To-day, when I write this, once more I have great wealth of pomp and love and power, of gold also, more than I can count.  When I go forth, my armies, who still look on me as half a god, shout their welcome and kiss the air after their heathen fashion.  My beauteous queen bows down to me and the women of my household abase themselves into the dust.  The people of the Ancient City of Gold turn their faces to the wall and the children cover their eyes with their hands that they may not look upon my splendour as I pass, while maidens throw flowers for my feet to tread.  Upon my judgment hangs life or death, and my lightest word is as though it were spoken from heaven.  These and many other things are mine, the trappings of power, the prerogative of the Lord-from-the-Sea who brought victory to the Chanca people and led them back to their ancient home where they might live safe, far from the Inca’s rage.

And yet often, as I sit alone in my splendour upon the roof of the ancient halls or wander through the starlit palace gardens, I call to mind that great catch of fishes in the English sea and of what followed after.  I call to mind also my prosperity and wealth as one of the first merchants of London Town and what followed after.  I call to mind, too, the winning of Blanche Aleys, the lady so far above me in rank and station and what followed after.  Then it is that I grow afraid of what may follow after this present hour of peace and love and plenty.

Certainly one thing will follow, and that is death.  It may come late or it may come soon.  But yesterday a rumour reached me through my spies that Kari Upanqui, the Inca of Tavantinsuyu, he who once was as my brother, but who now hates me because of his superstitions, and because I took a Virgin of the Sun to be my wife, gathers a great host to follow on the path we trod many years ago when the Chancas fled from the Inca tyranny back to their home in the ancient City of Gold and to smite us here.  That host, said the rumours, cannot march till next year, and then will be another year upon its journey.  Still, knowing Kari, I am sure that it will march, yes, and arrive, after which must befall the great battle in the mountain passes wherein, as of old, I shall lead the Chanca armies.

Perchance I am doomed to fall in that battle.  Does not the rune upon Wave-Flame, the sword of Thorgrimmer my ancestor, say of him that holds it that,

     “Conquering, conquered shall he be,
     And far away shall sleep with me”?

Well, if the Chancas conquer, what care I if I am conquered?  ’Twould be a good death and a clean, to fall by Kari’s spear, if I knew that Kari and his host fell also, as I swear that fall they shall, St. Hubert helping me.  Then at least Quilla and her children would live on in peace and greatness since they can have no other foe to fear.