He too had drunk of the Cup of Life and lives on unharmed by Time, so that being in strength my equal, no spear of mine can reach his heart clad in the armour of his evil god." "Then what spear can ?" I inquired helplessly, who was bewildered.
"None at all, Allan, yet an _axe_ may, as you shall hear, or so I think.

For many generations there has been peace of a sort between the worshippers of Lulala who dwell with me in the Plain of Kor, or rather of myself, since to these people _I_ am Lulala, and the worshippers of Rezu, who dwell in the strongholds beyond the mountain crest.

But of late years their chief Rezu, having devastated the lands about, has grown restless and threatened to attack on Kor, which is not strong enough to stand against him.

Moreover he has sought for a white queen to rule under him, purposing to set her up to mock my majesty." "Is that why those cannibals carried away the daughter of my companion, the Sea-Captain who is named Avenger ?" I asked.
"It is, Allan, since presently he will give it out that I am dead or fled, if he has not done so already, and that this new queen has arisen in my place.

Thereby he hopes to draw away many who cling to me ere he advances upon Kor, carrying with him this girl veiled as I am, so that none may know the difference between us, since not a man of them has ever looked upon my face, Allan.