Avon Murder Mystery Monthly No. 41 — page 163: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A. MERRITT 165 and pledge yourself never to return—you shall have them. If you will not, then they die.” “But what security, what hostages, do you ask?” Her eyes were troubled. “f cannot swear by your gods, Cherkis, for they are not my gods—in truth I, Norhala, have no gods. Why should I not say yes and take the two, then fall upon you and destroy—as you would do in my place, old wolf?” : | “Norhala,” he answered, “I ask nothing but your word..Do I not know those who bore you and the line from which they sprung? Was not always the word they gave kept till death—unbroken, inviolable? No need for vows to gods between you and me. Your word is holier than they—O glorious daughter of kings, princess royal!” The great voice was harshly caressing; not obsequious, but as though he gave her as an equal her rightful honor. Her face softened; she con- sidered him from eyes far less hostile. A wholesome respect for this gross tyrant’s mentality came to me; it did not temper, it heightened, the hatred I felt for him. But now I recog- nized the subtlety. of his attack; realized that unerringly he had taken the only means by which he could have gained a hearing; have tem- porized. Could he win her with his guile? “Is it not true?” There was a leonine purring in the question. “Tt zs true!” she answered proudly. “Though why you should dwell upon this, Cherkis, whose word is steadfast as the running stream and whose promises are as lasting as its bubbles—why you should dwell on this I do not know.” , | . “I have changed greatly, Princess, in the years since my great wicked- ness; I have learned much. He who speaks to. you now is not he you were taught—and taught justly then—to hate.” “You may speak truth! Certainly you are not-as I have pictured you.” It was as though she were more than half convinced. “In this at least you do speak truth—that zf I promise I will go and molest you no more.” “Why go at all, Princess?” Quietly he asked the amazing question— then drew himself to his full height, threw wide his arms. “Princess?” the great voice rumbled forth. “Nay—Queen! Why leave us again—Norhala the Queen? Are we not of your people? Am I not of your kin? Join your power with ours. What that war engine you ride may be, how built, I know not. But this I do know—that with our strengths joined we two can go forth from where have dwelt so long, go forth into the forgotten world, eat its cities and rule. “You shall teach our people to make these engines, Norhala, and we will make many of them. Queen Norhala—you shal! wed my son Kulun, he who stands beside me. And while I live you shall rule with GOGO .S (GO)