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 and
dismay. The thought of surrender was in itself preposterous, but when
we thought that our rebellion would drive a sword into the heart of
Lyone, the awful idea struck us dumb with horror!
The king possessed our proudest and most precious soul as hostage, and
he was cowardly enough to sacrifice her as his most deadly blow to the
insurrection.
The crisis was appalling.
"Shall we," I cried, "continue the fight, now that we know it is our
queen we fight against, that it is our arms that will murder her?"
"We certainly do not murder her," said Hushnoly; "and yet this
unexpected 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 such
an event was overpowering, yet he seemed, of all others, the most
composed. His eyes shone with a strange fire that I had not hitherto
noticed.
"I am satisfied," said Governor Ladalmir, "that unless we lay down our
arms and submit ourselves to his mercy, which means death to every one
here, 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 the
king permitting him to visit her majesty, and advise her of the entire
facts of the situation, and then act as she commands. If she asks us
to lay down our arms and surrender ourselves as the price of her
liberty, there is none, I think, who would be so faithless as to
refuse."
"And I," said the grand sorceress, "approve of your proposal. I am
willing to surrender myself to save the life of the late goddess."
"We are all willing to sacrifice ourselves if need be!" shouted the
entire council with generous and chivalrous enthusiasm.
"I will go," said I, "and see Lyone, as you propose, and upon her
decision will depend our future action."
A courier was immediately despatched under a flag of truce to the
palace at Calnogor, with the message that before his majesty's
communication could be replied to, the commander-in-chief of the army
of the late goddess desired to have an interview with her majesty, to
decide upon a final answer thereto, and to request a royal passport
not only admitting him to the presence of Lyone in the fortress at
Calnogor, but also permitting his safe return to Kioram.
"I fear," said Hushnoly, "the queen herself may be so confident in the
success of her cause that she will overlook any danger to herself. It
would be a signal success to save her without our own surrender, but
that is impossible until we defeat the royal army."
"What say you, grand sorcerer?" said I. "Do you think my mission will
be successful as regards the life of Lyone?"
"I have already foreseen this crisis," said he; "but I believe the end
will be triumphant."
His majesty, in reply to my despatch, sent me a royal passport that
admitted me to the fortress to converse with Lyone, and which would
protect 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 our
surrender for her life."
"How do you propose to save her life in case she forfeits it?" I
eagerly inquired.
"I cannot tell you," he replied, "for occult knowledge can only be
apprehended by the initiated. Every great reform requires its martyr,
and it may be that the queen will be our martyr, no matter what we
do."
An audible groan escaped from the lips of all. Was it possible that
even should we surrender we could not save the life of our adorable
leader, and that to surrender would involve all in a common ruin? Was
there ever in human history so great a crisis? I began to doubt the
sorcerer's knowledge of the future. At the same time I felt that he
alone could guide us in that hour of peril.
"Sorcerer," I cried, "for the love of Lyone, for the glory of our
cause, tell me what to do! What shall I say to the queen? How shall I
advise her to act for her own safety as well as ours?"
"Do not advise at all," said he. "Let the queen act for herself, and
that will be the best solution of the difficulty."
"But should she insist on sacrificing herself, where would be our
triumph?"
"The triumph will be assured," said he, "although to win our cause
will 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 of
death; and, taking this hopeful view of the situation, I departed for
Calnogor, escorted by Flathootly and the astronomer.
As we swept toward the metropolis of Atvatabar I wondered if I would
be permitted to make the journey in safety. Was the passport of the
king but a _ruse de guerre_ to entrap me?
I noticed here and there, as we neared the city, detachments of the
royal wayleals, some suspended in the air, and others being drilled
in 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 royal
decree with great minuteness, and only allowed us to proceed with
apparent reluctance. I had reason to fear treachery, as I had but
lately fought my way out of the country.
At length arriving above the royal fortress, we rapidly descended to
the court-yard and inquired for the governor.
With what feelings of excitement I awaited my interview with Lyone! In
what state would I find her, and how would she solve the riddle, a
destiny that seemed impossible of solution?
The governor, accompanied by his armed staff, approached me, declaring
how glad he was to be able to permit an interview with Lyone. His
manner was altogether too suspiciously cheerful, and his body-guard
surrounded us closely.
I hastened to assure the governor that my visit was made under the
protection of the king, and showed him the royal decree. "I have
come," I said, "to have an interview with her majesty upon the crisis,
and that being accomplished, the royal mandate will secure me a free
departure to Kioram."
"You can certainly see the ex-goddess," said the governor, "but you
have no right to address her as her majesty, for such a title is high
treason to their majesties, the king and queen of Atvatabar. As to
your being free to leave the fortress again, I must confer with his
majesty in that matter, as you are my prisoner until the king commands
your 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. We
passed along corridor after corridor until we arrived at a heavy gate
of bronze, which the governor himself unlocked. We thereupon entered a
spacious antechamber, severely furnished with large oaken benches on
the marble floor.
I requested Flathootly and the astronomer to remain in the antechamber
while I passed through another door unlocked for me by the governor.
I found myself alone in a spacious and finely decorated apartment, the
gilded cage of Lyone. There were luxurious couches, and receptacles
for books, and painted tapestries on the walls, and in the centre of
the floor stood an aquarium, the home of strange animals and plants,
from which rose a vase of gold that held a bouquet of the rarest
flowers. The floor was covered with a semi-metallic carpet resembling
linoleum. I sat down to await the coming of Lyone.
Presently the embroidered tapestry concealing the entrance to another
chamber was moved aside, and the pale and breathless figure of Lyone
stood before me. She came toward me, robed in a loose white silk gown.
Her arms were outstretched, and her face wore an air of indescribable
nobility and tenderness. I rushed forward and caught the glorious
figure in my arms. It was fitting that our holiest emotions should at
first find expression in a mutual deluge of kisses and tears.