Do you think to make
a mock of me, you people of Zimboe, whom I have honoured by desiring one
of your daughters in marriage? You seek to trick me with your priests'
juggling that you may keep her to be the toy of yonder princeling? So
be it, but I tell you that I will tear your city stone from stone, and
anoint its ruins with your blood. Yes, your young men shall labour in
the mines for me, and your high-born maidens shall wait upon my queens.
Listen you,"--and he turned to his generals--"let the messengers who
are ready start east and west, and north and south, to the chiefs whose
names you have, bidding them to meet me with their tribesmen, at the
time and place appointed. When next I speak with you, Elders of Zimboe,
it shall be at the head of a hundred thousand warriors."
"Then, King, on your hands be all the innocent lives that these words
of yours have doomed, and may the weight of their wasted blood press you
down to ruin and death."
Thus answered Sakon proudly, but with pale lips, for do what they would
to hide it, something of the fear they felt for the issue of this war
was written on the faces of all his company.
Ithobal turned upon his heel, deigning no reply, but as he went he
whispered a word into the ear of two of his captains, great men of war,
who stayed behind the rest of his party searching for something upon
the ground. Sakon and his counsellors also turned, walking towards
their escort, but Aziel lingered a little, fearing no danger, and being
curious to learn what the men sought.
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