CHAPTER L.
I VISIT LYONE IN CALNOGOR.
I hastily opened the despatch, which read as follows:
"His Majesty King Aldemegry Bhoolmakar of Atvatabar wishes to inform His Excellency Lexington White, commander-in-chief of the insurrectionary army mobilized in Kioram, that Her Holiness Lyone, late Goddess of Atvatabar, has been tried before a full conclave of the Borodemy on the charge of sacrilege, apostasy, and insurrection. Her holiness has been found guilty and is now under sentence of death. His majesty, of merciful intent, wishes it to be known that he will pardon her holiness on this condition, viz.: That the insurrectionary army lays down its arms forthwith, and the wayleals separate and depart to their respective abodes; that his excellency, the commander-in-chief, and his generals surrender themselves to his majesty as prisoners of war, to be tried and punished as military law dictates. This surrender to include that of the admiral of the fleet and the ships under his command.
"On no other condition whatever will mercy be extended to her holiness, and should this offer be temporized with or rejected nothing can save the late goddess from the sword of justice.
"Dictated at the palace in Calnogor, in the twenty-fifth year of his majesty's reign.
"ALDEMEGRY BHOOLMAKAR."
The king's communication was received with a sensation of contempt anddismay. The thought of surrender was in itself preposterous, but whenwe thought that our rebellion would drive a sword into the heart ofLyone, the awful idea struck us dumb with horror!
The king possessed our proudest and most precious soul as hostage, andhe was cowardly enough to sacrifice her as his most deadly blow to theinsurrection.
The crisis was appalling.
"Shall we," I cried, "continue the fight, now that we know it is ourqueen we fight against, that it is our arms that will murder her?"
"We certainly do not murder her," said Hushnoly; "and yet thisunexpected crisis paralyzes me."
"The king will not dare to murder the queen," said the grand sorcerer;"and if he does----"
The sorcerer suddenly checked himself; the mere contemplation of suchan event was overpowering, yet he seemed, of all others, the mostcomposed. His eyes shone with a strange fire that I had not hithertonoticed.
"I am satisfied," said Governor Ladalmir, "that unless we lay down ourarms and submit ourselves to his mercy, which means death to every onehere, the fate of the queen is sealed."
"I think," said the high priestess Zooly-Soase, "that his excellency,the commander-in-chief, should, if possible, obtain an order from theking permitting him to visit her majesty, and advise her of the entirefacts of the situation, and then act as she commands. If she asks usto lay down our arms and surrender ourselves as the price of herliberty, there is none, I think, who would be so faithless as torefuse."
"And I," said the grand sorceress, "approve of your proposal. I amwilling to surrender myself to save the life of the late goddess."
"We are all willing to sacrifice ourselves if need be!" shouted theentire council with generous and chivalrous enthusiasm.
"I will go," said I, "and see Lyone, as you propose, and upon herdecision will depend our future action."
A courier was immediately despatched under a flag of truce to thepalace at Calnogor, with the message that before his majesty'scommunication could be replied to, the commander-in-chief of the armyof the late goddess desired to have an interview with her majesty, todecide upon a final answer thereto, and to request a royal passportnot only admitting him to the presence of Lyone in the fortress atCalnogor, but also permitting his safe return to Kioram.
"I fear," said Hushnoly, "the queen herself may be so confident in thesuccess of her cause that she will overlook any danger to herself. Itwould be a signal success to save her without our own surrender, butthat is impossible until we defeat the royal army."
"What say you, grand sorcerer?" said I. "Do you think my mission willbe successful as regards the life of Lyone?"
"I have already foreseen this crisis," said he; "but I believe the endwill be triumphant."
His majesty, in reply to my despatch, sent me a royal passport thatadmitted me to the fortress to converse with Lyone, and which wouldprotect me until my return to Kioram.
"Tell her majesty," said the grand sorcerer, "not to fear the king;that we will save her, even should she nobly disdain to accept oursurrender for her life."
"How do you propose to save her life in case she forfeits it?" Ieagerly inquired.
"I cannot tell you," he replied, "for occult knowledge can only beapprehended by the initiated. Every great reform requires its martyr,and it may be that the queen will be our martyr, no matter what wedo."
An audible groan escaped from the lips of all. Was it possible thateven should we surrender we could not save the life of our adorableleader, and that to surrender would involve all in a common ruin? Wasthere ever in human history so great a crisis? I began to doubt thesorcerer's knowledge of the future. At the same time I felt that healone could guide us in that hour of peril.
"Sorcerer," I cried, "for the love of Lyone, for the glory of ourcause, tell me what to do! What shall I say to the queen? How shall Iadvise her to act for her own safety as well as ours?"
"Do not advise at all," said he. "Let the queen act for herself, andthat will be the best solution of the difficulty."
"But should she insist on sacrificing herself, where would be ourtriumph?"
"The triumph will be assured," said he, "although to win our causewill require the greatest sacrifice to be made."
I began to think that Lyone and the sorcerer understood each other,and that her life would in any case be saved from the violence ofdeath; and, taking this hopeful view of the situation, I departed forCalnogor, escorted by Flathootly and the astronomer.
As we swept toward the metropolis of Atvatabar I wondered if I wouldbe permitted to make the journey in safety. Was the passport of theking but a _ruse de guerre_ to entrap me?
I noticed here and there, as we neared the city, detachments of theroyal wayleals, some suspended in the air, and others being drilledin globular masses in anticipation of the coming struggle.
When within ten miles of Calnogor a party of scouts intercepted us,who demanded to see our passports. The leader examined the royaldecree with great minuteness, and only allowed us to proceed withapparent reluctance. I had reason to fear treachery, as I had butlately fought my way out of the country.
At length arriving above the royal fortress, we rapidly descended tothe court-yard and inquired for the governor.
With what feelings of excitement I awaited my interview with Lyone! Inwhat state would I find her, and how would she solve the riddle, adestiny that seemed impossible of solution?
The governor, accompanied by his armed staff, approached me, declaringhow glad he was to be able to permit an interview with Lyone. Hismanner was altogether too suspiciously cheerful, and his body-guardsurrounded us closely.
I hastened to assure the governor that my visit was made under theprotection of the king, and showed him the royal decree. "I havecome," I said, "to have an interview with her majesty upon the crisis,and that being accomplished, the royal mandate will secure me a freedeparture to Kioram."
"You can certainly see the ex-goddess," said the governor, "but youhave no right to address her as her majesty, for such a title is hightreason to their majesties, the king and queen of Atvatabar. As toyour being free to leave the fortress again, I must confer with hismajesty in that matter, as you are my prisoner until the king commandsyour release."
Was this a plot to capture me?
I was too anxious to see Lyone to think of my own safety just then,and requested the governor to lead me at once to her apartments.
"Follow me," said the governor, leading the way into the fortress. Wepassed along corridor after corridor until we arrived at a heavy gateof bronze,
which the governor himself unlocked. We thereupon entered aspacious antechamber, severely furnished with large oaken benches onthe marble floor.
I requested Flathootly and the astronomer to remain in the antechamberwhile I passed through another door unlocked for me by the governor.
I found myself alone in a spacious and finely decorated apartment, thegilded cage of Lyone. There were luxurious couches, and receptaclesfor books, and painted tapestries on the walls, and in the centre ofthe floor stood an aquarium, the home of strange animals and plants,from which rose a vase of gold that held a bouquet of the rarestflowers. The floor was covered with a semi-metallic carpet resemblinglinoleum. I sat down to await the coming of Lyone.
Presently the embroidered tapestry concealing the entrance to anotherchamber was moved aside, and the pale and breathless figure of Lyonestood before me. She came toward me, robed in a loose white silk gown.Her arms were outstretched, and her face wore an air of indescribablenobility and tenderness. I rushed forward and caught the gloriousfigure in my arms. It was fitting that our holiest emotions should atfirst find expression in a mutual deluge of kisses and tears.
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