Moreover, the old northern rage entered into me, and these easterners were no match for my skill and strength.

First one and then another of them went down, whereon the third fled away, taking with him a grizzly wound behind, for I struck him as he fled.
"Now it seems there is an end of that," I gasped to Heliodore, who was crouched upon the seat.

"Come, let me take you to your father and summon my guards, ere we meet more of these murderers." As I spoke a cloaked and hooded woman glided from the shelter of the trees behind and stood before us.

She threw back the hood from her head and the moonlight fell upon her face.

It was that of the Empress, but oh! so changed by jealous rage that I should scarce have known her.