summon those lords of yours and I will summon mine； and set out the
matter to them。〃
So I turned and beckoned to my captains； and Kari beckoned to his。
They came； and in the hearing of all； very clearly and quietly as was
his fashion； he repeated every word that he had said to me； adding to
them others of like meaning。 While he spoke I thought； not listening
over…much。
This thing was hateful to me； yet I was in a snare； since according to
the customs of all these peoples I could not refuse such a challenge
and remain unshamed。 Moreover； it was to the advantage of the Chancas；
aye； and of the Quichuas also； that I should not refuse it seeing that
whether I lived or died； peace would then reign between them who
otherwise must both be destroyed by war。 I remembered how once Quilla
had sacrificed herself to prevent such a war； though in the end that
war had come； and what Quilla had done； should I not do also？ Weary
though I was I did not fear Kari； brave and swift as he might be；
indeed I thought that I could kill him and perhaps take his throne；
since the Quichuas worshipped me； who so often had led their armies to
triumph； almost as much as did the Chancas。 ButI could not kill
Kari。 As soon would I kill one born of my own mother。 Was there then
no escape？
The answer rose in my mind。 There was an escape。 I could suffer Kari
to kill me。 Only if I did this； what of Quilla！ After all that had
come and gone； must I lose Quilla thus； and must Quilla lose me？
Surely she would break her heart and die。 My plight was desperate。 I
knew not what to do。 Then of a sudden； while I wavered； some voice
seemed to whisper in my ear； I thought it must be that of St。 Hubert。
It seemed to say to me； 〃Kari trusts to his god； cannot you trust to
yours； Hubert of Hastings； you who are a Christian man？ Go forward；
and trust to yours； Hubert of Hastings。〃
Kari's gentle voice died away； he had finished his speech and all men
looked at me。
〃What word？〃 I said roughly to my captains。
〃Only this； Lord；〃 answered their spokesman； 〃Fight you must； of that
there can be no doubt； but we would fight with you； the ten of the
Chancas against the ten of the Quichuas。〃
〃Aye； that is good；〃 replied the first of Kari's nobles。 〃This
business is too great to set upon one man's skill and strength。〃
〃Have done！〃 I said。 〃It lies between the Inca and myself；〃 while Kari
nodded； and repeated 〃Have done！〃 after me。
Then I sent one of the captains back to the camp for my sword and Kari
commanded that his should be brought to him； since according to the
custom of these people when ambassadors meet； neither of us was armed。
Presently； the captain holding my sword returned； and with him
servants who brought my armour。 Also after them streamed all the army
of the Chancas among whom the news had spread like wind…driven fire；
and lined themselves upon the ridge to watch。 As he came； too； I
noticed that this captain sharpened Wave…Flame with a certain kind of
stone that was used to give a keen edge to weapons。
He brought the ancient weapon and handed it to me on his knee。 The
Inca's man also brought his sword and handed it to him； as he did so；
bowing his forehead to the dust。 Well I knew that weapon； since once
before I had faced it in desperate battle for my life。 It was the
ivory…handled sword of the lord Deleroy which Kari had taken from his
dead hand after I slew him in the Solar of my house in the Cheap at
London。 Then the servant came to me with the armour； but I sent him
away； saying that as the Inca had none； I would not wear it； at which
my people murmured。
Kari saw and heard。
〃Noble as ever；〃 he said aloud。 〃Oh！ that such bright honour should
have been tarnished by a woman's breath。〃
Our lords discussed the manner of our fighting； but to them I paid
little heed。
At length all was ready and we stepped forward to face each other at a
given word； clad much alike。 I had thrown off my outer garment and
stood bareheaded in a jerkin of soft sheepskin。 Kari； too； was
stripped of his splendid dress and clad in a tunic of sheepskin。 Also；
that we might be quite equal； he had taken off his turban…like
headgear and even the royal Fringe； whereat his lords stared at each
other for they thought this a bad omen。
It was just then I heard a sound behind me； and turning my head I saw
Quilla stumbling towards us down the stony slope as best her half…
blind eyes would let her； and crying as she came：
〃Oh！ my Lord； fight not。 Inca； I will return to the House of the Sun！〃
〃Silence； accursed woman！〃 said Kari； frowning。 〃Does the Sun take
back such as you？ Silence until the woe that you have wrought is
finished； and then wail on forever。〃
She shrank back at his bitter； unjust words； and guided by the women
who had followed her； sank upon a stone； where she sat still as a
statue or as dead Upanqui in his hall。
Now one called aloud the pledges of the fight which were as Kari had
spoken them。 He listened and added：
〃Be it known； also； that this battle is to the death of one or both of
us； since if we live I take back my oaths and I will burn yonder witch
as a sacrifice to the Sun whom she has betrayed； and destroy her
people and her city according to the ancient law of Vengeance on the
House of those who have deceived the Sun。〃
I heard but made no answer； who did not wish to waste my breath in
bandying words with a great man； whose brain had been turned by
bigotry and woman…hatred。
A moment later the signal was given and we were at it。 Kari leapt at
me like the tree…lion of his own forests； but I avoided and parried。
Thrice he leapt and thrice I did this； yes； even when I saw an opening
and might have cut him down。 Almost I struck； then could not。 The
Chancas watched me； wondering what game I played who was not wont to
fight in this fashion； and I also wondered； who still knew not what to
do。 Something I must do； or presently I should be slain； since soon my
guard would fail and Deleroy's sword get home at last。
I think that Kari grew perplexed at this patient defence of mine； and
never a blow struck back。 At least he withdraw a little； then came for
me with a rush； holding his sword high above his head with the purpose
of striking me above that guard； or so I supposed。 Then； of a sudden；
I knew what to do。 Wheeling Wave…Flame with all my strength in both
hands； I smote； not at Kari but at the ivory handle of his sword。 The
keen and ancient steel that might well have been some of that which；
as legend told； was forged by the dwarfs in Norseland； fell upon the
ivory between his hand…grip and the cross…piece and shore through it
as I had hoped that it would do； so that the blade of Kari's sword；
severed just above the hilt； fell to the ground and the hilt itself
was jarred from his hand。
His nobles saw and groaned while the Chancas shouted with joy； for now
Kari was defenceless and save for the death itself； this fight to the
death was ended。
Kari folded his arms upon his breast and bent his head。
〃It is the decree of my god；〃 he said； 〃and I did ill to trust to the
sword of a villain whom you slew。 Strike； Conqueror； and make an end。〃
I rested myself upon Wave…Flame and answered：
〃If I strike not； O Inca； will you take back your words and let peace
reign between your people and the Chancas？〃
〃Nay；〃 he answered。 〃What I have said； I have said。 If yonder false
woman is given up to suffer the fate of those who have betrayed the
Sun； then there shall be peace between the peoples； but not otherwise；
since while I live I will wage war upon her and you； and upon the
Chancas who shelter both of you。〃
Now rage took hold of me； who remembered that while this woman…hater
lived blood must flow in streams； but that if he died there would be
peace and Quilla would be safe。 So I lifted my sword a little； and as
I did so Quilla rose from her stone and stumbled forward； crying：
〃O Lord； shed not the Inca's holy blood for me。 Let me be given up！
Let me be given up！〃
Then some spirit entered into me and I spoke； saying：
〃Lady； half of your prayer I grant and half I deny。 I will not shed
the Inca's blood； as soon would I shed yours。 Nor will I suffer you to
be given up who have done no wrong； since it was I who took you away
by force； as Urco would have done。 Kari； hearken to me。 Not once only
when we were in danger together in past days have you said to me that
we must put our faith in the gods we worship； and thus we did。 Now
again I hearken to that counsel of yours and put my faith in the God I
worship。 You threaten to gather all the strength of your mighty
empire； and because of what I hold to be your superstitions； to
destroy the Chanca people to the last babe and to level their city to
the last stone。 I do not believe that the God I worship will suffer
this to come about； though how he will stay your vengeance I do not
know。 Kari； great Inca of Tavantinsuyu； Lord of all this strange new
world； I； the White Wanderer…from…the…Sea； give you your life and save
you as once before I saved you in a far land； and with your life I
give you my blessing in all matters but this one alone。 Kari； my
brother； look your last on me and go in peace。〃
The Inca heard； and raising his head； stared at me with his fine；
melancholy eyes。 Then suddenly from those eyes there came a gush of
tears。 More； he knelt before me and kissed the ground； as the humblest
of his slaves might do before his own majesty。
〃Most noble of men；〃 he said； lifting himself up again； 〃I worship
you。 Yes； I； the Inca； worship you。 Would that I might take back my
oath； but this I cannot do because my god hardens my heart and then
would decree destruction on my people。 Mayhap he whom you serve will
bring things to pass as you foretell； as it would seem he has brought
it to pass that I should eat the dust before you。 I hope that it may
be so who love not the sight of blood； but who like the shot arrow
must yet follow my course； driven by the strength that loosed me。
Brother； honoured and beloved； fare you well！ May happiness be yours
in life and death； and there in death may we meet again and once more
be brothers where no women come to part us。〃