She had come back into the room full of dread. Yet now, facing Kembri for the second time, she almost at once perceived intuitively-as does any accused or suspect, if it occurs-a certain easing of the atmosphere. At first with incredulity, for she was superstitiously afraid even to entertain the idea, she sensed that apparently it was no longer their intention to fasten guilt upon her: their questions were no longer directed to suggesting that she might have devised the swimming game as a distraction to cover the murder. Then it occurred to her that Elvair-ka-Virrion must have corroborated what she had already told them about his part in it.
"We know, because the soldiers and the black girl have told us," said the Tonildan governor, "that in fact Bayub-Otal
This came as a surprise to Maia who, ever since Occula had warned her, in the gardens, not to return to Sencho, had continued to suppose that Bayub-Otal must have asked him to sell her. Yet if he had not, this only made it all the more vital that no one should learn that Occula had sought her out and told her to keep away. She said nothing.
"However, we'll leave that for the moment," interposed Kembri, in a tone which brought to Maia an immediate sense of relief. "I want to talk to you again, Maia, about this conversation you say you had with Lord Bayub-Otal in the gardens that night. Are you sure that he said that if you wanted to leave Bekla you had only to tell him?"
"Yes, my lord; I'm absolutely certain about that."
"And do you like Bayub-Otal?"
"No, that I don't, my lord. One time I thought I did; but now I
"Why?"
Maia hesitated. She could hardly reply, "Because I offered myself to him and he rejected me."
"Well, never mind," said Kembri briskly. "If you hate him that'll be all to the good, as long as you never let him see it. He's almost certainly a secret enemy of Bekla. We believe he may very well have entered into some sort of agreement with King Karnat, and that's what we need to learn more, about, do you see?"
"Yes, my lord."
"We're going to let it be known publicly that both you and the black girl are being held here for further questioning, and in fact it will be made to look as though you've been questioned in the usual way. Then, late tomorrow night, you'll make your way to Bayub-Otal's lodgings. Do you know where they are?"
"No, my lord: I've never been much in the lower city at all."
"No matter. It'll be very late-after midnight. Someone will guide you there and leave you outside. Then you'll wake Bayub-Otal, tell him that you've escaped from the temple and beg him to help you to get away from Bekla. After that you'll have to rely on your own wits."
"You mean, he'll take me away with him?"
"That's what we hope."
"But, my lord-" She was perplexed. "Suppose I do find out something-say he gets a message from this king or something p' that-how'm I to pass it on to you?"
"That'll depend entirely on yourself. You'll have to find the best way you can. It's a matter of keeping your head. You may have to get back here alone. You may even have to kill him first. I repeat, this is risky work, Maia. But it's of great importance; and if you succeed-whatever success may turn out to be-the reward will surprise you-your freedom and more besides, I assure you. But don't try to run away or betray us, do you see? because that would turn out very badly for you in the long run: very badly indeed."
"No fear of that, my lord: I'll do all I can. Only could I-?" She stopped uncertainly.
"What?" asked Kembri.
"Could I sleep now, my lord? Only I'm that tired, I can't hardly think."
"Very well," said Kembri. "I'll tell you more tomorrow."
The girl, about to get up, suddenly hesitated.
"Occula, my lord! Occula never done anything! You'll let her go?".
"We ask the questions, not you," interposed the chief priest. "She's being held here for questioning. That's enough!"
The girl half-rose, gripping the edge of the table. Kembri was about to call in the guards to remove her when the door was opened from outside by a soldier who, raising his palm to his forehead, announced "My lord, the Sacred Queen!"
Next moment Queen Fornis, attended by the same dark-haired woman whom Maia had seen with her by the Barb, entered the room. The three examiners rose to their feet, Kembri motioning to Maia to go and stand against the further wall.
The Sacred Queen was dressed in a clinging robe of vivid purple, the crimson hem of which fell almost to her silver, bead-embroidered sandals. Her amazing hair, now piled on her head, was held in place by two jewelled combs and by a gold chain wound in and out of the tresses. Round her neck, on a second, finer chain, hung a silver leopard as big as her thumb. Her finger-nails were lacquered crimson and on her left forefinger was a spiral ring in the form of a gold serpent with ruby eyes.
