"
"Indeed," replied Juanna, turning suddenly cold; "and how shall I, who
am held to be dead, appear again as a woman wedded to your king? Surely
the people would find that strange, Nam?"
"No, Shepherdess, for I have prepared a tale which shall explain the
wonder, and already its rumour runs from mouth to mouth. It will be said
that you were a goddess and therefore immortal, but that for the sake of
love you have put off your godhead and put on the flesh, that you might
dwell for some years with him whom you desire."
"Indeed," said Juanna again. "And what if I refuse to consent to this
scheme, which, as I think, can have come only from a woman's brain?" and
she pointed to Soa.
"You are right, Shepherdess," answered Soa, "the plan is mine; I made
it to save you, and also," she added coolly, "to be revenged upon that
white thief who loves you, for he shall live to see you the wife of
another man, a wild man."
"And have you never thought, Soa, that I may have wishes of my own in
this matter?"
"Doubtless, yet the fairest women cannot always have what they may
chance to wish. Know, Shepherdess, that this must be both for your own
sake and for the sake of Nam, my father. Olfan loves you, and in these
troubled times it is necessary that Nam and the priests should gain his
support, which has been bought but now by the promise that you will
be given to him in marriage on this very day. For you, Shepherdess,
although you might have wished to wed one of your own race, at the least
you will rule a queen, and that is better than to perish miserably.
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