That morning we again attended in the Throne Hall, and I could not help smiling to myself when I compared the visit to our last, and reflecting that if walls could speak they would have strange tales to tell.
What actresses women are! There, high upon her golden throne, draped in her blazoned “kaf” or robe of state, sat the fair Nyleptha; and when Sir Henry came in a little late, dressed in the full uniform of an officer of her guard, and humbly bent himself before her, she merely acknowledged his salute with a careless nod and turned her head coldly aside. It was a very large Court, for not only did the signing of the laws attract many outside of those whose duty it was to attend, but also the rumour that Nasta was going to publicly ask the hand of Nyleptha in marriage had gone abroad, with the result that the great hall was crowded to its utmost capacity. There were our friends the priests in force, headed by Agon, who regarded us with a vindictive eye; and a most imposing band they were, with their long white embroidered robes girt with a golden chain from which hung the fish-like scales. There, too, were a number of the lords, each with a band of brilliantly attired attendants, and prominent among them was Nasta, stroking his black beard meditatively and looking unusually unpleasant. It was a splendid and impressive sight, especially when the officer after having read out each law handed them to the Queens to sign, whereon the trumpets blared out and the Queens’ guard grounded their spears with a crash in salute. This reading and signing of the laws took a long time, but at last it came to an end, the last one reciting that “whereas certain distinguished strangers, etc.,” and proceeding to confer on the three of us the rank of “lords,” together with certain military commands and large estates bestowed by the Queens. When it was read the trumpets blared and the spears clashed down as usual; but I saw some of the lords turn and whisper to each other, while Nasta ground his teeth. They did not like the favour that was shown to us, which under all the circumstances, was not perhaps unnatural.
Then there came a pause, and Nasta stepped forward and bowing humbly, though with no humility in his eye, craved a boon at the hands of the Queen Nyleptha.
Nyleptha turned a little pale, but bowed graciously, and prayed the “well-beloved lord” to speak on, whereon in a few straightforward soldierlike words he asked her hand in marriage.
Then, before she could find words to answer, the High Priest Agon took up the tale, and in a speech of real eloquence and power pointed out the many advantages of the proposed alliance—how it would consolidate the kingdom; for Nasta’s dominions, of which he was virtually king, were to Zu-Vendis much what Scotland used to be to England; how it would gratify the wild mountaineers and be popular among the soldiery, for Nasta was a famous general; how it would set her dynasty firmly on the throne, and would gain the blessing and approval of the “Sun,” i.e., of the Office of the High Priest, and so on. Many of his arguments were undoubtedly valid; and there was, looking at it from a political point of view, everything to be said for the marriage. But, unfortunately, it is difficult to play the game of politics with the persons of young and lovely queens as though they were ivory effigies of themselves on a chessboard. Nyleptha’s face, while Agon spouted away, was a perfect study; she smiled, indeed, but beneath the smile it set like a stone, and her eyes began to flash ominously.
At last he stopped, and she prepared herself to answer. Before she did so, however, Sorais leaned towards her and said in a voice sufficiently loud for me to catch what she said, “Bethink thee well, my sister, ere thou dost speak, for methinks that our thrones may hang upon thy words.”
Nyleptha made no answer, and with a shrug and a smile, Sorais leaned back again and listened.
“Of a truth a great honour has been done to me,” she said, “that my poor hand should not only have been asked in marriage, but that Agon here should be so swift to pronounce the blessing of the Sun upon my union. Methinks that in another minute he would have wed us fast ere the bride had said her say. Nasta, I thank thee, and I will bethink me of thy words, but now as yet I have no mind for marriage, that is a cup of which none know the taste until they begin to drink it. Again I thank thee, Nasta,” and she made as though she would rise.
The great lord’s face turned almost as black as his beard with fury, for he knew that the words amounted to a final refusal of his suit.
“Thanks be to the Queen for her gracious words,” he said, restraining himself with difficulty and looking anything but grateful, “my heart shall surely treasure them. And now I crave another boon, namely, the royal leave to withdraw myself to my own poor cities in the north till such time as the Queen shall say my suit nay or yea. Mayhap,” he added, with a sneer, “the Queen will be pleased to visit me there, and to bring with her these stranger lords,” and he scowled darkly towards us. “It is but a poor country and a rough, but we are
