an Askhaurian princess yourself, suppose that the Queen of Khauran could treat such a proposal with anything but disdain? Wed a bloody-handed adventurer, a man exiled from his own kingdom because of his crimes, and the leader of organized plunderers and hired murderers?
`I should never have allowed him to bring his black-bearded slayers into Khauran. But he is virtually a prisoner in the south tower, guarded by my soldiers. Tomorrow I shall bid him order his troops to leave the kingdom. He himself shall be kept captive until they are over the border. Meantime, my soldiers man the walls of the city, and I have warned him that he will answer for any outrages perpetrated on the villagers or shepherds by his mercenaries.’
`He is confined in the south tower?’ asked Salome.
`That is what I said. Why do you ask?’
For answer Salome clapped her hands, and lifting her voice, with a gurgle of cruel mirth in it, called: `The queen grants you an audience, Falcon!’
A gold-arabesqued door opened and a tall figure entered the chamber, at the sight of which Taramis cried out in amazement and anger.
`Constantius! You dare enter my chamber!’
`As you see, Your Majesty!’ He bent his dark, hawk-like head in mock humility.
Constantius, whom men called Falcon, was tall, broad-shouldered, slim-waisted, lithe and strong as pliant steel. He was handsome in an aquiline, ruthless way. His face was burnt dark by the sun, and his hair, which grew far back from his high, narrow forehead, was black as a raven. His dark eyes were penetrating and alert, the hardness of his thin lips not softened by his thin black mustache. His boots were of Kordavan leather, his hose and doublet of plain, dark silk, tarnished with the wear of the camps and the stains of armor rust.
Twisting his mustache, he let his gaze travel up and down the shrinking queen with an effrontery that made her wince.
`By Ishtar, Taramis,’ he said silkily, `I find you more alluring in your night-tunic than in your queenly robes. Truly, this is an auspicious night!’
Fear grew in the queen’s dark eyes. She was no fool; she knew that Constantius would never dare this outrage unless he was sure of himself.
`You are mad!’ she said. `If I am in your power in this chamber, you are no less in the power of my subjects, who will rend you to pieces if you touch me. Go at once, if you would live.’
Both laughed mockingly, and Salome made an impatient gesture.
`Enough of this farce; let us on to the next act in the comedy. Listen, dear sister: it was I who sent Constantius here. When I decided to take the throne of Khauran, I cast about for a man to aid me, and chose the Falcon, because of his utter lack of all characteristics men call good.’
`I am overwhelmed, princess,’ murmured Constantius sardonically, with a profound bow.
`I sent him to Khauran, and, once his men were camped in the plain outside, and he was in the palace, I entered the city by that small gate in the west wall – the fools guarding it thought it was you returning from some nocturnal adventure-‘
`You hell-cat!’ Taramis’s cheeks flamed and her resentment got the better of her regal reserve.
Salome smiled hardly.
`They were properly surprised and shocked, but admitted me without question. I entered the palace the same way, and gave the order to the surprised guards that sent them marching away, as well as the men who guarded Constantius in the south tower. Then I came here, attending to the ladies-in-waiting on the way.’
Taramis’s fingers clenched and she paled.
`Well, what next?’ she asked in a shaky voice.
`Listen!’ Salome inclined her head. Faintly through the casement there came the clank of marching men in armor; gruff voices shouted in an alien tongue, and cries of alarm mingled with the shouts.
`The people awaken and grow fearful,’ said Constantius sardonically. `You had better go and reassure them, Salome!’
`Call me Taramis,’ answered Salome. `We must become accustomed to it.’
`What have you done?’ cried Taramis. `What have you done?’
`I have gone to the gates and ordered the soldiers to open them,’ answered Salome. `They were astounded, but they obeyed. That is the Falcon’s army you hear, marching into the city.’
`You devil!’ cried Taramis. `You have betrayed my people, in my guise! You have made me seem a traitor! Oh, I shall go to them-‘
With a cruel laugh Salome caught her wrist and jerked her back. The magnificent suppleness of the queen was helpless against the vindictive strength that steeled Salome’s slender limbs.
`You know how to reach the dungeons from the palace, Constantius?’ said the witch-girl. `Good. Take this spitfire and lock her into the strongest cell. The jailers are all sound in drugged sleep. I saw to that. Send a man to cut their throats before they can awaken. None must ever know what has occurred tonight. Thenceforward I am Taramis, and Taramis is a nameless prisoner in an unknown dungeon.’
Constantius smiled with a glint of strong white teeth under his thin mustache.
`Very good; but you would not deny me a little – ah amusement first?’
`Not I! Tame the scornful hussy as you will.’ With a wicked laugh Salome flung her sister into the Kothian’s arms, and turned away through the door that opened into the outer corridor.
Fright widened Taramis’s lovely eyes, her supple figure rigid and straining against Constantius’s embrace. She forgot the men marching in the streets, forgot the outrage to her queenship, in the face of the menace to her womanhood. She forgot all sensations but terror and shame as she faced the complete cynicism of Constantius’s burning, mocking eyes, felt his hard arms crushing her writhing body.
Salome, hurrying along the corridor outside, smiled spitefully as a scream of despair and agony rang shuddering through the palace.
2 The Tree of Death
The young soldier’s hose and shirt were smeared with dried blood, wet with sweat and gray with dust. Blood oozed from the deep gash in his thigh, from the cuts on his breast and shoulder. Perspiration glistened on his livid face and his fingers were knotted in the cover of the divan on which he lay. Yet his words reflected mental suffering that outweighed physical pain.
`She must be mad!’ he repeated again and again, like one still stunned by some monstrous and incredible happening. `It’s like a nightmare! Taramis, whom all Khauran loves, betraying her people to that devil from Koth! Oh, Ishtar, why was I not slain? Better die than live to see our queen turn traitor and harlot!’
`Lie still, Valerius,’ begged the girl who was washing and bandaging his wounds with trembling hands. `Oh, please lie still, darling! You will make your wounds worse. I dared not summon a leech-‘
`No,’ muttered the wounded youth. `Constantius’s bluebearded devils will be searching the quarters for wounded Khaurani; they’ll hang every man who has wounds to show he fought against them. Oh, Taramis, how could you betray the people who worshipped you?’ In his fierce agony he writhed, weeping in rage and shame, and the terrified girl caught him in her arms, straining his tossing head against her bosom, imploring him to be quiet.