\"Doyoustillthreatenmewiththatoutstretchedhand，Preacher？\"mockedOro。
\"Ican’tmoveit，\"saidBastin；\"itseemsturnedtostone。\"
\"Bethankfulthatyoualsoarenotturnedtostone。But，becauseyourcouragepleasesme，Iwillspareyou，yes，andwilladvanceyouinmyNewKingdom。Whatshallyoube？ControllerofReligions，Ithink，sinceallthequalitiesthatahighpriestshouldhaveareyours——faith，fanaticismandfolly。\"
\"Itisverystrange，\"saidBastin，\"butallofasuddenmyarmandhandarequitewellagain。Isupposeitmusthavebeen’pinsandneedles’orsomethingofthatsortwhichmademethrowawaythepistolandpullthetriggerwhenIdidn’tmeantodoso。\"
Thenhewenttofetchthatarticlewhichhadfallenbeyondthedais，andquiteforgothisintentionofexecutingOrointheinterestoftestingitsmechanism，whichprovedtobedestroyed。
Tohisproposedappointmenthemadenoillusion。Ifhecomprehendedwhatwasmeant，whichIdoubt，hetookitasajoke。
\"Hearkenallofyou，\"saidOro，liftinghisheadsuddenly，forwhileBastinrecoveredtherevolverhehadbeenbrooding。\"ThegreatthingwhichIshalldotomorrowmustbewitnessedbyyoubecausetherebyonlycanyoucometounderstandmypowers。AlsoyonderwhereIbringitaboutinthebowelsoftheearth，youwillbesaferthanelsewhere，sincewhenandperhapsbeforeithappens，thewholeworldwillheaveandshakeandtremble，andI
knownotwhatmaychance，eveninthesecaves。Forthisreasonalso，donotforgettobringthelittlehoundwithyou，sincehimleastofallofyouwouldIseecometoharm，perhapsbecauseonce，hundredsofgenerationsagoasyoureckontime，Ihadadogveryliketohim。Yourmotherlovedhimmuch，Yva，andwhenshedied，thisdogdiedalso。Heliesembalmedwithheronhercoffinyonderinthetemple，andyesterdayIwenttolookatbothofthem。Thebeastsarewonderfullyalike，whichshowstheeverlastingnessofblood。\"
Hepausedawhile，lostinthought，thencontinued：\"AfterthedeedisdoneI’llspeakwithyouandyoushallchoose，Strangers，whetheryouwilldieyourownmasters，orliveontoserveme。
Nowthereisoneproblemthatislefttometosolve——whetherI
cansaveacertainland——donotaskwhichitis，Humphrey，thoughIseethequestioninyoureyes——ormustletitgowiththerest。
IonlyansweryouthatIwilldomybestbecauseyouloveit。Sofarewellforawhile，and，Preacher，beadvisedbymeanddonotaimtoohighagain。\"
\"Itdoesn’tmatterwhereIaim，\"answeredBastinsturdily，\"orwhetherIhitormiss，sincethereissomethingmuchbiggerthanmewaitingtodealwithyou。Thecountriesthatyouthinkyouaregoingtodestroywillsleepquiteaswelltomorrowastheydotonight，Oro。\"
\"Muchbetter，Ithink，Preacher，sincebythentheywillhaveleftsorrowandpainandwickednessandwarfarbehindthem。\"
\"Wherearewetogo？\"Iasked。
\"TheLadyYvawillshowyou，\"heanswered，wavinghishand，andoncemorebentoverhisendlesscalculations。
Yvabeckonedtousandweturnedandfollowedherdownthehall。Sheledustoastreetnearthegatewayofthetempleandthenceintooneofthehouses。TherewasaporticotoitleadingtoacourtoutofwhichopenedroomssomewhatinthePompeianfashion。Wedidnotentertherooms，forattheendofthecourtwereametaltableandthreecouchesalsoofmetal，onwhichwerespreadrich—lookingrugs。WhencethesecameIdonotknowandneverasked，butIrememberthattheywereverybeautifulandsoftasvelvet。
\"Hereyoumaysleep，\"shesaid，\"ifsleepyoucan，andeatofthefoodthatyouhavebroughtwithyou。TomorrowearlyIwillcallyouwhenitistimeforustostartuponourjourneyintothebowelsoftheearth。\"
\"Idon’twanttogoanydeeperthanweare，\"saidBastindoubtfully。
\"Ithinkthatnoneofuswanttogo，Bastin，\"sheansweredwithasigh。\"Yetgowemust。Iprayofyou，angertheLordOronomoreonthisoranyothermatter。Inyourfollyyoutriedtokillhim，andasitchancedheboreitwellbecausehelovescourage。
Butanothertimehemaystrikeback，andthen，Bastin——\"
\"Iamnotafraidofhim，\"heanswered，\"butIdonotliketunnels。Still，perhapsitwouldbebettertoaccompanyyouthantobeleftinthisplacealone。NowIwillunpackthefood。\"
Yvaturnedtogo。
\"Imustleaveyou，\"shesaid，\"sincemyfatherneedsmyhelp。
ThematterhastodowiththeForcethathewouldletloosetomorrow，anditsmeasurements；alsowiththepreparationoftherobesthatwemustwearlestitshouldharmusinitsleap。\"
Somethinginhereyestoldmethatshewishedmetofollowher，andIdidso。Outsidetheporticowherewestoodinthedesolate，lightedstreet，shehalted。
\"Ifyouarenotafraid，\"shesaid，\"meetmeatmidnightbythestatueofFateinthegreattemple，forIwouldspeakwithyou，Humphrey，where，ifanywhere，wemaybealone。\"
\"Iwillcome，Yva。\"
\"Youknowtheroad，andthegatesareopen，Humphrey。\"
Thenshegavemeherhandtokissandglidedaway。Ireturnedtotheothersandweate，somewhatsparingly，forwewishedtosaveourfoodincaseofneed，andhavingdrunkoftheLife—
water，werenothungry。Alsowetalkedalittle，butbycommonconsentavoidedthesubjectofthemorrowandwhatitmightbringforth。
Weknewthatterriblethingswereafoot，butlackinganyknowledgeofwhatthesemightbe，thoughtituselesstodiscussthem。Indeedweweretoodepressed，somuchsothatevenBastinandBickleyceasedfromarguing。ThelatterwassoovercomebytheexhibitionofOro’spowerswhenhecausedthepistoltoleapintotheairanddischargeitself，thathecouldnotevenpluckupcouragetolaughatthefailureofBastin’seffortstodojusticeontheoldSuper—man，orrathertopreventhimfromattemptingacolossalcrime。
Atlengthwelaydownonthecouchestorest，Bastinremarkingthathewishedhecouldturnoffthelight，alsothathedidnotintheleastregrethavingtriedtokillOro。Sleepseemedtocometotheothersquickly，butIcouldonlydoze，towakeupfromtimetotime。OfthisIwasnotsorry，sincewheneverI
droppedoffdreamsseemedtopursueme。Forthemostparttheywereofmydeadwife。Sheappearedtobetryingtoconsolemeforsomeloss，butthestrangethingwasthatsometimesshespokewithherownvoiceandsometimeswithYva’s，andsometimeslookedatmewithherowneyesandsometimeswiththoseofYva。I
remembernothingelseaboutthesedreams，whichwereveryconfused。
Afteroneofthem，themostvividofall，Iawokeandlookedatmywatch。Itwashalf—pasteleven，almosttimeformetobestarting。Theothertwoseemedtobefastasleep。PresentlyI
roseandcreptdownthecourtwithoutwakingthem。Outsidetheportico，whichbythewaywasacuriousexampleofthesurvivalofcustominarchitecture，sincenonewasneededinthatweatherlessplace，Iturnedtotherightandfollowedthewidestreettothetempleenclosure。ThroughthepillaredcourtsI
went，myfootsteps，althoughIwalkedassoftlyasIcould，echoingloudlyinthatintensesilence，throughthegreatdoorsintotheuttersolitudeofthevastandperfectfane。
Wordscannottellthelonelinessofthatplace。Itflowedovermelikeaseaandseemedtoswallowupmybeing，sothateventhewildestandmostdangerousbeastwouldhavebeenwelcomeasacompanion。Iwasasterrifiedasachildthatwakestofinditselfdesertedinthedark。Alsoanuncannysenseofterrorstocomeoppressedme，tillIcouldhavecriedaloudifonlytohearthesoundofamortalvoice。YonderwasthegrimstatueofFate，theOracleoftheKingsoftheSonsofWisdom，whichwasbelievedtobowitsstonyheadinanswertotheirprayers。Irantoit，eagerforitsterribleshelter，foroneithersideofitwerefiguresofhumanbeings。Eventheircoldmarblewascompanyofasort，thoughalas！overallfrownedFate。
LetanyoneimaginehimselfstandingalonebeneaththedomeofSt。Paul’s；inthecentreofthatcathedralbrilliantwithmysteriouslight，andstretchedallaboutitaLondonthathadbeendeadandabsolutelyunpeopledfortensofthousandsofyears。Ifhecandothishewillgathersomeideaofmyphysicalstate。Lethimaddtohismind—pictureaknowledgethatonthefollowingdaysomethingwastohappennotunliketheendoftheworld，asprognosticatedbytheBookofRevelationandbymostastronomers，andhewillhavesomeideaofmymentalperturbations。Addtothemixtureamostmysticyetveryrealloveaffairandanassignationbeforethatsymbolofthecoldfatewhichseemstoswaytheuniversesdowntothetiniestdetailofindividuallives，andhemaybegintounderstandwhatI，HumphreyArbuthnot，experiencedduringmyvigilinthissanctuaryofavanishedrace。
ItseemedlongbeforeYvacame，butatlastshedidcome。I
caughtsightofherfarawaybeyondthetemplegate，flittingthroughtheunholybrightnessofthepillaredcourtslikeawhitemothatnightandseemingquiteassmall。Sheapproached；nowshewasasaghost，andthendrawingnear，changedintoaliving，breathing，lovelywoman。Iopenedmyarms，andwithsomethinglikeasobshesankintothemandwekissedasmortalsdo。
\"Icouldnotcomemorequickly，\"shesaid。\"TheLordOroneededme，andthosecalculationswerelonganddifficult。Alsotwicehemustvisittheplacewhitherweshallgotomorrow，andthattooktime。\"
\"Thenitiscloseathand？\"Isaid。
\"Humphrey，benotfoolish。Doyounotremember，whohavetravelledwithhim，thatOrocanthrowhissoulafarandbringitbackagainladenwithknowledge，asthefeetofabeeareladenwithgoldendust？Well，hewentandwentagain，andImustwait。
Andthentherobesandshields；theymustbepreparedbyhisartsandmine。Oh！asknotwhattheyare，thereisnotimetotell，anditmattersnothing。Somefolkarewiseandsomearefoolish，butallwhichmattersisthatwithinthemflowsthebloodoflifeandthatlifebreedslove，andthatlove，asIbelieve，althoughOrodoesnot，breedsimmortality。Andifso，whatisTimebutasagrainofsandupontheshore？\"
\"This，Yva；itisours，whocancountonnothingelse。\"
\"Oh！Humphrey，ifIthoughtthat，nomorewretchedcreaturewouldbreathetonightuponthisgreatworld。\"
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"Iasked，growingfearful，moreathermannerandherlookthanatherwords。
\"Nothing，nothing，exceptthatTimeissoveryshort。Akiss，atouch，alittlelightandalittledarkness，anditisgone。AskmyfatherOrowhohaslivedathousandyearsandsleptfortensofthousands，asIhave，andhewillsaythesame。ItisagainstTimethathefights；hewho，believinginnothingbeyond，willinheritnothing，asBastinsays；hetowhomTimehasbroughtnothingsaveapassing，blood—stainedgreatness，andtriumphendingindarknessanddisaster，andhopethatwillsurelysufferhope’seclipse，andpowerthatmustlaydownitscoronetindust。\"
\"Andwhathasitbroughttoyou，Yva，beyondafairbodyandasoulofstrength？\"
\"Ithasbroughtaspirit，Humphrey。Betweenthemthebodyandthesoulhavebredaspirit，andinthefiresoftribulationfromthatspirithasbeendistilledtheessenceofeternallove。ThatisTime’sgifttome，andtherefore，althoughstillherulesmehere，ImockatFate，\"andshewavedherhandwithagestureofdefianceatthestern—faced，sexlesseffigywhichsataboveus，theswordacrossitsknees。
\"Look！Look！\"shewentoninaswellingvoiceofmusic，pointingtothestatuesofthedotardandthebeauteouswoman。
\"TheyimploreFate，theyworshipFate。Idonotimplore，IdonotworshiporaskasignasevenOrodoesandasdidhisforefathers。Iriseaboveandtriumph。AsFate，thegodofmypeople，setshisfootuponthesun，soIsetmyfootuponFate，andthence，likeaswimmerfromarock，leapintothewatersofImmortality。\"
Ilookedatherwhosepresence，ashappenedfromtimetotime，hadgrownmajesticbeyondthatofwoman；Istudiedherdeepeyeswhichwerefulloflights，notofthisworld，andIgrewafraid。
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"Iasked。\"Yva，youtalklikeonewhohasfinishedwithlife。\"
\"Itpasses，\"sheansweredquickly。\"Lifepasseslikebreathfadingfromamirror。Soshouldalltalkwhobreathebeneaththesun。\"
\"Yes，Yva，butifyouwentandleftmestillbreathingonthatmockingglass——\"
\"Ifso，whatofit？Willnotyourbreathfadealsoandjoinminewhereallvapoursgo？Orifitwereyoursthatfadedandminethatremainedforsomefewhours，isitnotthesame？I
think，Humphrey，thatalreadyyouhaveseenabelovedbreathmeltfromtheglassoflife，\"sheadded，lookingatmeearnestly。
Ibowedmyheadandanswered：
\"Yes，andthereforeIamashamed。\"
\"Oh！whyshouldyoubeashamed，Humphrey，whoarenotsurebutthattwobreathsmayyetbeonebreath？Howdoyouknowthatthereisadifferencebetweenthem？\"
\"Youdrivememad，Yva。Icannotunderstand。\"
\"NorcanIaltogether，Humphrey。WhyshouldI，seeingthatIamnomorethanwoman，asyouarenomorethanman？Iwouldalwayshaveyouremember，Humphrey，thatIamnospiritorsorceress，butjustawoman——likeheryoulost。\"
Ilookedatherdoubtfullyandanswered：
\"Womendonotsleepfortwohundredthousandyears。Womendonottakedreamjourneystothestars。Womendonotmakethedeadpastliveagainbeforethewatcher’seyes。Theirhairdoesnotglimmerinthedusknordotheirbodiesgleam，norhavetheysuchstrengthofsouloreyessowonderful，orlovelinesssogreat。\"
Thesewordsappearedtodistressherwho，asitseemedtome，wasaboveallthingsanxioustoproveherselfwomanandnomore。
\"Allthesequalitiesarenothing，Humphrey，\"shecried。\"Asforthebeauty，suchasitis，itcomestomewithmyblood，andwithittheglitterofmyhairwhichistheheritageofthosewhoforgenerationshavedrunkoftheLife—water。MymotherwaslovelierthanI，aswashermother，orsoIhaveheard，sinceonlythefairestwerethewivesoftheKingsoftheChildrenofWisdom。
Fortherest，suchartsasIhavespringnotfrommagic，butfromknowledgewhichyourpeoplewillacquireindaystocome，thatis，ifOrosparesthem。SurelyyouaboveallshouldknowthatI
amonlywoman，\"sheaddedveryslowlyandsearchingmyfacewithhereyes。
\"Why，Yva？DuringthelittlewhilethatwehavebeentogetherI
haveseenmuchwhichmakesmedoubt。EvenBickleythescepticdoubtsalso。\"
\"Iwilltellyou，thoughIamnotsurethatyouwillbelieveme。\"Sheglancedaboutherasthoughshewerefrightenedlestsomeoneshouldoverhearherwordsorreadherthoughts。Thenshestretchedoutherhandsanddrawingmyheadtowardsher，putherlipstomyearandwhispered：
\"Becauseonceyousawmedie，aswomenoftendie——givinglifeforlife。\"
\"Isawyoudie？\"Igasped。
Shenodded，thencontinuedtowhisperinmyear，notinherownvoice，butanother’s：
\"Gowhereyouseemcalledtogo，faraway。Oh！thewonderfulplaceinwhichyouwillfindme，notknowingthatyouhavefoundme。Good—byeforalittlewhile；onlyforalittlewhile，myown，myown！\"
IknewthevoiceasIknewthewords，andknowing，IthinkthatIshouldhavefallentotheground，hadshenotsupportedmewithherstrongarms。
\"Whotoldyou？\"Istammered。\"WasitBickleyorBastin？Theyknew，thoughneitherofthemheardthoseholywords。\"
\"NotBickleynorBastin，\"sheanswered，shakingherhead，\"no，noryouyourself，awakeorsleeping，thoughonce，bythelakeyonder，yousaidtomethatwhenacertainonelaydying，shebadeyouseekherelsewhere，forcertainlyyouwouldfindher。
Humphrey，IcannotsaywhotoldmethosewordsbecauseIdonotknow。Ithinktheyareamemory，Humphrey！\"
\"Thatwouldmeanthatyou，Yva，arethesameasonewhowas——
notcalledYva。\"
\"ThesameasonewhowascalledNatalie，Humphrey，\"sherepliedinsolemnaccents。\"Onewhomyoulovedandwhomyoulost。\"
\"Thenyouthinkthatweliveagainuponthisearth？\"
\"Againandyetagain，untilthetimecomesforustoleavetheearthforever。Ofthis，indeed，Iamsure，forthatknowledgewaspartofthesecretwisdomofmypeople。\"
\"Butyouwerenotdead。Youonlyslept。\"
\"Thesleepwasadeath—sleepwhichwentbylikeaflash，yes，inaninstant，orsoitseemed。Onlytheshellofthebodyremainedpreservedbymortalarts，andwhenthereturningspiritandthelightoflifewerepouredintoitagain，itawoke。Butduringthislongdeath—sleep，thatspiritmayhavespokenthroughotherlipsandthatlightmayhaveshonethroughothereyes，thoughoftheseIremembernothing。\"
\"Thenthatdreamofourvisittoacertainstarmaybenodream？\"
\"Ithinknodream，andyou，too，havethoughtasmuch。\"
\"Inaway，yes，Yva。ButIcouldnotbelieveandturnedfromwhatIheldtobeaphantasy。\"
\"Itwasnatural，Humphrey，thatyoushouldnotbelieve。
Hearken！InthistempleawhileagoIshowedyouapictureofmyselfandofamanwholovedmeandwhomIloved，andofhisdeathatOro’shands。Didyounoteanythingaboutthatman？\"
\"Bickleydid，\"Ianswered。\"Washeright？\"
\"Ithinkthathewasright，sinceotherwiseIshouldnothavelovedyou，Humphrey。\"
\"Iremembernothingofthatman，Yva。\"
\"Itisprobablethatyouwouldnot，sinceyouandheareveryfarapart，whilebetweenyouandhimflowwideseasofdeath，whereinaresetislandsoflife；perhapsmanyofthem。ButI
remembermuchwhoseemtohavelefthimbutaverylittlewhileago。\"
\"Whenyouawokeinyourcoffinandthrewyourarmsaboutme，whatdidyouthink，Yva？\"
\"Ithoughtyouwerethatman，Humphrey。\"
Therewassilencebetweenusandinthatsilencethetruthcamehometome。ThentherebeforetheeffigyofFateandinthedesolate，glowingtempleweplightedanewourtrothmadeholybyapast。thatthussowonderfullylivedagain。
OfthisconsecratedhourIsaynomore。Leteachpictureitashewill。Agloryasofheavenfelluponusandinitwedweltaspace。
\"Beloved，\"shewhisperedatlengthinavoicethatwaschokedasthoughwithtears，\"ifitchancesthatweshouldbeseparatedagainforalittlewhile，youwillnotgrieveovermuch？\"
\"KnowingallIshouldtrynottogrieve，Yva，seeingthatintruthwenevercanbeparted。ButdoyoumeanthatIshalldie？\"
\"Beingmortaleitherofusmightseemtodie，Humphrey，\"andshebentherheadasthoughtohideherface。\"Youknowwegointodangersthisday。\"
\"DoesOroreallypurposetodestroymuchoftheworldandhasheintruththepower，Yva？\"
\"Hedoessopurposeandmostcertainlyhehasthepower，unless——unlesssomeotherPowershouldstayhishand。\"
\"Whatotherpower，Yva？\"
\"Oh！perhapsthatwhichyouworship，thatwhichiscalledLove。
Theloveofmanmayavertthemassacreofmen。Ihopesowithallmyheart。Hist！Orocomes。Ifeel，Iknowthathecomes，thoughnotinsearchofuswhoareveryfarfromhisthoughttonight。
Followme。Swiftly。\"
Shespedacrossthetempletowhereachapelopenedoutofit，whichwasfullofthestatuesofdeadkings，forherewastheentrancetotheirburialvault。Wereacheditandhidbehindthebaseofoneofthesestatues。Bystandingtoourfullheight，withoutbeingseenwestillcouldseebetweenthefeetofthestatuethatstooduponapedestal。
ThenOrocame。
ChapterXXIV
TheChariotofthePitOrocameandofnecessityalone。Yettherewasthatinhisairasheadvancedintothetemple，whichsuggestedamonarchsurroundedbythepompandpanoplyofagreatcourt。Hemarched，hisheadheldhigh，asthoughheraldsandpursuivantswentinfrontofhim，asthoughnoblessurroundedhimandguardsorregimentsfollowedafterhim。Letitbeadmittedthathewasagreatfigureinhisgorgeousrobes，withhislongwhitebeard，hishawk—likefeatures，histallshapeandhisglitteringeyes，whichevenatthatdistanceIcouldsee。IndeedonceortwiceI
thoughtthatheglancedoutofthecornersofthemtowardsthechapelwherewewerehid。ButthisIthinkwasfancy。ForasYvasaid，histhoughtsweresetelsewhere。
HereachedthestatueofFateandstoodforawhilecontemplatingitandthesuppliantfiguresoneitherside，asthoughhewerewaitingforhisinvisiblecourttoarrangeitself。
Thenhedoffedhisjewelledcaptotheeffigy，andkneltbeforeit。Yes，OrotheAncient，theSuper—man，theGod，astheearlypeoplesoftheearthfanciedsuchabeing，namely，onefullofwrath，revenge，jealousy，capriceandpower，kneltinsupplicationtothisimageofstonewhichhebelievedtobethehomeofaspirit，therebyshowinghimselftobeafterallnotsofarremovedfromthesavageswhoseidolBastinhaddestroyed。
More，inaclearandresonantvoicewhichreachedusevenacrossthatgreatspace，heputuphisprayer。Itransomethingasfollows，foralthoughIdidnotunderstandthelanguageinwhichhespokeYvatranslatedittomeinawhisper：
\"GodoftheSonsofWisdom，Godofthewholeearth，onlyGodtowhommustboweveryotherPowerandDominion，totheeI，OrotheGreatKing，makeprayerandoffersacrifice。TwentytimestenthousandyearsandmorehavegonebysinceI，Oro，visitedthis，thytempleandkneltbeforethis，thylivingeffigy，yetthou，ruleroftheworld，dostremembertheprayerImadeandthesacrificeIoffered。Theprayerwasfortriumphovermyenemiesandthesacrificeapromiseofthelivesofhalfofthosewhointhatdaydweltupontheearth。Thouheardesttheprayer，thoudidstbowthyheadandacceptthesacrifice。Yea，theprayerwasgrantedandthesacrificewasmade，andinitwerecountedthenumberofmyfoes。
\"ThenIslept。ThroughcountlessgenerationsIsleptonandatmysidewastheonechildofmybodythatwaslefttome。Whatchancedtomyspiritandtohersduringthatsleep，thouknowestalone，butdoubtlesstheywentforthtoworkthyends。
\"Attheappointedtimewhichthoudidstdecree，Iawokeagainandfoundinmyhousestrangersfromanotherland。InthecompanyofoneofthosewhosespiritIdrewforth，Ivisitedthepeoplesofthenewearth，andfoundthemevenbaserandmoreevilthanthosewhomIhadknown。Therefore，sincetheycannotbebettered。
Ipurposetodestroythemalso，andontheirwrecktorebuildagloriousempire，suchaswasthatoftheSonsofWisdomatitsprime。
\"Asign！OFate，ruleroftheworld，givemeasignthatmydesireshallbefulfilled。\"
Hepaused，stretchingouthisarmsandstaringupwards。WhilehewaitedIfeltthesolidrockonwhichIstoodquiverandswaybeneathmyfeetsothatYvaandIclungtoeachotherlestweshouldfall。Thischancedalso。Theshockoftheearthtremor，forsuchwithoutdoubtitwas，threwdownthefiguresoftheancientmanandthelovelywomanwhichkneltasthoughmakingprayerstoFate，andshookthemarbleswordfromoffitsknees。