Part 21 (1/2)
”I hear that you have been playing a high part, Shabaka, and doing great things for Egypt”
”For Egypt and for you who are Egypt,” I answered
”So I should have been called in the old days, Cousin, because of h now I am but as any other lady of the land”
”And so you shall be called in days to come, Amada, if my sword and wit can win their way”
”How so, Cousin, seeing that you have pros to my uncle Peroa and his son?”
”I have pros, Amada, and I will abide by my promise; but the Gods are above all, and who knohat they may decree?”
”Yes, Cousin, the Gods are above all, and in their hands ill let thesethem in no manner and least of all by treachery to our oaths”
We walked for a little way in silence Then I spoke
”As than thrones in the world”
”Yes, Cousin, there is that in which all thrones end--death, which it seems we court”
”And, Ain--love, which I court fro rateful to you who are more to me than any man has been or ever will be But, Shabaka, I am a priestess bound to set the holy One I serve above a mortal”
”That holy One ed and bore a child, Ae Egypt Therefore she looks with a kind eye upon wives and mothers Also you have not taken your final vows and can be absolved”
”Yes,” she said softly
”Then, A?”
”I think so, Shabaka, though it has been in iveand the service of the heavenly Lady My heart calls ht it calls, how loudly I will not tell; yet I would not yield ypt calls me also, since I have been shown in a dream while I watched in the sanctuary, that you are the only man who can free her, and I think that this dreaive myself, but not yet”
”Not yet,” I said dismayed ”When?”
”When I have been absolved froht of the next newco those twenty-seven days, it shall be announced that the Royal Lady of Egypt is to wed the noble Shabaka”
”Twenty-seven days! In such times much may happen in them, Amada Still, except death, what can co, Shabaka, whose past is shadowless as the noon”
”Or I either,” I replied
Noere standing in the clear sunlight, but as I said the words a wind stirred the palm-trees and the shadow from one of them fell full upon ht take that for an o to the line of the shadow ”Oh! Shabaka, if you have aught to confess, say it now and I will forgive it But do not leave ive Perchance during your journeyings in the East----”
”Nothing, nothing,” I exclai all that tilad that nothing happened in the East that could separate us, Shabaka, though in truth s than woe to ifts froreatest enemy”
”Have I not told you that I put er, Aht Moreover you know the purpose to which they are to be put,” I replied indignantly