The visiting Prince of Mishim Tep, Telem Fas Ogdai, was waiting on the steps of the palace when we arrived. He had one foot on a higher step and his hand rested on the hilt of his long, broadbladed sword. He wore soft boots and a heavy cloak of dark material. He looked both angry and impatient, and twice as I dismounted and walked up the steps towards him, removed his hand from his sword-hilt to finger the plain gold bangle on bis wrist.
He ignored me but flashed a glance at Shizala and then turned his back on both of us, rumbling up the steps into the palace.
Shizala looked at me apologetically. "I am sorry, Michael Kane-but I had better speak to the Bradhinak. Will you excuse me? You will find food in the hall."
I bowed. "Of course. I hope to see you again later."
She gave me a quick, half-nervous smile and then she was tripping up the steps after Bradhinak.
Some diplomatic problem, I guessed, since the prince was evidently an emissary of some kind and was here on diplomatic business as well as a friendly visit.
Perhaps Karnala's strength had been sapped in the battle and the following expedition which had lost them their king. Perhaps they were forced to rely on stronger allies while they built up their strength again-and perhaps Mishim Tep was one of these allies. All this speculation seemed likelyand much of it was subsequently proved correct.
I entered the great hall. A kind off buffet meal had been laid out on the table by servants. Cold meat, fruit, the inevitable basu, sweetmeats and so forth. I sampled a little of everything and found almost all of it to my liking. I exchanged small talk with some of the men and women around the table. They were evidently very curious about me but too polite to ask too many direct questionswhich I did not feel in any mood to answer at that moment.
As I munched on a particularly tasty piece of meat wrapped in a green, lettuce-like leaf, I suddenly heard an odd sound. I was not sure what it was, but I listened carefully so that I should hear it again if it came.
The courtiers had fallen silent and were also listening.
Then the sound came again.
A muffled cry.
The courtiers looked at one another in apparent consternation but made no move towards the source of the cry.
It came a third time and now I was sure I recognized the voice.
It was Shizala's!
Although there were guards at intervals around the hall, none of them moved and no orders were given to go to Shizala's assistance.
Desperately, I looked round at the courtiers.
"That is your Bradhinaka's voice-why don't you help her? Where is she?"
One of the courtiers looked very disturbed and pointed to a door leading off the hall. "She is there-we cannot help her unless she summons us.
It is a very delicate matter involving the Bradhinak Telem Fas Ogdai…"
"You mean he is causing her pain! I will not allow it. I thought you were people of character-but you just stand here…"
"I told you-the situation is delicate. We feel very deeply… But etiquette…"
"To hell with etiquette," I said in English. "This is no time for niceties-Shizala may be in danger."
And with that I strode towards the door he had pointed to. It was not locked and I flung it open.
Telem Fas Ogdai was holding Shizala's wrists in a cruel grip and she was struggling. He was speaking to her in a low, urgent tone. When she saw me she gasped:
"No, Michael Kane-go from here. It will mean more trouble."
"I will not leave while I know this boor is troubling you," I said, flicking him a look of scorn.
He frowned, then he grinned evilly and his teeth flashed.
He still held her wrists.
"Let her go!" I warned, stepping forward.
"No, Michael Kane," she said. "Telem Fas Ogdai means me no harm. We are having an argument, that is all. It will end…"
But I had put my hand on the prince's shoulder now and I let it lie there heavily.
"Release her," I ordered.
He released her all right-and at the same time swung both his fists round to catch me on the head, sending me reeling. That was it! My temper got the better of me and I surged back in. A punch on the chest winded him and a following punch on the jaw knocked him back. He tried to retaliate so I punched him on the jaw again. He went down with a clatter and stayed down.
"Oh!" cried Shizala. "Michael Kane, what have you done?"
"I have dealt with a brute who was hurting a very beautiful and sweet young lady," I said, rubbing my fists. "I am sorry that it had to happen, but he deserved it."
"He has a bad temper sometimes, but he is not evil. I am sure you did what you thought was best, Michael Kane, but now you have made things even worse for me."
"If he is here on diplomatic business he should behave like a diplomat and with dignity," I reminded her.
"Diplomat? He is no emissary from Mishim Tep.
He is my betrothed-did you not see the armlet on his wrist?"
"Armlet-so that's what it is! Your betrothed!
But-but he can't be! Why would you consent to marry such a man?" I was horrified and bewildered. There was no chance of making her mine!
"You could not love him!"
Now she frowned and it sent a shudder through me to see that I had angered her. She drew herself up and pulled a bell-cord. "You do not behave as befits a stranger and a guest," she said coldly. "You presume too much!"
"I am sorry-deeply sorry. I was impulsive.
But…"
In the same emotionless voice, she said: "It was my father's wish that when he died and I succeeded him I should marry the son of his old ally, thus making sure of the Karnala's security. I intend to respect my father's wish. You are presumptuous to make any comment concerning my relationship with the Bradhinak of Mishim Tep."
This was a side of Shizala I had not seen before-the regal side. I must have offended her deeply for her to adopt this manner and tone, for I knew it was not natural.
"I-I am very sorry."
"I accept your apology. You will not interfere again. Now, please leave."
In confusion, I turned and left the room.
Bewildered, I walked straight from the great hall, down the steps of the palace to where a servant was just leading away the dahara I had been riding earlier.
With a muttered word to the servant I mounted the beast and shook its reins, making it gallop away down the main street towards one of the gates of the city.
I had to go right away from Varnal for the time being, had to go somewhere where I could be alone to collect my thoughts and pull myself together.
Shizala betrothed! A girl whom, I knew now, I had loved from the moment I saw her. It was too much to bear!
My heart beating much more rapidly than normal and my thoughts racing, my whole being seething with anguish, I rode blindly from the city, past the Green Lake and out into the Calling Hills.
Oh, Shizala, Shizala, I thought, I could have made you so happy.
I believe that I was close to crying then. I, Michael Kane, who had always prided himself on his self-control.
It was some time before I slowed my pace and began to make myself think levelly.
I did not know how far I had ridden. Many, many miles I suspected. My surroundings were unfamiliar. There was no landmarks I could recognize.
It was then that I saw a movement to the north.
At first I thought I was looking at a distant herd of beasts galloping towards me but, shading my eyes from the sun, I soon realized that these were riders mounted on some sort of beast similar to my dahara. Many riders.
A horde!
Knowing so little of Martian geography or, for that matter, politics, I did not know whether these riders threatened danger or not.
I sat my beast, watching them advance at a tremendous pace. Even so far away from them I could feel the ground faintly trembling, reverberating to the sound of the thundering animals.