Listen now! I would make you my Queen, but Queen or not, mine you
shall be who lie in my power. I will not force you, I will give you
time. But if on the morning of the third day from this night you still
refuse to share my throne, why, then you shall sit upon its footstool."
Now, in her anger, Tua threw back her veil, and met him eye to eye.
"You think me great," she said, "and truly you are right, for whatever
is my rank, with me go my gods, and in their strength my innocence is
great. Let me be, you petty King of Tat, lest I lift up my voice to
heaven, and call down upon you the anger of the gods."
"Already, Lady, you have called down upon me the anger of a goddess,
that Hathor of whom I spoke, and for the rest I fear them not. Let them
do their worst. On the third night from this night, as Queen or slave,
I swear that you shall be mine. This woman here, whom you call your
mother, shall be witness to my oath, and to its end."
"Aye, King," broke in Asti, "I will be witness, but as to the end of
that oath I do not know it yet.
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