When she had finished, her father looked up, and there were tears in his aged eyes.
"Welcome, daughter," he said.

"I thought that I was alone, and that none of my issue lived anywhere upon the earth.

Welcome! Your life is forfeit to the Snake, but, forgetting my vows, I will protect you, ay, even at the cost of my own." Then the two embraced each other with every sign of tenderness, a spectacle that would have struck anyone acquainted with their characters as both curious and interesting.
Presently Nam left the chamber, and having dismissed the attendant priest and his great-niece, Saga, who were waiting outside, he returned and prayed his daughter to explain the reason of her presence in the train of Aca.
"First, you shall swear an oath to me, my father," said Soa, "and if you swear it not, I will tell you no word of my story.

You shall swear by the blood of Aca that you will do nothing against the life of that Queen with whom I journeyed hither.

For the others, you may work your will upon them, but her you shall not harm." "Why should I swear this, daughter ?" he asked.
"You shall swear it because I, whom you love, love her, and also because so you shall gain the greater honour." "Who am I that I should lift my hand against the gods, daughter?
I swear it by the blood of Aca, and if I break my oath, then may Jal deal with me as once he dealt with Aca." Then Soa went on freely, for she knew that this was a vow that could not be broken.