Greetings--gross swine, spittle of the toads, fat slug beneath my sandals."He passed the insults by, unmoved--although I heard a murmuring go up from those near and Kulun's hard eyes blazed.
"We will bargain, Norhala," he answered calmly; the voice was deep, filled with sinister strength.
"Bargain?" she laughed."What have you with which to bargain, Cherkis? Does the rat bargain with the tigress?
And you, toad, have nothing."
He shook his head.
"I have these," he waved a hand toward Ruth and her brother."Me you may slay--and mayhap many of mine.
But before you can move my archers will feather their hearts."She considered him, no longer mocking.
"Two of mine you slew long since, Cherkis," she said, slowly."Therefore it is I am here.""I know," he nodded heavily."Yet now that is neither here nor there, Norhala.It was long since, and I have learned much during the years.I would have killed you too, Norhala, could I have found you.But now I would not do as then--quite differently would I do, Norhala;for I have learned much.I am sorry that those that you loved died as they did.I am in truth sorry!"There was a curious lurking sardonicism in the words, an undertone of mockery.Was what he really meant that in those years he had learned to inflict greater agonies, more exquisite tortures? If so, Norhala apparently did not sense that interpretation.Indeed, she seemed to be interested, her wrath abating.
"No," the hoarse voice rumbled dispassionately."None of that is important--now.YOU would have this man and girl.I hold them.They die if you stir a hand's breadth toward me.If they die, I prevail against you--for I have cheated you of what you desire.I win, Norhala, even though you slay me.That is all that is now important."There was doubt upon Norhala's face and I caught a quick gleam of contemptuous triumph glint through the depths of the evil eyes.
"Empty will be your victory over me, Norhala," he said;then waited.
"What is your bargain?" she spoke hesitatingly; with a sinking of my heart I heard the doubt tremble in her throat.
"If you will go without further knocking upon my gates"--there was a satiric grimness in the phrase--"go when you have been given them, and pledge yourself never to return--you shall have them.If you will not, then they die.""But what security, what hostages, do you ask?" Her eyes were troubled."I cannot swear by your gods, Cherkis, for they are not my gods--in truth I, Norhala, have no gods.Why should I not say yes and take the two, then fall upon you and destroy--as you would do in my place, old wolf?""Norhala," he answered, "I ask nothing but your word.
Do I not know those who bore you and the line from which they sprung? Was not always the word they gave kept till death--unbroken, inviolable? No need for vows to gods between you and me.Your word is holier than they --O glorious daughter of kings, princess royal!"The great voice was harshly caressing; not obsequious, but as though he gave her as an equal her rightful honor.Her face softened; she considered him from eyes far less hostile.
A wholesome respect for this gross tyrant's mentality came to me; it did not temper, it heightened, the hatred Ifelt for him.But now I recognized the subtlety of his attack; realized that unerringly he had taken the only means by which he could have gained a hearing; have temporized.Could he win her with his guile?
