"Oh! if so, be sure that I shall learn it, and though we are of one blood and have loved each other, I will pay you back in agony." "Atene, Atene," Simbri broke in, holding up his claw-like hands, "you know well it was not I." "Then it was you, you ape-faced wanderer, you messenger of the evil gods?
Oh! why did I not kill you at the first?
Well, that fault can be remedied." "Lady," I said blandly, "am I also a magician ?" "Aye," she answered, "I think that you are, and that you have a mistress who dwells in fire." "Then, Khania," I said, "such servants and such mistresses are ill to meddle with.

Say, what answer has the Hesea sent to your report of our coming to this land ?" "Listen," broke in Leo before she could reply.

"I go to ask a certain question of the Oracle on yonder mountain peak.

With your will or without it I tell you that I go, and afterwards you can settle which is the stronger--the Khania of Kaloon or the Hesea of the House of Fire." Atene listened and for a while stood silent, perhaps because she had no answer.

Then she said with a little laugh--"Is that your will?
Well, I think that yonder are none whom you would wish to wed.