Now Tua made no answer.  She only let fall her veil, folded her arms upon her breast, and waited.  But Asti, mocking him, cried in a loud voice, that he might hear above the howling of the hurricane without: 

“Call your women, King, for the air is full of sand that chokes my throat, and I long for the water which you promise me.”

Then, in his fury, Janees turned, and shouted: 

“Come hither, Slaves, and do what I have commanded you.”

As he spoke the door burst open, and through it, no longer clad in rags, but wearing a white robe and head-dress, walked Kepher the Wanderer, while after him, their red swords in their hands, came savage-looking chiefs, bearded, blank-faced, round-eyed, with gold chains that clanked upon their mail, captains of the Desert, men who knew neither fear nor mercy.

Janees looked and understood.  He snatched out his sword, and for a moment stayed irresolute, while the great men ringed him round and waited, their eyes fixed on Kepher’s face.

“Spare him, Father, if it may be so,” said Tua, “since love has made him mad.”

“Too late!” answered Kepher solemnly.  “Those who will not accept the warning of the gods must suffer the vengeance of the gods.  Janees, you who would do violence to a helpless woman, your palace burns, your city is in my keeping, and the few who stood by you are slain.  Janees, to-morrow another shall rule in your place.  Amen the Father has decreed your doom.”

“Aye,” echoed Janees heavily, “too late!  Mortals cannot fight against the gods that make their sport of them.  Some god commanded that I should love.  Some god commands that I shall die.  So be it, I am glad to die; would that I had not been born to know grief and death.  Tell me, O Prophet, what evil power is there which ordains that we must be born and suffer?”

Kepher beckoned to Tua and to Asti, and they followed him, leaving Janees ringed round by those stern-faced men.

“Farewell, Lady,” he called to Tua as she passed.  “Here and hereafter remember this of Janees, King of Tat, that he who might have saved his life chose to die for love of you.”

Then they went and saw him no more.

They passed the door of the great marble chamber about which they found guards and eunuchs lying dead; they passed down the stairways, and through the tall gates where more soldiers lay dead, and looking behind them, saw that the palace was in flames.  They reached the square without, and at the command of Kepher entered into a litter, and were borne by black slaves whither they knew not.

All that night they were borne, awake or sleeping, till at length the morning came, and they descended from the litter to find themselves in an oasis of the wilderness surrounded by a vast army of the desert men.  Of the city of Tat they could see nothing; like a dream it had passed out of their lives, nor did they ever hear of it and its king again.  Only in the pavilion that had been provided for them they found their pearls and gold, and Tua’s ivory harp.