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Into their places sprang and knelt a dozen archers。 They ringed in the two； bows drawn taut； arrows in place and pointing straight to their hearts。
Out of the litter rolled a giant of a man。 Seven feet he must have been in height； over the huge shoulders； the barreled chest and the bloated abdomen hung a purple cloak glittering with gems； through the thick and grizzled hair passed a flashing circlet of jewels。
The scarlet armored Kulun beside him； swordsmen guarding them； he walked to the verge of the torn gap in the wall。 He peered down it； glancing imperturbably at the upraised； hammer…banded arms still threatening； examined again the breach。 Then still with Kulun he strode over to the very edge of the broken battlement and stood； head thrust a little forward； studying us in silence。
〃Cherkis！〃 whispered Norhalathe whisper was a hymn to Nemesis。 I felt her body quiver from head to foot。
A wave of hatred； a hot desire to kill； passed through me as I scanned the face staring at us。 It was a great gross mask of evil； of cold cruelty and callous lusts。 Unwinking； icily malignant； black slits of eyes glared at us between pouches that held them half closed。 Heavy jowls hung pendulous； dragging down the corners of the thick lipped； brutal mouth into a deep graven； unchanging sneer。
As he gazed at Norhala a flicker of lust shot like a licking tongue through his eyes。
Yet from him pulsed power； sinister； instinct with evil； concentrate with crueltybut power indomitable。 Such was Cherkis； descendant perhaps of that Xerxes the Conqueror who three millenniums gone ruled most of the known world。
It was Norhala who broke the silence。
〃Tcherak！ GreetingCherkis！〃 There was merciless mirth in the buglings of her voice。 〃Lo； I did but knock so gently at your gates and you hastened to welcome me。 Greetingsgross swine； spittle of the toads； fat slug beneath my sandals。〃
He passed the insults by； unmovedalthough I heard a murmuring go up from those near and Kulun's hard eyes blazed。
〃We will bargain； Norhala；〃 he answered calmly； the voice was deep； filled with sinister strength。
〃Bargain？〃 she laughed。 〃What have you with which to bargain； Cherkis？ Does the rat bargain with the tigress？ And you； toad； have nothing。〃
He shook his head。
〃I have these；〃 he waved a hand toward Ruth and her brother。 〃Me you may slayand mayhap many of mine。 But before you can move my archers will feather their hearts。〃
She considered him； no longer mocking。
〃Two of mine you slew long since； Cherkis；〃 she said； slowly。 〃Therefore it is I am here。〃
〃I know；〃 he nodded heavily。 〃Yet now that is neither here nor there； Norhala。 It was long since； and I have learned much during the years。 I would have killed you too； Norhala； could I have found you。 But now I would not do as thenquite differently would I do； Norhala； for I have learned much。 I am sorry that those that you loved died as they did。 I am in truth sorry！〃
There was a curious lurking sardonicism in the words； an undertone of mockery。 Was what he really meant that in those years he had learned to inflict greater agonies； more exquisite tortures？ If so； Norhala apparently did not sense that interpretation。 Indeed； she seemed to be interested； her wrath abating。
〃No；〃 the hoarse voice rumbled dispassionately。 〃None of that is importantnow。 YOU would have this man and girl。 I hold them。 They die if you stir a hand's breadth toward me。 If they die； I prevail against youfor I have cheated you of what you desire。 I win； Norhala； even though you slay me。 That is all that is now important。〃
There was doubt upon Norhala's face and I caught a quick gleam of contemptuous triumph glint through the depths of the evil eyes。
〃Empty will be your victory over me； Norhala；〃 he said； then waited。
〃What is your bargain？〃 she spoke hesitatingly； with a sinking of my heart I heard the doubt tremble in her throat。
〃If you will go without further knocking upon my gates〃there was a satiric grimness in the phrase〃go when you have been given them； and pledge yourself never to returnyou shall have them。 If you will not； then they die。〃
〃But what security； what hostages； do you ask？〃 Her eyes were troubled。 〃I cannot swear by your gods； Cherkis； for they are not my godsin truth I； Norhala； have no gods。 Why should I not say yes and take the two； then fall upon you and destroyas you would do in my place； old wolf？〃
〃Norhala；〃 he answered； 〃I ask nothing but your word。 Do I not know those who bore you and the line from which they sprung？ Was not always the word they gave kept till deathunbroken； inviolable？ No need for vows to gods between you and me。 Your word is holier than they O glorious daughter of kings； princess royal！〃
The great voice was harshly caressing； not obsequious； but as though he gave her as an equal her rightful honor。 Her face softened； she considered him from eyes far less hostile。
A wholesome respect for this gross tyrant's mentality came to me； it did not temper； it heightened； the hatred I felt for him。 But now I recognized the subtlety of his attack； realized that unerringly he had taken the only means by which he could have gained a hearing； have temporized。 Could he win her with his guile？
〃Is it not true？〃 There was a leonine purring in the question。
〃It IS true！〃 she answered proudly。 〃Though why YOU should dwell upon this； Cherkis； whose word is steadfast as the running stream and whose promises are as lasting as its bubbleswhy YOU should dwell on this I do not know。〃
〃I have changed greatly； Princess； in the years since my great wickedness； I have learned much。 He who speaks to you now is not he you were taughtand taught justly thento hate。〃
〃You may speak truth！ Certainly you are not as I have pictured you。〃 It was as though she were more than half convinced。 〃In this at least you do speak truththat IF I promise I will go and molest you no more。〃
〃Why go at all； Princess？〃 Quietly he asked the amazing questionthen drew himself to his full height； threw wide his arms。
〃Princess？〃 the great voice rumbled forth。 〃Nay Queen！ Why leave us againNorhala the Queen？ Are we not of your people？ Am I not of your kin？ Join your power with ours。 What that war engine you ride may be； how built； I know not。 But this I do knowthat with our strengths joined we two can go forth from where I have dwelt so long； go forth into the forgotten world； eat its cities and rule。
〃You shall teach our people to make these engines； Norhala； and we will make many of them。 Queen Norhalayou shall wed my son Kulun； he who stands beside me。 And while I live you shall rule with me； rule equally。 And when I die you and Kulun shall rule。
〃Thus shall our two royal lines be made one； the old feud wiped out； the long score be settled。 Queenwherever it is you dwell it comes to me that you have few men。 Queenyou need men； many men and strong to follow you； men to gather the harvests of your power； men to bring to you the fruit of your smallest wishyoung men and vigorous to amuse you。
〃Let the past be forgottenI too have wrongs to forget； O Queen。 Come to us； Great One； with your power and your beauty。 Teach us。 Lead us。 Return； and throned above your people rule the world！〃
He ceased。 Over the battlements； over the city； dropped a vast expectant silenceas though the city knew its fate was hanging upon the balance。
〃No！ No！〃 It was Ruth crying。 〃Do not trust him； Norhala！ It's a trap！ He shamed mehe tortured〃
Cherkis half turned； before he swung about I saw a hell shadow darken his face。 Ventnor's hand thrust out； covered Ruth's mouth； choking her crying。
〃Your son〃Norhala spoke swiftly； and back flashed the cruel face of Cherkis； devouring her with his eyes。 〃Your sonand Queenship hereand Empire of the World。〃 Her voice was rapt； thrilled。 〃All this you offer？ MeNorhala？〃
〃This and more！〃 The huge bulk of his body quivered with eagerness。 〃If it be your wish； O Queen； I； Cherkis； will step down from the throne for you and sit beneath your right hand； eager to do your bidding。〃
A moment she studied him。
〃Norhala；〃 I whispered； 〃do not do this thing。 He thinks to gain your secrets。〃
〃Let my bridegroom stand forth that I may look upon him；〃 called Norhala。
Visibly Cherkis relaxed； as though a strain had been withdrawn。 Between him and his crimson…clad son flashed a glance； it was as though a triumphant devil sped from them into each other's eyes。
I saw Ruth shrink into Ventnor's arms。 Up from the wall rose a jubilant shouting； was caught by the inner battlements； passed on to the crowded terraces。
〃Take Kulun；〃 it was Drake； pistol drawn and whispering across to me。 〃I'll handle Cherkis。 And shoot straight。〃
CHAPTER XXVI
THE VENGEANCE OF NORHALA
Norhala's hand that had gone from my wrist dropped down again； the other fell upon Drake's。
Kulun loosed his hood； let it fall about his shoulders。
He stepped forward； held out his arms to Norhala。
〃A strong man！〃 she cried approvingly。 〃Hailmy bridegroom！ But staystand back a moment。 Stand beside that man for whom I came to Ruszark。 I would see you together！〃
Kulun's face darkened。 But Cherkis smiled with evil understanding； shrugged his shoulders and whispe