Ayesha, the Return of She Read online

  CHAPTER VII

  THE FIRST ORDEAL

  The shaman advanced to my side and asked me courteously how I fared.

  I answered, "Better. Far better, oh, my host--but how are you named?"

  "Simbri," he answered, "and, as I told you by the water, my title isHereditary Guardian of the Gate. By profession I am the royal Physicianin this land."

  "Did you say physician or magician?" I asked carelessly, as though I hadnot caught the word. He gave me a curious look.

  "I _said_ physician, and it is well for you and your companion that Ihave some skill in my art. Otherwise I think, perhaps, you would nothave been alive to-day, O my guest--but how are _you_ named?"

  "Holly," I said.

  "O my guest, Holly."

  "Had it not been for the foresight that brought you and the lady Khaniato the edge of yonder darksome river, certainly we should _not_ havebeen alive, venerable Simbri, a foresight that seems to me to savourof magic in such a lonely place. That is why I thought you might havedescribed yourself as a magician, though it is true that you may havebeen but fishing in those waters."

  "Certainly I was fishing, stranger Holly--for men, and I caught two."

  "Fishing by chance, host Simbri?"

  "Nay, by design, guest Holly. My trade of physician includes the studyof future events, for I am the chief of the Shamans or Seers of thisland, and, having been warned of your coming quite recently, I awaitedyour arrival."

  "Indeed, that is strange, most courteous also. So here physician andmagician mean the same."

  "You say it," he answered with a grave bow; "but tell me, if you will,how did you find your way to a land whither visitors do not wander?"

  "Oh!" I answered, "perhaps we are but travellers, or perhaps we alsohave studied--medicine."

  "I think that you must have studied it deeply, since otherwise you wouldnot have lived to cross those mountains in search of--now, what did youseek? Your companion, I think, spoke of a queen--yonder, on the banks ofthe torrent."

  "Did he? Did he, indeed? Well, that is strange since he seems to havefound one, for surely that royal-looking lady, named Khania, who spranginto the stream and saved us, must be a queen."

  "A queen she is, and a great one, for in our land Khania means queen,though how, friend Holly, a man who has lain senseless can have learnedthis, I do not know. Nor do I know how you come to speak our language."

  "That is simple, for the tongue you talk is very ancient, and as itchances in my own country it has been my lot to study and to teachit. It is Greek, but although it is still spoken in the world, how itreached these mountains I cannot say."

  "I will tell you," he answered. "Many generations ago a great conquerorborn of the nation that spoke this tongue fought his way through thecountry to the south of us. He was driven back, but a general of his ofanother race advanced and crossed the mountains, and overcame thepeople of this land, bringing with him his master's language and his ownworship. Here he established his dynasty, and here it remains, for beingringed in with deserts and with pathless mountain snows, we hold noconverse with the outer world."

  "Yes, I know something of that story; the conqueror was named Alexander,was he not?" I asked.

  "He was so named, and the name of the general was Rassen, a native ofa country called Egypt, or so our records tell us. His descendants holdthe throne to this day, and the Khania is of his blood."

  "Was the goddess whom he worshipped called Isis?"

  "Nay," he answered, "she was called Hes."

  "Which," I interrupted, "is but another title for Isis. Tell me, is herworship continued here? I ask because it is now dead in Egypt, which wasits home."

  "There is a temple on the Mountain yonder," he replied indifferently,"and in it are priests and priestesses who practise some ancient cult.But the real god of this people now, as long before the day of Rassentheir conqueror, is the fire that dwells in this same Mountain, whichfrom time to time breaks out and slays them."

  "And does a goddess dwell in the fire?" I asked.

  Again he searched my face with his cold eyes, then answered--"StrangerHolly, I know nothing of any goddess. That Mountain is sacred, and toseek to learn its secrets is to die. Why do you ask such questions?"

  "Only because I am curious in the matter of old religions, and seeingthe symbol of Life upon yonder peak, came hither to study yours, ofwhich indeed a tradition still remains among the learned."

  "Then abandon that study, friend Holly, for the road to it runs throughthe paws of the death-hounds, and the spears of savages. Nor indeed isthere anything to learn."

  "And what, Physician, are the death-hounds?"

  "Certain dogs to which, according to our ancient custom, all offendersagainst the law or the will of the Khan, are cast to be torn to pieces."

  "The will of the Khan! Has this Khania of yours a husband then?"

  "Aye," he answered, "her cousin, who was the ruler of half the land. Nowthey and the land are one. But you have talked enough; I am here to saythat your food is ready," and he turned to leave the room.

  "One more question, friend Simbri. How came I to this chamber, and whereis my companion?"

  "You were borne hither in your sleep, and see, the change has betteredyou. Do you remember nothing?"

  "Nothing, nothing at all," I answered earnestly. "But what of myfriend?"

  "He also is better. The Khania Atene nurses him."

  "Atene?" I said. "That is an old Egyptian name. It means the Disk of theSun, and a woman who bore it thousands of years ago was famous for herbeauty."

  "Well, and is not my niece Atene beautiful?"

  "How can I tell, O uncle of the Khania," I answered wearily, "who havescarcely seen her?"

  Then he departed, and presently his yellow-faced, silent servantsbrought me my food.

  Later in the morning the door opened again, and through it, unattended,came the Khania Atene, who shut and bolted it behind her. This actiondid not reassure me, still, rising in my bed, I saluted her as best Icould, although at heart I was afraid. She seemed to read my doubts forshe said--"Lie down, and have no fear. At present you will come by noharm from me. Now, tell me what is the man called Leo to you? Your son?Nay, it cannot be, since--forgive me--light is not born of darkness."

  "I have always thought that it was so born, Khania. Yet you are right;he is but my adopted son, and a man whom I love."

  "Say, what seek you here?" she asked.

  "We seek, Khania, whatsoever Fate shall bring us on yonder Mountain,that which is crowned with flame."

  Her face paled at the words, but she answered in a steady voice--"Thenthere you will find nothing but doom, if indeed you do not find itbefore you reach its slopes, which are guarded by savage men. Yonder isthe College of Hes, and to violate its Sanctuary is death to any man,death in the ever-burning fire."

  "And who rules this college, Khania--a priestess?"

  "Yes, a priestess, whose face I have never seen, for she is so old thatshe veils herself from curious eyes."

  "Ah! she veils herself, does she?" I answered, as the blood wentthrilling through my veins, I who remembered another who also was_so_ old that she veiled herself from curious eyes. "Well, veiled orunveiled, we would visit her, trusting to find that we are welcome."

  "That you shall not do," she said, "for it is unlawful, and I will nothave your blood upon my hands."

  "Which is the stronger," I asked of her, "you, Khania, or this priestessof the Mountain?"

  "I am the stronger, Holly, for so you are named, are you not? Look you,at my need I can summon sixty thousand men in war, while she has naughtbut her priests and the fierce, untrained tribes."

  "The sword is not the only power in the world," I answered. "Tell me,now, does this priestess ever visit the country of Kaloon?"

  "Never, never, for by the ancient pact, made after the last greatstruggle long centuries ago between the College and the people of thePlain, it was decreed and sworn to that should she set her foot acrossthe river, th
is means war to the end between us, and rule for the victorover both. Likewise, save when unguarded they bear their dead to burial,or for some such high purpose, no Khan or Khania of Kaloon ascends theMountain."

  "Which then is the true master--the Khan of Kaloon or the head of theCollege of Hes?" I asked again.

  "In matters spiritual, the priestess of Hes, who is our Oracle and thevoice of Heaven. In matters temporal, the Khan of Kaloon."

  "The Khan. Ah! you are married, lady, are you not?"

  "Aye," she answered, her face flushing. "And I will tell you what yousoon must learn, if you have not learned it already, I am the wife of amadman, and he is--hateful to me."

  "I _have_ learned the last already, Khania."

  She looked at me with her piercing eyes.

  "What! Did my uncle, the Shaman, he who is called Guardian, tell you?Nay, you saw, as I knew you saw, and it would have been best to slay youfor, oh! what must you think of me?"

  I made no answer, for in truth I did not know what to think, alsoI feared lest further rash admissions should be followed by swiftvengeance.

  "You must believe," she went on, "that I, who have ever hated men, thatI--I swear that it is true--whose lips are purer than those mountainsnows, I, the Khania of Kaloon, whom they name Heart-of-Ice, am but ashameless thing." And, covering her face with her hand, she moaned inthe bitterness of her distress.

  "Nay," I said, "there may be reasons, explanations, if it pleases you togive them."

  "Wanderer, there are such reasons; and since you know so much, you shalllearn them also. Like that husband of mine, I have become mad. Whenfirst I saw the face of your companion, as I dragged him from the river,madness entered me, and I--I----"

  "Loved him," I suggested. "Well, such things have happened before topeople who were not mad."

  "Oh!" she went on, "it was more than love; I was possessed, and thatnight I knew not what I did. A Power drove me on; a Destiny compelledme, and to the end I am his, and his alone. Yes, I am his, and I swearthat he shall be mine;" and with this wild declaration dangerous enoughunder the conditions, she turned and fled the room.

  She was gone, and after the struggle, for such it was, I sank backexhausted. How came it that this sudden passion had mastered her? Whoand what was this Khania, I wondered again, and--this was more to thepoint, who and what would Leo believe her to be? If only I could be withhim before he said words or did deeds impossible to recall.

  Three days went by, during which time I saw no more of the Khania, who,or so I was informed by Simbri, the Shaman, had returned to her city tomake ready for us, her guests. I begged him to allow me to rejoin Leo,but he answered politely, though with much firmness, that my foster-sondid better without me. Now, I grew suspicious, fearing lest some harmhad come to Leo, though how to discover the truth I knew not. In myanxiety I tried to convey a note to him, written upon a leaf of awater-gained pocket-book, but the yellow-faced servant refused to touchit, and Simbri said drily that he would have naught to do with writingswhich he could not read. At length, on the third night I made up my mindthat whatever the risk, with leave or without it, I would try to findhim.

  By this time I could walk well, and indeed was almost strong again. Soabout midnight, when the moon was up, for I had no other light, I creptfrom my bed, threw on my garments, and taking a knife, which was theonly weapon I possessed, opened the door of my room and started.

  Now, when I was carried from the rock-chamber where Leo and I hadbeen together, I took note of the way. First, reckoning from mysleeping-place, there was a passage thirty paces long, for I had countedthe footfalls of my bearers. Then came a turn to the left, and ten morepaces of passage, and lastly near certain steps running to some placeunknown, another sharp turn to the right which led to our old chamber.

  Down the long passage I walked stealthily, and although it was pitchdark, found the turn to the left, and followed it till I came to thesecond sharp turn to the right, that of the gallery from which rosethe stairs. I crept round it only to retreat hastily enough, as wellI might, for at the door of Leo's room, which she was in the act oflocking on the outside, as I could see by the light of the lamp that sheheld in her hand, stood the Khania herself.

  My first thought was to fly back to my own chamber, but I abandonedit, feeling sure that I should be seen. Therefore I determined, if shediscovered me, to face the matter out and say that I was trying to findLeo, and to learn how he fared. So I crouched against the wall, andwaited with a beating heart. I heard her sweep down the passage,and--yes--begin to mount the stair.

  Now, what should I do? To try to reach Leo was useless, for she hadlocked the door with the key she held. Go back to bed? No, I wouldfollow her, and if we met would make the same excuse. Thus I might getsome tidings, or perhaps--a dagger thrust.

  So round the corner and up the steps I went, noiselessly as a snake.They were many and winding, like those of a church tower, but at lengthI came to the head of them, where was a little landing, and opening fromit a door. It was a very ancient door; the light streamed through crackswhere its panels had rotted, and from the room beyond came the sound ofvoices, those of the Shaman Simbri and the Khania.

  "Have you learned aught, my niece?" I heard him say, and also heard heranswer---"A little. A very little."

  Then in my thirst for knowledge I grew bold, and stealing to the door,looked through one of the cracks in its wood. Opposite to me, in thefull flood of light thrown by a hanging lamp, her hand resting on atable at which Simbri was seated, stood the Khania. Truly she was abeauteous sight, for she wore robes of royal purple, and on her brow alittle coronet of gold, beneath which her curling hair streamed downher shapely neck and bosom. Seeing her I guessed at once that she hadarrayed herself thus for some secret end, enhancing her loveliness byevery art and grace that is known to woman. Simbri was looking at herearnestly, with fear and doubt written on even his cold, impassivefeatures.

  "What passed between you, then?" he asked, peering at her.

  "I questioned him closely as to the reason of his coming to thisland, and wrung from him the answer that it was to seek some beauteouswoman--he would say no more. I asked him if she were more beauteous than_I_ am, and he replied with courtesy--nothing else, I think--that itwould be hard to say, but that she had been different. Then I said thatthough it behooved me not to speak of such a matter, there was no ladyin Kaloon whom men held to be so fair as I; moreover, that I was itsruler, and that I and no other had saved him from the water. Aye, and Iadded that my heart told me I was the woman whom he sought."

  "Have done, niece," said Simbri impatiently, "I would not hear of thearts you used--well enough, doubtless. What then?"

  "Then he said that it might be so, since he thought that this womanwas born again, and studied me a while, asking me if I had ever 'passedthrough fire.' To this I replied that the only fires I had passed werethose of the spirit, and that I dwelt in them now. He said, 'Show meyour hair,' and I placed a lock of it in his hand. Presently he letit fall, and from that satchel which he wears about his neck drew outanother tress of hair--oh! Simbri, my uncle, the loveliest hair thatever eyes beheld, for it was soft as silk, and reached from my coronetto the ground. Moreover, no raven's wing in the sunshine ever shone asdid that fragrant tress.

  "'Yours is beautiful,' he said, 'but see, they are not the same.'

  "'Mayhap,' I answered, 'since no woman ever wore such locks.'

  "'You are right,' he replied, 'for she whom I seek was more than awoman.'

  "And then--and then--though I tried him in many ways he would say nomore, so, feeling hate against this Unknown rising in my heart, andfearing lest I should utter words that were best unsaid, I left him. NowI bid you, search the books which are open to your wisdom and tell me ofthis woman whom he seeks, who she is, and where she dwells. Oh! searchthem swiftly, that I may find her and--kill her if I can."

  "Aye, if you can," answered the Shaman, "and if she lives to kill. Butsay, where shall we begin our quest? Now, this letter from the M
ountainthat the head-priest Oros sent to your court a while ago?"--and heselected a parchment from a pile which lay upon the table and looked ather.

  "Read," she said, "I would hear it again."

  So he read: "From the Hesea of the House of Fire, to Atene, Khania ofKaloon.

  "My sister--Warning has reached me that two strangers of a westernrace journey to your land, seeking my Oracle, of which they would ask aquestion. On the first day of the next moon, I command that you and withyou Simbri, your great-uncle, the wise Shaman, Guardian of the Gate,shall be watching the river in the gulf at the foot of the ancient road,for by that steep path the strangers travel. Aid them in all things andbring them safely to the Mountain, knowing that in this matter I shallhold him and you to account. Myself I will not meet them, since to do sowould be to break the pact between our powers, which says that the Heseaof the Sanctuary visits not the territory of Kaloon, save in war. Alsotheir coming is otherwise appointed."

  "It would seem," said Simbri, laying down the parchment, "that these areno chance wanderers, since Hes awaits them."

  "Aye, they are no chance wanderers, since my heart awaited one of themalso. Yet the Hesea cannot be that woman, for reasons which are known toyou."

  "There are many women on the Mountain," suggested the Shaman in a dryvoice, "if indeed any woman has to do with this matter."

  "I at least have to do with it, and he shall not go to the Mountain."

  "Hes is powerful, my niece, and beneath these smooth words of hers liesa dreadful threat. I say that she is mighty from of old and has servantsin the earth and air who warned her of the coming of these men, andwill warn her of what befalls them. I know it, who hate her, and to yourroyal house of Rassen it has been known for many a generation. Thereforethwart her not lest ill befall us all, for she is a spirit and terrible.She says that it is appointed that they shall go----"

  "And _I_ say it is appointed that he shall not go. Let the other go ifhe desires."

  "Atene, be plain, what will you with the man called Leo--that he shouldbecome your lover?" asked the Shaman.

  She stared him straight in the eyes, and answered boldly--"Nay, I willthat he should become my husband."

  "First he must will it too, who seems to have no mind that way. Also,how can a woman have two husbands?"

  She laid her hand upon his shoulder and said--"I have no husband. Youknow it well, Simbri. _I_ charge you by the close bond of blood betweenus, brew me another draught----"

  "That we may be bound yet closer in a bond of murder! Nay, Atene, I willnot; already your sin lies heavy on my head. You are very fair; take theman in your own net, if you may, or let him be, which is better far."

  "I cannot let him be. Would that I were able. I must love him as I musthate the other whom he loves, yet some power hardens his heart againstme. Oh! great Shaman, you that peep and mutter, you who can read thefuture and the past, tell me what you have learned from your stars anddivinations."

  "Already I have sought through many a secret, toilsome hour and learnedthis, Atene," he answered. "You are right, the fate of yonder man isintertwined with yours, but between you and him there rises a mightywall that my vision cannot pierce nor my familiars climb. Yet I amtaught that in death you and he--aye, and I also, shall be very neartogether."

  "Then come death," she exclaimed with sullen pride, "for thence at leastI'll pluck out my desire."

  "Be not so sure," he answered, "for I think that the Power followsus even down this dark gulf of death. I think also that I feel thesleepless eyes of Hes watching our secret souls."

  "Then blind them with the dust of illusions--as you can. To-morrow,also, saying nothing of their sex, send a messenger to the Mountain andtell the Hesea that two old strangers have arrived--mark you, _old_--butthat they are very sick, that their limbs were broken in the river, andthat when they have healed again, I will send them to ask the questionof her Oracle--that is, some three moons hence. Perchance she maybelieve you, and be content to wait; or if she does not, at least nomore words. I must sleep or my brain will burst. Give me that medicinewhich brings dreamless rest, for never did I need it more, who also feeleyes upon me," and she glanced towards the door.

  Then I left, and not too soon, for as I crept down the darksome passage,I heard it open behind me.