His speech was
very slow and deeply pitched. "No beard yet?"
"That is because she is no man at all," laughed Habrunt, "but a woman!"
At this astonishing revelation, Bassdag said nothing at first, but only
lifted up his great old white-bearded countenance to stare at her
disbelievingly.
A smiling Si'Wren peered narrowly back at Bassdag, whose eyes surveyed
her critically from under snow-white bushy eyebrows, and she felt the
power of his keen mind, especially in the sharpness and incisiveness of
his voice.
"A girl?" said Bassdag.
Si'Wren kept smiling, but held her peace.
"Why do you mock her," said Habrunt soberly, "seeing she has taken a
vow to the Invisible God never to speak, on her life?"
"Eh?"
"I said," Habrunt went on pointedly, "that one Si'Wren, who kneels
before you now, is no empty-headed minstrel, or some plaything in the
Emperor's harem, but a Royal Scribe in the palace court. She sits
before kings. She prays to the Invisible God."
Bassdag's keen, intelligent frown seemed to bore powerfully through
Si'Wren to her very soul, when the aged man turned his eyes upon her
again.
"Oh!" said Bassdag, with a quick raise of his eyebrows. He seemed to be
genuinely impressed. "That changes everything."
Then Bassdag rose with difficulty, using the assistance of a shepherd's
crook and Habrunt's helping, steady hand.
Pages:
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296