CHAPTER V  -  VEDRONA

Before Æna had finished her exclamation the hangings at the extreme end of the apartment were thrown aside, revealing a pretty but daring picture stepping out from the softened background of a corridor. It was the advent of the Princess, who with the fearless innocence of a child led the lions, one on either side, her delicate and fragile hands playfully caressing their huge heads or twisting in their shaggy manes. Close behind came the stalwart form of the hunter, with folded arms and restless, wary eyes, in spite of the perfect confidence he possessed in the brutes, ever ready to avert an accident. It was indeed a truly royal picture, wherein criticism would be at a loss to say in which feature lay the greater majesty, and the dim background of less confident attendants added the touch of distant homage to accentuate the group.

Vedrona's personality was remarkably attractive, though not a technically handsome lady. Her paramount and immediately captivating charms were spiritual rather than physical expressions; still, even in these latter qualities she would not be lost among the majority of her sisters. But while others would use their natural favours and graces to more telling advantage, with the Princess there was a sense of lassitude and inertia regretfully suggesting the presence of her mother's weakness. On the other hand, her movements and bearing indicated a reserve of courage and resolution for use upon occasion, a latent fire smouldered in the hazel eye, and the bright gleams in her chestnut hair betokened spirit, determination and will, by which she resisted the influences of heredity and heroically refused to yield until absolutely compelled. Still, the haunting shadow was always present, and pleaded with melancholy pathos for consideration in all she did.

With the succession had been handed down from mother to daughter an ancient tradition that the welfare of the nation depended upon the Queen­mother governing by example rather than autocratic decree, and the popularity of the ailing Sazone was due in no small measure to the careful attention she had given to the maintenance of this rule.

Both Glarces and Vedrona had been instructed accordingly, and already the heir-apparent had given evidence in her private life of the determination to uphold the traditions which had done so much to preserve the simple and prosperous communal interests of her people.

If dress may really be taken as an index of personal character, we may safely leave it to speak in its eloquent simplicity for Vedrona, who was robed in some soft creamy airiness, which fell in undisturbed and graceful folds from shoulders to feet, being looped at the neck with knots of amethysts, leaving the arms mostly bare. Her wavy brown tresses were held in slender bondage by a fillet of gold, from which it fell in loose ripples far below her waist. Such was her morning toilet.

As she reached her favourite divan, where Æna and Zillah awaited her, her pleasant attention was diverted from the lions to salute her slaves, who prostrated themselves and kissed the hem of her robe. The careful interest she took in all around was at once apparent in the notice of the shadow that still rested on Zillah's face.

“Something troubles you, my child; what is it?”

“I was anxious, O Princess, when your coming was so delayed; but in your presence I am always happy,” she answered, her face beaming with a smiling mask.

“Not so, my Zillah. My eyes can see through the veil of your kindly laughter. You are not well, my child, and shall be freed from your services to-day. Go, rest in the sunshine of the gardens, and let the flowers and birds charm away the poison of Medusa's serpents.”

The suspicious jealousy of the girl misunderstood the considerate kindness, and her dark cheeks flushed crimson with rage as she took her unwilling departure.

“Now, Æna, reach your lute and play some soft and soothing music, for I, too, am disturbed to-day.” Then, as the girl produced her instrument, the Princess turned to Maphir. “So you have fallen foul of my lord Casca this morning?” she enquired.

“For which I have to crave your pardon, O most noble Princess,” he replied.

“Not so,” she answered. “Tasha tells me the fault is not yours. How did it occur, Iasis?”

“I sent your commands to Casca,” replied the lady appealed to, “but when the slave arrived the eunuch was not yet awake, and the message must have failed to reach him.”

“Not yet awake, and the sun so high. Why so?”

“He attended the lady Lais to the marriage festivities at the house of Teresh last night, and did not return till the car of Phœbus had gone forth.”

“With Lais again; he is mostly her companion now. Has my lord conceived a thought of marriage in that direction also?” she questioned, playfully hinting at Casca's well-known weakness.

“Not with Lais,” Iasis ventured. And then, with a view of testing the truth of a rumour Casca had not interested himself to contradict, she added: “The eunuch would never be content with your royal sister until all other hopes had been dispelled.”

“Iasis,” spake the Princess, with far more warmth than she was wont to use, “let me hear no more of this man's mad dreaming concerning myself; and, if you share his confidence, tell him that his wild ambition is leading him along a dangerous path. Thrice have I heard these hints concerning him; but if I hear so much as another whisper, my voice may be added to those who already speak against him, and my first word will be a fatal one. I have heard of this mad folly until I am weary of it. As for you, Maphir, I will see Casca presently, and make such explanation as will clear you from any blame.”

“I am but a slave, O Princess, and it is not meet that you should trouble on my behalf.”

“But slaves are also men,” she replied.

“If everyone had your consideration our fetters would be more light than they are,” he still dared to reply, anxious to push his opportunity as far as possible, in the hope that it would secure his heart's desire.

“Fetters!” she exclaimed. “My good Maphir, we allow no fetters here.”

“Not of iron, lady; but the heaviest bonds are those which no eye can see.” And the sincerity of his speech was attested by the sigh he was unable to suppress.

“What is this, Maphir?” she asked in pleasant surprise; “surely my gloomy son of Cush is not anxious to confess a love attachment. If so, be advised and defer your opportunity, since I am not in the mood to sympathise with love to-day. I am vexed, disturbed, defiant. Rather tell me how you captured these tawny brutes,” as she playfully buried her foot first in the mane of one and then the other, as they crouched before her. “Such a story will better suit my rebellious mind, and perhaps restore my

His dearest wish was granted, and in the command he was confident he could trace the influence of Tasha, the allusion of the Princess being only one of her kindly subterfuges by which she sought to conceal her gracious intentions.

Leaving the lions at her feet, he stepped before the royal divan and commenced his story, which needed no art of eloquence to attract her attention, nor simulated pathos to hold her rapt interest.

It was a simple hunter's story of an expedition lasting through several months to secure a brace of cubs, for which an unusual price was offered; of success, and return full of hope and congratulation; of capture, with his prizes, and transportation to a distant land, while wife and children waited, and perhaps were still waiting and longing for his coming.

All the sympathy and commiseration of Vedrona was awakened.

“But did you not go home?” she asked in consternation, as he finished his story.

“No, lady,” he replied sorrowfully; “when men are stolen for slaves, there is no time allowed for farewells.” “Oh! my poor Maphir, this is too horrible! Why did you not tell me this before? But fear not, I will not keep you long. I will speak to the Prince to-day, and, though I do not know how the lions will do without you, you are more than they, and as soon as we can find another keeper, shall return by one of our caravans to Memphis, well rewarded for the wrongs you have suffered. From Memphis you will soon be able to reach home.”