Janees,
to-morrow another shall rule in your place. Amen the Father has decreed
your doom."
"Aye," echoed Janees heavily, "too late! Mortals cannot fight against
the gods that make their sport of them. Some god commanded that I should
love. Some god commands that I shall die. So be it, I am glad to die;
would that I had not been born to know grief and death. Tell me, O
Prophet, what evil power is there which ordains that we must be born and
suffer?"
Kepher beckoned to Tua and to Asti, and they followed him, leaving
Janees ringed round by those stern-faced men.
"Farewell, Lady," he called to Tua as she passed. "Here and hereafter
remember this of Janees, King of Tat, that he who might have saved his
life chose to die for love of you."
Then they went and saw him no more.
They passed the door of the great marble chamber about which they found
guards and eunuchs lying dead; they passed down the stairways, and
through the tall gates where more soldiers lay dead, and looking
behind them, saw that the palace was in flames.
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