Archiwum
- Index
- Edgar Allan Poe Collected Works of Poe Volume 2 The Raven Edition
- Anna Rice Nowe Kroniki WampirĂłw II Wampir Vittorio
- Edgar Cayce Luc
- Dancing Moon Ranch 8 Dancing With Danger Patricia Watters
- LA Banks Crimson Moon 02 Bite the Bullet
- Nalo Hopkinson The New Moon's Arms
- Burroughs, Edgar Rice Mars 08 Swords of Mars
- Burroughs Edgar Rice 2.PowrĂłt Tarzana
- Charles Boardman Hawes The Dark Frigate (pdf)
- zanotowane.pl
- doc.pisz.pl
- pdf.pisz.pl
- lafemka.pev.pl
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The ceremony of our entrance to the imperial terrace was most gorgeous and impressive. Huge drums
and trumpets blared forth a challenge as we reached the foot of the stairway which we were to ascend to
the palace. High dignitaries in gorgeous trappings came down the steps to meet us, as if to formally
examine the credentials of Ko-tah and give official sanction to his entrance. We were then conducted
through the gateway across a broad terrace beautifully landscaped and ornamented by statuary that was
most evidently the work of finished artists. These works of art comprised both life size and heroic figures
of individuals and groups, and represented for the most part historic or legendary figures and events of
the remote past, though there were also likenesses of all the rulers of Laythe, up to and including Sagroth
the present Jemadar.
Upon entering the palace we were led to a banquet hall, where we were served with food, evidently
purely in accordance with ancient court ceremonial, since there was little to eat and the guests barely
tasted of that which was presented to them. This ceremony consumed but a few minutes of Earth time,
following which we were conducted through spacious hallways to the throne room of the Jemadar, an
apartment of great beauty and considerable size. Its decorations and lines were simple, almost to
severity, yet suggesting regal dignity and magnificence. Upon a dais at the far end of the room were three
thrones, that in the center being occupied by a man whom I knew at once to be Sagroth, while upon
either side sat a woman.
Ko-tah advanced and made his obeisance before his ruler, and after the exchange of a few words
between them Ko-tah returned and conducted me to the foot of Sagroth's throne.
I had been instructed that it was in accordance with court etiquette that I keep my eyes upon the ground
until I had been presented and Sagroth had spoken to me, and that then I should be introduced to the
Jemadav, or Empress, when I might raise my eyes to her, also, and afterward to the occupant of the third
throne when I should be formally presented to her.
Sagroth spoke most graciously to me, and as I raised my eyes I saw before me a man of great size and
evident strength of character. He was by far the most regal appearing individual my eyes had ever rested
upon, while his low, well modulated, yet powerful voice accentuated the majesty of his mien. It was he
who presented me to his Jemadav, whom I discovered to be a creature fully as regal in appearance as
her imperial mate, and although doubtless well past middle age, still possessing remarkable beauty, in
which was to be plainly noted Nah-ee-lah's resemblance to her mother.
Again I lowered my eyes as Sagroth presented me to the occupant of the third throne.
"Ju-lan the Javadar," he repeated the formal words of the presentation, "raise your eyes to the daughter
of Laythe, Nah-ee-lah the Nonovar."
As my eyes, filled doubtless with surprise and incredulity, shot to the face of Nah-ee-lah, I was almost
upon the verge of an exclamation of the joy and happiness which I felt in seeing her again and in knowing
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that she was safely returned to her parents and her city once more. But as my eyes met hers the
exuberance of my spirit was as effectually and quickly checked by her cold glance and haughty mien as if
I had received a blow in the face.
There was no hint of recognition in Nah-ee-lah's expression. She nodded coldly in acknowledgment of
the presentation and then let her eyes pass above my head toward the opposite end of the throne room.
My pride was hurt, and I was angry, but I would not let her see how badly I was hurt. I have always
prided myself upon my control, and so I know that then I hid my emotion and turned once more to
Sagroth, as though I had received from his daughter the Nonovar precisely the favor that I had a right to
expect. If the Jemadar had noticed aught peculiar in either Nah-ee-lah's manner or mine, he gave no hint
of it. He spoke again graciously to me and then dismissed me, with the remark that we should meet again
later.
Having withdrawn from the throne room, Ko-tah informed me that following the audience I should have
an opportunity to meet Sagroth less formally, since he had commanded that I remain in the palace as his
guest during the meal which followed.
"It is a mark of distinction," said Ko-tah, "but remember, Ju-lan the Javadar, that you have accepted the
friendship of Ko-tah and are his ally."
"Do not embroil me in the political intrigues of Laythe," I replied. "I am a stranger, with no interest in the
internal affairs of your country, for the reason that I have no knowledge of them."
"One is either a friend or an enemy," replied Ko-tah.
"I am not sufficiently well acquainted to be accounted either," I told him; "nor shall I choose my friends in
Laythe until I am better acquainted, nor shall another choose them for me."
"You are a stranger here," said Ko-tah. "I speak in your best interests, only. If you would succeed here;
aye, if you would live, even, you must choose quickly and you must choose correctly. I, Ko-tah the
Javadar, have spoken."
"I choose my own friends," I replied, "according to the dictates of my honor and my heart. I, Ju-lan the
Javadar, have spoken."
He bowed low in acquiescence, and when he again raised his eyes to mine I was almost positive from
the expression in them that his consideration of me was marked more by respect than resentment.
"We shall see," was all that he said, and withdrew, leaving me to the kindly attention of some of the
gentlemen of Sagroth's court who had been standing at a respectful distance out of earshot of Ko-tah and
myself. These men chatted pleasantly with me for some time until I was bidden to join Sagroth in another
part of the palace.
I found myself now with a man who had evidently thrown off the restraint of a formal audience, though
without in the slightest degree relinquishing either his dignity or his majesty. He spoke more freely and his
manner was more democratic. He asked me to be seated, nor would he himself sit until I had, a point of
Laythean court etiquette which made a vast impression on me, since it indicated that the first gentleman of
the city must also be the first in courtesy. He put question after question to me concerning my own world
and the means by which I had been transported to Va-nah.
"There are fragmentary, extremely fragmentary, legends handed down from extreme antiquity which
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suggest that our remote ancestors had some knowledge concerning the other worlds of which you
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