You deem her a witch, one to whom Baaltis has given power to drag
the minds of men to their destruction, but I tell you that her only
spell is the spell of her love for me, also that she whom you named so
grossly is no longer the servant of the demon Baaltis."
"Elissa not the servant of Baaltis? How comes she then to be her
high-priestess? Aziel, your passion has made you mad."
"She is high-priestess because Metem and others brought about her
election without her will, urged on to it by I know not whom." And he
looked hard at Issachar, who turned away. "But what matters it who did
the ill deed," he continued, "since this, at least, is certain, that
here my presence breeds sorrow and bloodshed, and therefore I must go as
I have promised."
"When do we depart, Prince?" queried Issachar.
"I know not, it is naught to me. Here comes Metem, ask of him."
"Metem," said the Levite, "the prince desires to leave Zimboe and march
to the coast, there to take ship to Tyre. When can your caravan be
ready?"
"So I have heard, Issachar, for Sakon tells me that he has come to an
agreement with the prince upon this matter. Well, I am glad to learn it,
for troubles thicken here, and I think that the woe you prophesied is
not far from this city of Zimboe where every man seeks to serve his own
hand, and is ready to sell his neighbour. When can the caravan be got
ready? Well, the night after next; at least, we can start that night.
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