CHAPTER XLV - THE EUNUCH'S TABLETS

Maphir turned away from the miserable eunuch, not only without compunction, but with a gleam of satisfaction lighting up his dusky face. He was not cruel, but it had fallen to his lot to administer what justice was at hand in a case of brutal, barbarous inhumanity such as he had neither encountered nor conceived before. And this treatment had not been meted out to a tyrant nor an enemy, but by the man who had received favours and consideration without parallel to the friend who had protected him.

This hardened Maphir's heart.

He had the gangway drawn to his side of the chasm and hidden for future use; then, being no longer necessary to keep up the watch, he dismissed the slaves for the night, and returned to his self-elected guard, where Teresh and Zachra found him a little later as they took their leave.

The hunter made anxious enquiries, but modestly refused to thrust himself into the presence of his royal master, even though the friends assured him of the pleasure it would afford the Prince. To him waiting was a small matter if he could only hear of an improvement, and since this had already begun, he was content. With an apologetic caution not to be surprised and lose Glarces again - at which Maphir smiled, but said nothing of what had taken place - he promised to watch, and the two councillors retired.

Tasha had been absent for a time during the day, and was now in charge for the night.

In the confidence of Casca's promise Lais slept and dreamed pleasantly, having also devised a secret scheme for the mortification of Zillah, which circumstances would allow to be put into operation without a suggestion of pre-meditation.

The position Zillah had assumed made her instrumental to a great extent in building up the popularity of Lais. Not that she desired to do so, but in her own self-interest the other was indispensable. Ostensibly they were inseparable friends; privately each kept a lynx-eyed watch upon the other, and maintained an armed neutrality. The advantage in this respect was always in favour of the Iberian, and Lais knew it. It irritated and added an ingredient of bitterness to the cup of her prosperity, which she was ever on the alert to remove, but it was useless. Every attempt failed. Zillah smiled pleasantly, but said nothing. Lais fumed.

At length, however, the Queen had a certain triumph she could enjoy to the chagrin of her insufferable companion; she, therefore, invited Zillah to breakfast, in the course of which she would undesignedly hear Casca's report. It would be full of news to her in many ways, and full of revenge for the Queen.

“What childish folly does she dream of now?” Zillah questioned of herself when the message was delivered. Then, turning to the slave - “ Assure the Queen of my instant obedience to her gracious command,” and almost before the reply was delivered she was making her most dutiful obeisance.

“Meshrac advises that today is to be full of significance to Sahama and myself,” explained Lais, “therefore, in order that it may begin well, I have desired your company.”

“Is it to be another of the astrologer's special effects?” she enquired with smiling but pointed significance.

“In what sense special, my mystical Zillah?”

“Oh, surely he is able to devise that for himself. When he announced the day he had certainly arranged some great effect to be produced. Has he neglected to submit his programme?”

Lais laughed musically.

“How strangely our customs must differ from those of Iberia,” she replied; “I think you told me that you have no magicians there?”

“What use are they? What purpose do they serve?” It may be they are not useful in reality, if the enquiry is pressed too far, but they are absorbingly interesting.”

“Perhaps so - to children, but in Iberia we ask for service, not amusement.”

“How intensely laborious your life must be,” she replied languidly.

“Perhaps so; but you see the result of it in the kingdom. Iberia makes its influence felt among the nations; she is not like some countries I know - the creations of poetic dreams.”

“How very interesting! Do all her children possess your enthusiastic patriotism?”

“We all inherit energy and spirit. But our thoughts must be with Sahama to-day. What is this your great astrologer proposes?”

“How amusing you are, my Zillah, in your ignorance of these wise men.” “Am I?”

“Most delightfully so! These people never propose anything - they only interpret.”

“What do they pretend to interpret.” “The voices of the gods.”

“That is where we should differ from you again. In Iberia the gods would be required to speak in the common tongue. Further, every officer of the country is expected to be original - not the interpreter of some other mind. But Sahama is not Iberia.”

“But you have no gods.”

“We have no use for them. That is until we can find such as can assert themselves.”

While Zillah was speaking Zosine entered and announced: “My lord Meshrac desires immediate audience, O Queen.” “Bid him approach.”

“I suppose he brings the programme for the day,” suggested Zillah as the girl retired.

“He brings me a message from the gods. Will you not wish it may prove auspicious?”

“Most heartily!”

The astrologer entered the royal presence with a marked absence of the profound reverence which had recently been demanded - more as in the days of the late Queen.

“O Queen, live for - “ then seeing Zillah, he paused. “Proceed my lord, our faithful Zillah will remain.”

“May the Queen forgive her servant, but the stars have risen in an adverse house.”

“Are their influences opposed to me?” she asked anxiously. Zillah was interested by reason of what had already passed.

“They are not actively opposed,” replied Meshrac; “still their indications are not according to my wish.”

“What do you advise?”

“Did not the Queen tell me that magicians never advise?” asked Zillah. “Propose, I meant,” answered the Queen evasively. “There is but slight difference. But I interrupt.”

“We have no power but to hear and interpret the voice of the gods.”

“Yes, I understand. Still, I remember when the lady Lais sent me to you for a philtre - “

“I sent you for a philtre - never!”

Will the Queen pardon me? I said the lady Lais. Meshrac will remember it, I think he then advised me concerning my enquiry. Will you allow me to make what may be a useful suggestion?”

“With the Queen's permission,” replied the magician. The Queen was only too pleased to get a moment for quiet reflection. The inadvertence of Zillah's presence at such a time was even worse than the opposition of the stars, and yet she was too much in the Iberian's power to command her retirement. In the reference to the philtre she read an intimation of defiance, the development of which might be the evil prognosticated, while to submit might avert the danger.

To Zillah, however, a tilt with the magicians was always attractive. She had no superstitions about the gods, neither any faith in their fantastic interpreters. It must also be remembered that she was void of any idea of other than a pleasant ridicule of one of the Queen's pet fancies.

“Are the gods capricious, or do they work by fixed laws?” she enquired. “The laws are fixed, but governed by the gods.”

“Then, of course they change if desired.”

“Certainly.”

“What were the indications yesterday? Somewhat hopeful, I gather.”

“So far as we are able to read; but other influences arise to-day controlling those of yesterday.”

“Then the gods are capricious?”

“No, it is we who cannot always fully read.” “Are you sure you have read correctly now” “So far as the gods have revealed.” “Are the gods men?”

“They were mostly men.”

“Then there is no need for the Queen to be discouraged at this prognostication. Were I but Queen I would soon make the gods repent of this fickleness.”

“How may it be done? Speak, my Zillah, and give me peace.” “Do they accept your sacrifices?” “Such as are prescribed,” answered Meshrac.

“Then the Queen's course is easy. If the gods were ever men, send at once to the hills for two young kids, and when the gods shall smell the flavour of roasting flesh they will accept the sacrifice and come to terms.”

The effect of this scathing sarcasm was somewhat marred by the entrance of Zosine.

“My lord Teresh would lay an urgent message before the Queen.” “Is he the bearer of more ill news?” she asked.

“Not so, O Queen, perhaps he is the prophet of the gods' repentance,” Zillah naively suggested.

“We will see him.”

The councillor did not enter as if he brought evil tidings. “May the Queen live for ever; the gods have made their servant to be the bearer of good news both to the Queen and nation.”

“We pray your message may be so.”

“I have just received, O Queen, at the hands of a fleet runner from the mountains the tablets of my lord Casca, bearing the tidings that he has found the Prince - Glarces!”

“Found the Prince! This is momentous news indeed. Where are the tablets?”

Before Teresh had time to reply Zillah cried – “Help, gentlemen; the Queen is ill!”

“No. no!” she stammered. “We are better now. The unexpected joy overpowered us! Where are the tablets, Teresh? Are they surely those of Casca?”

“They are here, O Queen, with the seal of the chamberlain attached,” he replied, laying the indisputable evidence before her.

“This is the work of some conspiracy,” said Lais after carefully examining the tablets.

“A conspiracy to find the Prince?” asked Zillah.

“No!” she answered, in a cold, hollow voice, which betrayed her fear. “If that had been possible he would have been found long ago. This message is Casca's writing, but it is written with a trembling hand. Some one has tempted the fool to drink, and then, when full of wine, coaxed him to write this lie in a cruel attempt to mislead us. Where is Casca?”

A slave was instantly despatched to command the chamberlain's presence.

“No one must hear of this,” said Lais sternly.

“May the Queen forgive her servant,” answered Teresh, “but the tablets were handed to me in the Baths, and at my naturally joyful exclamation the people gathered round and read the message I could not yet believe. Then with a mighty shout the gods were praised. Men, slaves, and even ladies ran in all directions to spread the news, and Velia is now full of it.”

“That were most sadly inadvisable.”

At this moment Chryses entered unannounced.

“May long life and the favour of the gods be granted to the Queen.”

“It will be so indeed if the news that Teresh brings is true,” she answered, with a poor attempt at pleasantry. “But what brings the great Arch-priest to our Council so early?”

“Upon the altar in the sacred grove this morning I found a message weighted with a stone addressed to your sacred majesty.”

“Upon the sacred altar; then it should be an oracle. Give us the writing.”

He had laid upon the table a piece of folded parchment, which she took, saying:

“This, too, appears to be from Casca; we will profit by your experience, Teresh, and read before we make unguarded exclamations.”

Then she silently perused this message:

“I have been overpowered. Beware of treachery. I am in the hands of men speaking a language I do not know. Of all they say I only understand one word - Zillah. That may be of service. Protect yourself.”

Almost before she had finished reading, her hand dropped heavily upon the table. She spoke not! made no sign nor sound! The avalanche had struck her in all its force! Everything but torture had forsaken her.

“The way of transgressors is hard.”

This inexorable law had now asserted itself with a startling revelation to Lais. The hour had come. Payment for services rendered was due; and the Shylock of Hell had called to exact the ratification of the comfortably forgotten bond.

The fate of Vedrona was merciful in comparison with this sixty-fold demand! Had she known, contrived, and rejoiced over every detail, the torture Glarces had passed through was humane beside this Nemesis, since he was upheld by a clear conscience! The Fates had decreed Casca to drink of the Prince's cup, but they allowed the veil of secrecy to hide his torment from a jibing world! Not so Lais! She had been constrained to ask her deadly rival's presence; Teresh, the one man above all others to be avoided, heralded her doom; a powerless priest and a charlatan magician, who had beguiled her with specious promises for the throne, rather than the individual, stood by in complacent inanition; and through the open windows floated the ominous murmur of a nation's retribution.

There was no escape.

Lais recognised this fact more forcibly than any of her visitors. Of the four Teresh was the best-informed as to the real situation, but even he failed to understand the true position as was so keenly appreciated by the Queen. She divined this by one of those abnormal intuitions of the mind which hold themselves is readiness for moments of dire extremity.

Her purpose was instantly formed. She would not surrender, but fall fighting. By an heroic act of will she calmed herself, and woke from the consternation with a musical laugh.

“Our abstraction makes us forgetful of the services you have rendered, for all of which receive our thanks and commendation. Casca has truly found our missing brother, but the circumstances are such as to require all our skill and consideration. The situation is full of such delicate difficulty that we would first briefly consult our faithful Zillah. You, gentlemen, we shall desire to wait in readiness to give what assistance we may shortly need.”

The three at once withdrew.

“Now, my friend, I am afraid all our tact and resources are to be put to a test to frustrate one of the most subtle conspiracies I have known.”

“A conspiracy - is it really so?”

“Yes! Casca has been overpowered and held prisoner. Now, I must tell you that he, and he alone, knows where the Prince is lodging. Therefore, we must find and release the one, or the other will be brought to death for want of food.”

“Then is the Prince not dead?”

“No! Casca has kept him in some secret residence.”

“It would not long be secret after Casca knew it. Why did I not know of this before?”

“I tell you that I am ignorant of where he is.”

“What a brilliant testimony to your - I suppose you would call it tact and wisdom.”

“At least it saved me from a lie when I protested my ignorance.”

“Bah! Are you scrupulous over one lie in such a business as this? And for the sake of it you consent to leave yourself at Casca's mercy.”

“At Casca's mercy?”

“I said so. Who knows but that all the child's play of this morning is but the prelude to his demand for his own terms.”

This was a new and hopeful idea to Lais, the significance of which she caught at once.

“By all the gods of Hades, if it prove so he shall die.” “Unless he wins the game.” “I do not fear! I have outwitted him before.”

“And then reposed new confidence in him? You compliment your own intelligence.”

“We are in no mood to receive congratulations, even from our privileged friends,” replied Lais, assuming her royal tone, which had so far been laid aside. “We already begin to see our way through this temporary misunderstanding. Will you tell the lady Tassa we would speak with her?”

Zillah touched the chime.

“It is better for you to bear the command, bringing her with you.” Zillah made her salutation, and withdrew.

Immediately Lais drew a phial from her breast and emptied its contents into the Iberian's cup of wine.

“That will solve her part of the problem,” she exclaimed. “If I must fall I will not fall alone.”

The Queen was lost in contemplation when her friend returned.

“Tasha had a restless night, and sleeps with instructions not to be disturbed. Shall we wake her?”

“No! I am glad it is so. It is better to do this alone if possible. Now give me your advice.”

Her imperiousness had again disappeared. “What do you propose?”