Whyareyoualwaysinterferingwithme？Well,perhapsyouareright,and,LadyQuilla,ifyouareready,itistimetostart。No,no,I
thankyou,Curaca,butIwillnotstopforanyfeastingwhodesiretobebackatmycampbeforedark,sincewhoknowswhatmayhappentooneinthedarkinastrangecountry？\"
ThenatlastHuarachagrewangry。
\"Beitasyouwill,OInca,\"hesaid,\"butknowthatyouoffermeathreefoldinsult。Firstyourefusethefeastthathasbeenmadereadyforyouwhereatyouweretomeetallthenotablesofmykingdom。
Secondly,yougiveme,whoamaking,thetitleofapettychiefwhoownsyourrule。Thirdly,youthrowdoubtsuponmyhonour,hintingthatImaycauseyoutobemurderedinthedark。NowIammindedtosaytoyou,\'Begonefrommypoorcountry,LordInca,insafety,butleavemydaughterbehindyou。\'\"
Nowatthesewords,I,Hubert,sawthefiresofhopeburnupinthelargeeyesofQuilla,astheydidinmyownheart,formighttheynotmeanthatshewouldescapefromUrcoafterall？But,alas,theywereextinguishedlikeabrandthatisdippedinwater。
\"Tush,tush！\"saidtheolddotard,\"whatafire—eaterareyou,friendHuaracha。KnowthatInevercaretoeat,exceptatnight;alsothatthechilloftheairaftermyfathertheSunhassetmakesmybonesache,andasfortitles——takeanyoneyoulike,exceptthatofInca。\"
\"MayhapthatistheoneIshalltakebeforeallisdone,\"brokeinthefuriousHuaracha,whowouldnotbequietedbythecouncillorswhisperinginhisears。
Itwasatthismomentthattheministerandhigh—priest,Larico,whohadbeennotingallthatpassedwithanimpassiveface,saidcoldly:
\"Benotwroth,OKingHuaracha,andlaynottoomuchweightupontheidlewordsofthegloriousInca,sinceeventhegodswilldozeattimeswhentheyareweigheddownbythecaresofempire。NoaffrontwasmeanttoyouandleastofalldoestheIncaoranyoneofus,dreamthatyouwouldtarnishyourhonourbyofferingviolencetoyourguestsbydayorbynight。Yetknowthis,thatif,afterallthathasbeensworn,youwithholdyourdaughter,theladyQuilla,fromthehouseofUrcowhoisherlordtobe,itwillbreedinstantwar,sinceassoonaswordofitcomestoCuzco,whichwillbewithintwentyhours,formessengerswaitallalongtheroad,thegreatarmiesoftheIncathataregatheredtherewillbegintomove。Judge,then,ifyouhavethestrengthtowithstandthem,andchoosewhetheryouwillliveoningloryandhonour,orbringyourselftodeathandyourpeopletoslavery。Now,KingHuaracha,speakingonbehalfofUrco,whowithinsomefewmoonswillbeInca,Iaskyou——willyousuffertheladyQuillatojourneywithustoCuzcoandtherebyproclaimpeacebetweenourpeoplesorwillyoukeepherhereagainstyouroathandhers,andtherebydeclarewar？\"
Huarachasatsilent,lostinthought,andtheoldIncaUpanquibegantobabbleagain,saying:
\"Verywellput,Icouldnothavesaiditbettermyself;indeed,Ididsayit,forthiscoxcombofaLarico,whothinkshimselfsocleverjustbecauseImadehimhigh—priestoftheSunundermeandheisofmyblood,isafterallnothingbutthetongueinmymouth。Youdon\'treallywanttodie,Huaracha,doyou,afterseeingmostofyourpeoplekilledandyourcountrywasted？Foryouknowthatiswhatmusthappen。
Ifyoudonotsendyourdaughterasyoupromised,withinafewhoursahundredthousandmenwillbemarchingonyouandanotherhundredthousandgatheringbehindthem。Anyhow,pleasemakeupyourmindonewayoranother,asIwishtoleavethisplace。\"
Huarachathoughtonawhile。ThenhedescendedfromhisthroneandbeckonedtoQuilla。ShecameandheledhertowardsthebackpartofthepavilionbehindandalittletotheleftofthechaironwhichI
satwherenonecouldheartheirtalksaveme,ofwhomheseemedtotakenonote,perhapsbecausehehadforgottenme,orperhapsbecausehedesiredthatIshouldknowall。
\"Daughter,\"hesaidinalowvoice,\"whatword？BeforeyouanswerrememberthatifIrefusetosendyou,nowforthefirsttimeIbreakmyoath。\"
\"OfsuchoathsIthinklittle,\"answeredQuilla。\"YetofanotherthingIthinkmuch。Tellme,myfather,iftheIncadeclareswarandattacksus,canwewithstandhisarmies？\"
\"No,Daughter,notuntiltheYuncasjoinusforwelacksufficientmen。Moreover,wearenotready,norshallbeforanothertwomoons,ormore。\"
\"Thenitstandsthus,Father。IfIdonotgothewarwillbegin,andifIdogoitseemsthatitwillbestavedoffuntilyouareready,orperhapsforalways,becauseIshallbethepeace—offeringanditwillbethoughtthatI,yourheiress,takeyourkingdomasmymarriageportiontobejoinedtothatoftheIncasatyourdeath。Isitthus？\"
\"Itis,Quilla。OnlythenyouwillworktobringitaboutthattheLandoftheIncasshallbejoinedtotheLandoftheChancas,andnotthatoftheChancastothatoftheIncas,sothatinadaytocomeasQueenoftheChancasyoushallreignoverbothofthemandyourchildrenafteryou。\"
NowI,Hubert,watchingQuillaoutofthecornersofmyeyes,sawherturnpaleandtremble。
\"Speaknottomeofchildren,\"shesaid,\"forIthinkthattherewillbenone,andtalknotoffutureglories,sincefortheseIcarenothing。ItisforourpeoplethatIcare。YousweartomethatifI
donotgoyourarmieswillbedefeatedandthatthosewhoescapethespearwillbeenslaved？\"
\"Aye,IswearitbytheMoonyourmother,alsothatIwilldiewithmysoldiers。\"
\"YetifIgoIleavebehindmethatwhichIlove,\"heresheglancedtowardsme,\"andgivemyselftoshame,whichisworsethandeath。Isthatyourdesire,myfather？\"
\"Thatisnotmydesire。Remember,Daughter,thatyouwerepartytothisplan,aye,thatitsprangfromyourfar—seeingmind。Still,nowthatyourhearthaschanged,Iwouldnotholdyoutoyourbargain,whodesiremostofallthingstoseeyouhappyatmyside。Choose,therefore,andIobey。Onyourheadbeit。\"
\"WhatshallIsay,OLord,whomIsavedfromthesea？\"askedQuillainapiercingwhisper,butwithoutturningherheadtowardsme。
NowanagonytookholdofmeforIknewthatwhatIbadeher,thatshewouldsay,andthatperchanceuponmyanswerhungthefateofallthisgreatChancapeople。Ifshewenttheywouldbesaved,ifsheremainedperchanceshewouldbemywifeifonlyforawhile。FortheChancasI
carednothingandfortheQuichuasIcarednothing,butQuillawasallthatremainedtomeintheworldandifshewent,itwastoanotherman。Iwouldbidherbide。Andyet——andyetifhercaseweremineandthefateofEnglandhunguponmybreath,whatthen？
\"Beswift,\"shewhisperedagain。
ThenIspoke,orsomethingspokethroughme,saying:
\"Dowhathonourbidsyou,ODaughteroftheMoon,forwhatislovewithouthonour？Perchancebothshallstillbeyoursatlast。\"
\"Ithankyou,Lord,whoseheartspeaksasmyheart,\"shewhisperedforthethirdtime,thenliftingherheadandlookingHuarachaintheeyes,said:
\"Father,Igo,butthatIwillwedthisUrcoIdonotpromise。\"
CHAPTERVII
THERETURNOFKARI
SoQuilla,seatedinagoldenlitterandaccompaniedbymaidensasbecameherrank,soonwasborneawayinthetrainoftheIncaUpanqui,leavingmedesolate。Beforeshewent,underpretenceofbiddingmefarewell,nonedenyingher,shegainedprivatespeechwithmeforalittlewhile。
\"LordandLover,\"shesaid,\"IgotowhatfateIknownot,leavingyoutowhatfateIknownot,andasyourlipshavesaid,itisrightthatIshouldgo。NowIhavesomethingtoaskofyou——thatyouwillnotfollowmeasitisinyourhearttodo。ButlastnightIprayedofyoutodogmystepsandwhereverImightgotokeepclosetome,thattheknowledgeofyourpresencemightbemycomfort。Nowmymindisdifferent。IfImustbemarriedtothisUrco,Iwouldnothaveyouseemeinmyshame。AndifIescapemarriageyoucannothelpme,sinceI
mayonlydosobydeathorbytakingrefugewhereyoucannotcome。
AlsoIhaveanotherreason。\"
\"Whatreason,Quilla？\"Iasked。
\"This:Iaskthatyouwillstopwithmyfatherandgivehimyourhelpinthewarthatmustcome。IwouldseethisUrcocrushed,butwithoutthathelpIamsurethattheChancasandtheYuncasaretooweaktooverthrowtheIncamight。RememberthatifIescapemarriagethusonlycanyouhopetowinme,namely,bythedefeatanddeathofUrco。Say,then,thatyouwillstayhereandhelptoleadtheChancaarmies,andsayitswiftly,sincethatdotard,Upanqui,fretstobegone。Hark！
hismessengerscallandsearch;mywomencanholdthembacknomore。\"
\"Iwillstay,\"Iansweredhoarsely。
\"Ithankyou,andnowfarewell,tillinlifeordeathwemeetagain。
ThoughtscometomymindwhichIhavenotimetoutter。\"
\"Tominealso,Quilla,andhereisoneofthem。Youknowthemanwhowaswithmeontheisland。Well,heismorethanheseems。\"
\"SoIguessed,butwhereishenow？\"
\"Inhiding,Quilla。Ifyoushouldchancetofindhim,bearinmindthatheisanenemyofUrcoandonenotfriendless;alsothathelovesmeafterhisfashion。Trusthim,Iprayyou。UrcoisnottheonlyoneoftheIncablood,Quilla。\"
Sheglancedatmequicklyandnoddedherhead。Thenwithoutmorewords,forofficerswerepressingtowardsus,shedrewaringoffherfinger,athickandancientgoldenringonwhichwerecutwhatlookedlikeflowers,orimagesofthesun,andgaveittome。
\"Wearthisformysake。ItisveryoldandhasastoryoftruelovethatIhavenotimetotell,\"shesaid。
Itookitandinexchangepassedtoherthatancientringwhichmymotherhadgiventome,theringthathadcomedowntoherwiththeswordWave—Flame,saying:
\"This,too,isoldandhasastory;wearitinmemoryofme。\"
Thenwepartedandpresentlyshewasgone。
Istoodwatchingherlittertillitvanishedintheeveninghaze。ThenIturnedtogotofindmyselffacetofacewithHuaracha。
\"Lord—from—the—Sea,\"hesaid,\"youhaveplayedaman\'s——oragod\'s——
partto—day。Hadyoubiddenmydaughterbidehere,shewouldhavedonesoforloveofyouandtheChancapeoplemusthavebeendestroyed,forasthatoldIncaorhisspokesmantoldus,thebreakingofmyoathwouldhavebeentakenasadeclarationofinstantwar。Nowwehavebreathingtime,andintheendthingsmaygootherwise。\"
\"Yes,\"Ianswered,\"butwhatofQuillaandwhatofme？\"
\"Iknownotyourcreedorwhatwithyouishonour,WhiteLord,butamonguswhomperhapsyouthinkofsmallaccount,itisthoughtandheldthattherearetimeswhenamanorawoman,especiallyiftheybehighlyplaced,mustdosacrificeforthegoodofthemanywhoclingtothemforguidanceandforsafety。ThisyouandmydaughterhavedoneandthereforeIhonourbothofyou。\"
\"Towhatendisthesacrificemade？\"Iaskedbitterly。\"Thatonepeoplemaystrugglefordominionoveranotherpeople,nomore。\"
\"Youaremistaken,Lord。NotforvictoryortoincreasemydominionsdoIdesiretowarupontheIncas,butbecauseunlessIstrikeIshallpresentlybestruck,thoughforalittlewhilethismarriagemightholdbacktheblow。AloneinthemidstofthevastterritoriesoverwhichtheIncasrule,theChancasstemtheirtideofconquestandremainfreeamongstmanynationsofslaved。ThereforeforagestheseIncas,likethosewhoruledbeforethematCuzco,havesworntodestroyus,andUrcohasswornitaboveall。\"
\"Urcomightdieorbedeposed,Huaracha。\"
\"IfsoanotherwouldputontheFringeandbevowedtotheancientpolicythatdoesnotchangefromgenerationtogeneration。ThereforeI
mustfightorperishwithmypeople。Hearken,Lord—from—the—Sea！Stayherewithmeandbecomeasmybrotherandageneralofmyarmies,forwherewilltheynotfollowwhenyoulead,whoareheldtobeagod？
Thenifweconquer,inreward,fromabrotheryoushallbecomeason,andtoyouaftermeIswearshallpasstheChancacrown。Moreover,toyou,ifshecanbesaved,Iwillgiveinmarriageherwhomyoulove。
Thinkbeforeyourefuse。Iknownotwhenceyoucome,butthisIknow:
thatyoucanreturnthithernomore,unless,indeed,youareaspirit。
Hereyourlotiscasttilldeath。Thereforemakeitglorious。
PerchanceyoumightflytotheIncaandtherebecomeamarvelandashow,furnishedwithgoldandpalacesandlands,butalwaysyouwouldbeaservant,whileIoffertoyouacrownandtheruleofapeoplegreatandfree。\"
\"Icarenothingforcrowns,\"Ianswered,sighing。\"Still,suchwasQuilla\'sprayer,perchancethelastthatevershewillmaketome。
ThereforeIacceptandwillserveyouandyourcause,thatseemsnoble,faithfullytotheend,OHuaracha。\"
ThenIstretchedoutmyhandtohimandsoourcompactwassealed。
Ontheverynextdaymyworkbegan。Huarachamademeknowntohiscaptains,commandingthemtoobeymeinallthings,which,lookingonmeashalfdivine,theydidreadilyenough。
Now,ofsoldieringIknewlittlewhowasaseamanbred,yetasIhadlearned,amanoftheEnglishraceinhoweverstrangeacountryhefindshimselfcanmakeapaththeretohisends。
Moreover,inLondonIhadheardmuchtalkofarmiesandtheirorderingandoftenwatchedtroopsattheirexercise;alsoIknowhowtohandlebowandsword,andwasaccustomedtothemanagementofmen。Soputtingallthesememoriestogether,Isetmyselftothetaskofturningamobofhalf—savagefellowswitharmsintoanorderedhost。IcreatedregimentsandofficeredthemwiththebestcaptainsthatIcouldfind,collectingineachregimentsofaraspossiblethepeopleofacertaintownordistrict。ThesecompaniesIdrilledandexercised,teachingthemtousesuchweaponsastheyhadtothebestpurpose。
AlsoIcausedthemtoshapestrongerbowsonthemodelofmyownwithwhichIhadshotthethreeFrenchmenfarawayatHastingsthat,asitwassaid,oncehadbeenthebattle—bowofThorgrimmertheNorsemanmyancestor,astheswordWave—Flamewashisbattle—sword。WhentheseChancassawhowfarandwithwhatagoodaimIcouldshootwiththisbow,theystrovedayandnighttolearntoequalme,thoughitistruetheyneverdid。AlsoIbetteredtheirbody—armourofquiltingbysettingssheetsofleather（sinceinthatcountrythereisnoiron）
takenfromthehidesofwildanimalsandoftheirlong—hairednativesheep,betweenthelayersofcotton。OtherthingsIdidalso,toomanyandlongtorecord。
TheendofitwasthatwithinthreemonthsHuarachahadanarmyofsomefiftythousandmenwho,ifnotwelltrained,stillkeptdiscipline,andcouldmoveinregiments;whoknewalsohowtoshootwiththeirbowsandtousetheircopper—headedspearsandaxesofthatmetal,orofhardstone,tothebestpurpose。
ThenatlengthcametheYuncastojoinus,thirtyorfortythousandofthem,wildfellowsandbraveenough,butundisciplined。WiththeseI
coulddolittlesincetimewaslacking,savesendsomeoftheofficerswhomIhadtrainedtoteachtheirchiefsandcaptainswhattheywereable。
ThusIwasemployedfromdawntilldarkandoftenafterit,intalkwithHuarachaandhisgenerals,orindrawingplanswithinkthatI
foundameanstomake,uponparchmentofsheepskinandnotingdownnumbersandotherthings,asightatwhichthesepeoplewhoknewnothingofwritingmarvelledverymuch。Greatweremylabours,yetinthemIfoundmorehappinessthanIhadknownsincethatfataldaywhenI,therichLondonmerchant,HubertofHastings,hadstoodbeforethealtarofSt。Margaret\'schurchwithBlancheAleys。Indeed,everycrannyofmytimeandmindbeingthusfilledwiththingsfinishedorattempted,Iforgotmygreatlonelinessasanalieninastrangeland,andoncemorebecameasIhadbeenwhenItraffickedintheCheap。
ButtoilasIwould,IcouldnotforgetQuilla。DuringthedayImightmaskhermemoryinitsurgentbusiness,butwhenIlaydowntorestsheseemedtocometomeasaghostmightdoandtostandbymybed,lookingatmewithsadandlongingeyes。SorealwasherpresencethatsometimesIbegantobelievethatshemusthavediedtotheworldandwasintruthaghost,orelsethatshehadfoundthepowertothrowhersoulafar,asitissaidcertainoftheseIndianfolk,ifsotheyshouldbecalled,cando。AtleasttheresheseemedtobewhileI
remainedawakeandafterwardswhenIslept,andIknownotwhetherherstrangecompanyjoyedorpainedmemore。Foralas！shecouldnottalktome,ortellmehowitfaredwithher,and,tospeaktruth,nowthatshewasthewifeofanotherman,asIsupposed,IdesiredtoforgetherifIcould。
ForofQuillanowordreachedus。WeheardthatshehadcomesafelytoCuzcoandafterthatnothingmore。Ofhermarriagetherewasnotidings;indeedsheseemedtohavevanishedaway。CertainofHuaracha\'sspiesreportedtohim,however,thatthegreatarmywhichUrcohadgatheredtoattackhimhadbeenpartlydisbanded,whichseemedtoshowthattheIncanolongerpreparedforimmediatewar。
OnlythenwhathadhappenedtoQuilla,whosepersonwasthepriceofpeace？Perhapsshewashiddenawayduringthepreparationsforhernuptials;atleastIcouldthinkofnothingelse,unlessindeedshehadchosentokillherselfordiednaturally。
Soon,however,allnewsceased,forHuarachashuthisfrontiers,hopingthatthusUrcomightnotlearnthathewasgatheringarmies。
Atlength,whenourforceswerealmostreadytomarch,Karicame,KariwhomIthoughtlost。
OnenightwhenIwasseatedatmyworkbylamplight,writingdownnumbersuponaparchment,ashadowfellacrossit,andlookingupI
sawKaristandingbeforeme,travel—wornandweary,butKariwithoutdoubt,unlessIdreamed。
\"Haveyoufood,Lord？\"heaskedwhileIstaredathim。\"IneeditandwouldeatbeforeIspeak。\"
Ifoundmeatandnativebeerandbroughtthemtohim,foritwaslateandmyservantswereasleep,waitingtillhehadfilledhimself,forbythistimeIhadlearnedsomethingofthepatienceofthesepeople。
Atlengthhespoke,saying:
\"Huaracha\'swatchisgood,andtopassitImustjourneyfarintothemountainsandsleepthreenightswithoutfoodamidtheirsnows。\"
\"Whencecomeyou？\"Iasked。
\"FromCuzco,Lord。\"
\"ThenwhatoftheladyQuilla？Doesshestilllive？IsshewedtoUrco？\"
\"Shelives,orlivedfourteendaysago,andsheisnotwed。Butwheresheisnomanmayevercome。YouhavelookedyourlastupontheladyQuilla,Lord。\"
\"Ifshelivesandisunwed,why？\"Iasked,trembling。
\"BecausesheisnumberedamongtheVirginsoftheSunourFather,andthereforeinviolatetoman。WereItheInca,thoughIloveyouandknowall,shouldyouattempttotakeher,yes,evenyou,IwouldkillyouifIcould,andwithmyownsword。Inourland,Lord,thereisonecrimewhichhasnoforgiveness,andthatistolayhandsuponaVirginoftheSun。Webelieve,Lord,thatifthisisdone,greatcurseswillfalluponourcountry,whileasforthemanwhoworksthecrime,beforehepassestoeternalvengeanceheandallhishouseandthetownwhencehecamemustperishutterly,andthatfalsevirginwhohasbetrayedourfather,theSun,mustdieslowlyandbyfire。\"
\"Hasthiseverchanced？\"Iasked。
\"Historydoesnottellit,Lord,sincenonehavebeensowicked,butsuchisthelaw。\"
Ithoughttomyselfthatitwasaveryevillaw,andcruel;alsothatIwouldbreakitifIfoundopportunity,butmadenoanswer,knowingwhentobesilentandthatImightaswellstrivetomoveamountainfromitsbaseastoturnKarifromtheblindnessofhisfollybredoffalsefaith。Afterall,couldIblamehim,seeingthatweheldthesameofthesacrednessofnunsand,itwassaid,killedthemiftheybroketheirvows？
\"Whatnews,Kari？\"Iasked。
\"Much,Lord。Hearken。DisguisedasapeasantwhohadcomeintothiscountrytobarterwoolfromavillageneartoCuzco,IjoinedmyselftothetrainoftheIncaUpanqui,amongwhoselordsIfoundafriendwhohadlovedmeinpastyearsandkeptmysecretashewasboundtodo,havingpassedintothebrotherhoodofknightswithmewhilewewerelads。Throughhim,inplaceofamanwhowassick,IbecameoneofthebearersoftheladyQuilla\'slitterandthuswasalwaysaboutherandattimeshadspeechwithherinsecret,forsheknewmeagainnotwithstandingmydisguiseanduniform。SoIbecameoneofthosewhowaitedonherwhensheateandnotedallthatpassed。
\"AfterthefirstdaytheIncaUpanqui,hewhoismyfatherandwhoselawfulheirIam,althoughhediscardedmeforUrcoandbelievesmedead,madeitahabittotakehisfoodinthesametentorrest—housechamberastheladyQuilla。Lord,beingveryclever,shesetherselftocharmhim,sothatsoonhebegantodoteuponher,asold,worn—outmensometimesdouponyoungandbeautifulwomen。She,too,pretendedtogrowfondofhimandatlasttoldhiminsomanywordsthatshegrieveditwasnothethatshewastomarrywhosewisdomshehungupon,inplaceofaprincewho,sheheard,wasnotwise。This,shesaid,becausesheknewwellthattheIncawouldnevermarryanymoreandindeedhadlivedaloneforyears。Still,beingflattered,hetoldheritwashardthatsheshouldbeforcedtowedonetowhomshehadnomind,whereonsheprayedhim,evenwithtears,tosaveherfromsuchafate。AtlasthevowedthathewoulddosobysettingheramongtheVirginsoftheSunonwhomnomanmaylook。Shethankedhimandsaidthatshewouldconsiderthematter,since,forreasonsthatyoumayguess,Lord,shedidnotdesiretobecomeaVirginoftheSunandtopasstherestofherdaysinprayerandtheweavingoftheInca\'sgarments。
\"Soitwentonuntilwhenwewereaday\'smarchfromCuzco,Urco,mybrother,cametomeethispromisedbride。Now,Urcoisahugemanandhideous,onewhomnonewouldbelievetohavebeenbornoftheIncablood。Coarseheis,anddissolute,giventodrinkalso,thoughagreatfighterandbraveinbattle,andquick—brainedwhenheissober。
IwaspresentwhentheymetandIsawtheladyQuillashiverandturnpaleatthesightofhim,whileheonhispartdevouredherbeautywithhiseyes。Theyspokebutfewwordstogether,yetbeforetheseweredone,hetoldheritwashiswillthattheyshouldbewedatonceonthedayaftershecametoCuzco,norwouldhelistentotheIncaUpanquiwhosaid,beingcunningandwishingtogaintime,thatduepreparationmustbemadeforsogreatabusiness。
\"ThereuponUrcogrewangrywithhisfather,whobothfearsandloveshim,andansweredthat,beingalmostInca,thismatterwasonewhichhewouldsettleforhimself。SofiercewashethatUpanquibecameafraidandwentaway。WhentheywerealoneUrcostrovetoembraceQuilla,butshefledfromhimandhidwithhermaidensinaprivateplace。Afterthis,atthefeastUrcotooktoomuchdrinkaccordingtohiscustomandwasledawaytosleepbyhislords。ThenQuillawaitedupontheIncaandsaid:
\"\'OInca,IhaveseenthePrinceandIclaimyourpromisetosavemefromhim。OInca,abandoningallthoughtofmarriage,IwillbecomethebrideofourFathertheSun。\'
\"Upanqui,whowaswrothwithUrcobecausehehadcrossedhiswill,sworebytheSunitselfthathewouldnotfailher,comewhatmight,sinceUrcoshouldlearnthathewasnotyetInca。\"
\"Whathappenedthen？\"Iasked,staringhimintheeyes。
\"Afterthis,Lord,whenwewerehaltedbeforemakingthestateentryintoCuzco,foramomenttheladyQuillafoundopportunityforprivatespeechwithme。Thisiswhatshesaid:
\"\'Tellmyfather,KingHuaracha,thatIhavefulfilledhisoath,butthatIcannotmarryUrco。ThereforeIseekrefugeinthearmsoftheSun,astheoracleRimacforetoldthatIshoulddo,havingtochoosebetweenthisfateandthatofdeath。TellmyLord—from—the—Seawhathasbefallenmeandbidhimfarewelltome。Stillsaythathemustkeepagoodheart,sinceIdonotbelievethatallisendedbetweenus。\'
\"ThenwewerepartedandIsawhernomore。\"
\"Anddidyouhearnomore,Kari？\"
\"Iheardmuch,Lord。IheardthatwhenUrcolearnedthattheladyQuillahadvanishedawayintotheHouseofVirgins,whitherhemightnotcome,andthathewasrobbedofthebridewhomhedesired,hegrewmadwithrage。Indeed,ofthisIsawsomethingmyself。Twodayslater,withthousandsofothersIwasinthegreatsquareinfrontoftheTempleoftheSun,wheretheIncaUpanquisatinstateuponagoldenthronetoreceivethepraiseofhispeopleuponhissafereturnafterhislongandhardjourney,andassomereported,tolaydownhislordshipinfavourofUrco;alsototellthepeoplethatthedangerofwarwiththeChancashadpassedaway。ScarcelyhadtheceremonybegunwhenUrcoappearedattheheadofanumberoflordsandprincesoftheIncablood,whoareofhisclan,andInoticedthathewasdrunkandfurious。Headvancedtothefootofthethrone,almostwithoutobeisance,andshouted:
\"\'WhereistheladyQuilla,daughterofHuaracha,whoispromisedtomeinmarriage,Inca？Whyhaveyouhiddenheraway,Inca？\'
\"\'BecausetheSun,ourFather,hasclaimedherashisbrideandhastakenhertodwellinhisholyhouse,whereneveragainmaytheeyesofmanbeholdher,Prince！\'answeredUpanqui。