Nyleptha,' I went on, 'thou knowest well that thy words are empty foolishness, and that this is no time for folly.' 'How darest thou ?' she broke in, stamping her foot.

'Hast my false lord sent thee to me to insult me also?
Who art thou, stranger, that thou shouldst speak to me, the Queen, after this sort?
How darest thou ?' 'Yea, I dare.

Listen.

The moments which thou dost waste in idle anger may well cost thee thy crown and all of us our lives.
Already Sorais' horsemen go forth and call to arms.

In three days' time Nasta will rouse himself in his fastnesses like a lion in the evening, and his growling will be heard throughout the North.