“He said much more; he said this—­now I tell you secrets, Lord, and place my honour in your keeping, for having given you all the rest, why should I not give you that also?  He said:  ’Daughter, you who have been my ambassador, you, my only child, who know all my counsel, know also that there is about to be the greatest war that the land of Tavantinsuyu has ever known, war between the two mighty nations of the Quichuas of Cuzco whereof the old Upanqui is king and god, and the Chancas whereof I am king and you, if you live, in a day to come will be the queen.  No longer can these two lions dwell in the same forest; one of them must devour the other; nor shall I fight alone, since on our side are all the Yuncas of the coast who, as you report to me, are ripe for rebellion.  But, as you also report, and as I have learned from others, they are not yet ready.  Moons must go by before their armies are joined to mine and I throw off the mask.  Is it not so?’

“I answered that it was so, and my father went on: 

“’Then during that time, Daughter, a dust must be raised that will hide the shining of my spears, and, Daughter, you are that dust.  To-morrow the old Inca Upanqui visits me here with a small army.  I read your thought.  It is—­Why do you not kill him and his army?  Daughter, for this reason.  He is very aged and about to lay down his sceptre, who grows feeble of mind and body.  If I killed him what would it serve me, seeing that he has left his son, Urco, who will be Inca, ruling at Cuzco, and that of his soldiers not one in fifty will be with him here?  Moreover, he is my guest, and the gods frown on those who slay their guests, nor will men ever trust them more.’

“Now I answered:  ’You spoke of me as a cloud of dust, Father; how, then, can this poor dust serve your ends and those of the Chanca people?’

“‘Thus Daughter,’ he answered.  ’With your own consent you are promised in marriage to Urco.  Upanqui the Inca has heard rumours that the Chancas prepare for war.  Therefore, he who travels on his last journey through certain of his dominions comes to lead you away, to be Urco’s bride, saying to himself, “If those rumours are true, King Huaracha will withhold his only child and heiress, since never will he make war upon Cuzco if she rules there as its queen.”  Therefore, if I refuse you to him, he will withdraw and begin the war, rolling down his thousands upon us before we are ready, and bringing the Chancas to destruction and enslavement.  Therefore also not only my fate, but the fate of all your country lies in your hand.’

“‘Father,’ I said, ’tell me, who was ever dear to you that lack sons, is there no escape?  Must I eat this bitter bread?  Before you answer, learn that you have guessed aright, and that I who, when I made that promise, cared for no man, have come to feel the burning of love’s fire!’

“Now he looked at me awhile, then said:  ’Child of the Moon, there is but one escape, and it must be sought—­in the moon.  The dead cannot be given in marriage.  If your strait is so sore, though it would cut me to the heart, perchance it is better that you should die and go whither doubtless he whom you love will soon follow you.  Depart now and counsel with Heaven in your sleep.  To-morrow, before Upanqui comes, we will talk again.’