"If my Lord Deucalion thinks this a rudeness, he can give a word to
Phorenice, and I shall be whipped. If he asks it, I can be stripped and
scourged before him. The Empress will do much for Deucalion just now."

"Girl," I said, "you are nearer to that whipping than you think for."

"I have got a name," she retorted, looking at me sullenly from under her
black brows. "They call me Ylga. You might have heard that as we rode
here on the mammoth, had you not been so wrapped up in Phorenice."

I gazed at her curiously. "You have never seen me before," I said, "and
the first words you utter are those that might well bring trouble to
yourself. There is some object in all this."

She went and pushed to the massive stone that swung in the doorway of
the chamber. Then she put her little jewelled fingers on my garment and
drew me carefully away from the airshaft into the farther corner. "I am
the daughter of Zaemon," she said, "whom you knew."

"You bring me some message from him?"

"How could I? He lives in the priests' dwellings on the Mountain you did
obeisance to. I have not put eyes on him these two years. But when I
saw you first step out from that red pavilion they had pitched at the
harbour side, I--I felt a pity for you, Deucalion. I remembered you were
my father's, Zaemon's, friend, and I knew what Phorenice had in store.
She has been plotting it all these two months."

"I cannot hear words against the Empress."

"And yet--"

"What?"

She stamped her sandal upon the stone of the floor. "You must be a very
blind man, Deucalion, or a very daring one. But I shall not interfere
further; at least not now. Still, I shall watch, and if at any time you
seem to want a friend I will try and serve you."

"I thank you for your friendship."

"You seem to take it lightly enough. Why, sir, even now I do not believe
you know my power, any more than you guess my motive. You may be first
man in this kingdom, but let me tell you I rank as second lady. And
remember, women stand high in Atlantis now. Believe me, my friendship is
a commodity that has been sought with frequence and industry."

"And as I say, I am grateful for it. You seem to think little enough of
my gratitude, Ylga; but, credit me, I never have bestowed it on a woman
before, and so you should treasure it for its rarity."

"Well," she said, "my lord, there is an education before you." She left
me then, showing me how to call slaves when I wished for their he