"My father would rest in peace. And you-p-you've got dangerous enemies here-it's common knowledge. You'd have none, would you? And it would do more than anything else to reconcile Urtah to Bekla."
She started up from beside him. "What are you saying, Euda?"
"And I've already put it to Kembri that as part of the arrangement-as a sign of the Leopards' approval and goodwill-he should release Bayub-Otal on a firm promise that he'll give no more trouble. Kembri said he felt sure you'd be delighted. You'd realize, he said, that the arrangement would solve all manner of problems, for you and for Bekla. But apart from that, to be the first lady in the land-"
"Euda, are you asking me to marry you?"
"I'm asking you to marry me and to become High Bar-oneness of Urtah: for the sake of my people and myself.
Moaning, she sank down on the grass, her face buried in her hands. "O Cran! O Cran and Airtha!"
He stroked her hair. "What's the matter? It's a shock, Maia, is that it? I suppose I've done it clumsily. I'm afraid I'm not stylish and dashing, like Elvair-ka-Virrion-I know that. I'm just a heldro; I don't know how you go about these things in Bekla-"
"No, no; 'tain't that. Oh, I dunno what to say! You can't want
"Don't talk like that! That's all past and over! I'm speaking to the renowned, heroic beauty Maia Serrelinda." Then, as she said no more, her face still in her hands, he went on, "Are you afraid of it? You shouldn't be. Do you know what they think of you in Urtah? Let me tell you some-
thing. Only the other day, on my way here, I was talking to one of my principal tenants, a prosperous farmer down towards the south-west of the province. It seems his daughter knows you-a girl called Gehta. She met you when you were with Bayub-Otal on the way to Suba. 'She saved us all,' he said. 'I'd give her half my farm if she asked me for it. Why, if once those Terekenalters had got across-' "
With a dazed air, Maia, who could scarcely take in what he was saying, rose to her feet. "I-can I think it over, my lord? I need time-"
"Does it need thinking over? To be High Baroness of Urtah?"
"I-oh, don't think as I don't feel all the honor you're doing me, Euda. No, it's-"
"I'm old, is that it? The upper city's smart and gay-"
"Oh, don't talk like that, my lord! It's not right for a high baron's heir to be talking like that-"
"Perhaps it's not. No, you're right, of course. Well, you'd be able to change me a good deal, I expect; a girl like you. If ever there was a girl who was obviously favored by the gods-"
Maia, realizing that with this rather awkward, insensitive man their talk could hardly come to an end unless she were to bring it about herself, made a supreme effort to regain her composure.
"You'll understand, my lord-Euda-that this is all a surprise to me; unexpected, like. I feel sort of confused. I can't talk any more just now. Would you mind leaving me?"
"But what shall I tell Kembri?" he asked.
At this she could flare up, her tongue loosened naturally and spontaneously.
"Kembri? What in Lespa's name has Kembri got to do with it? This is between you and me, isn't it?"
He took it without a retort. "I'm sorry. When shall I see you again?"
"I'll send you a message. You in the same lodgings- down by the Tower of the Orphans?"
"No; but do you know, I went back there this morning-just to see the room where we were so happy together that afternoon last Melekril? You won't have forgotten?" She shook her head. "I'm staying in Kembri's house this time."
"Are you? I see." But still she couldn't feel for him the contempt which would have risen up in Occula.
She kissed him on both cheeks. "Good-bye. I'll send my soldier, like I said."
He raised his palm to his forehead, did the heir of Urtah, and walked away through the garden, leaving the Serre-linda pacing back and forth on the grassy shore.
She could not sleep. The silence and the clear, bright moonlight seemed as though enclosing and holding her fixed, immobile-like a stone in the jam, she thought wryly. Every now and then would sound faintly the voice of the watchman on the Peacock Wall. Once she heard swans' wings overhead, and once a quick, harsh clamor as something alarmed the duck on the Barb. Whatever shall I do? she thought. What shall I do?
