Rise!" She obeyed.

She wanted to cry out to that sea of bronze faces: "People I do not want to be your queen.

Let me go!" They would not understand.

Where was Rao?
Where was Bruce?
What of the hope that now flickered and died in her heart, like a guttering candle light?
There was a small dagger hidden in the folds of her white robe; she could always use that.

She heard Umballa speaking in the native tongue.