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grieved it was not he that she was to marry whose wisdom she hung
upon； in place of a prince who； she heard； was not wise。 This； she
said； because she knew well that the Inca would never marry any more
and indeed had lived alone for years。 Still； being flattered； he told
her it was hard that she should be forced to wed one to whom she had
no mind； whereon she prayed him； even with tears； to save her from
such a fate。 At last he vowed that he would do so by setting her among
the Virgins of the Sun on whom no man may look。 She thanked him and
said that she would consider the matter； since； for reasons that you
may guess； Lord； she did not desire to become a Virgin of the Sun and
to pass the rest of her days in prayer and the weaving of the Inca's
garments。
〃So it went on until when we were a day's march from Cuzco； Urco； my
brother； came to meet his promised bride。 Now； Urco is a huge man and
hideous； one whom none would believe to have been born of the Inca
blood。 Coarse he is； and dissolute； given to drink also； though a
great fighter and brave in battle； and quick…brained when he is sober。
I was present when they met and I saw the lady Quilla shiver and turn
pale at the sight of him； while he on his part devoured her beauty
with his eyes。 They spoke but few words together； yet before these
were done； he told her it was his will that they should be wed at once
on the day after she came to Cuzco； nor would he listen to the Inca
Upanqui who said； being cunning and wishing to gain time； that due
preparation must be made for so great a business。
〃Thereupon Urco grew angry with his father； who both fears and loves
him； and answered that； being almost Inca； this matter was one which
he would settle for himself。 So fierce was he that Upanqui became
afraid and went away。 When they were alone Urco strove to embrace
Quilla； but she fled from him and hid with her maidens in a private
place。 After this； at the feast Urco took too much drink according to
his custom and was led away to sleep by his lords。 Then Quilla waited
upon the Inca and said：
〃'O Inca； I have seen the Prince and I claim your promise to save me
from him。 O Inca； abandoning all thought of marriage； I will become
the bride of our Father the Sun。'
〃Upanqui； who was wroth with Urco because he had crossed his will；
swore by the Sun itself that he would not fail her； come what might；
since Urco should learn that he was not yet Inca。〃
〃What happened then？〃 I asked； staring him in the eyes。
〃After this； Lord； when we were halted before making the state entry
into Cuzco； for a moment the lady Quilla found opportunity for private
speech with me。 This is what she said：
〃'Tell my father； King Huaracha； that I have fulfilled his oath； but
that I cannot marry Urco。 Therefore I seek refuge in the arms of the
Sun； as the oracle Rimac foretold that I should do； having to choose
between this fate and that of death。 Tell my Lord…from…the…Sea what
has befallen me and bid him farewell to me。 Still say that he must
keep a good heart； since I do not believe that all is ended between
us。'
〃Then we were parted and I saw her no more。〃
〃And did you hear no more； Kari？〃
〃I heard much； Lord。 I heard that when Urco learned that the lady
Quilla had vanished away into the House of Virgins； whither he might
not come； and that he was robbed of the bride whom he desired； he grew
mad with rage。 Indeed； of this I saw something myself。 Two days later；
with thousands of others I was in the great square in front of the
Temple of the Sun； where the Inca Upanqui sat in state upon a golden
throne to receive the praise of his people upon his safe return after
his long and hard journey； and as some reported； to lay down his
lordship in favour of Urco； also to tell the people that the danger of
war with the Chancas had passed away。 Scarcely had the ceremony begun
when Urco appeared at the head of a number of lords and princes of the
Inca blood； who are of his clan； and I noticed that he was drunk and
furious。 He advanced to the foot of the throne； almost without
obeisance； and shouted：
〃'Where is the lady Quilla； daughter of Huaracha； who is promised to
me in marriage； Inca？ Why have you hidden her away； Inca？'
〃'Because the Sun； our Father； has claimed her as his bride and has
taken her to dwell in his holy house； where never again may the eyes
of man behold her； Prince！' answered Upanqui。
〃'You mean that robbing me； you have taken her for yourself； Inca；'
shouted Urco again。
〃Then Upanqui stood up and swore by the Sun that this was not so and
that what he had done was done by the decree of the god and at the
prayer of the lady Quilla； who having seen Urco； had declared that
either she would be wed to the god or die by her own hand； which would
bring the vengeance of the Sun upon the people。
〃Then Urco went mad。 He raved at the Inca and while all present
shivered with fear； he cursed the Sun our Father； yes； even when a
cloud came up in the clear sky and veiled the face of the god；
heedless of the omen； he continued his curses and blasphemy。 Moreover；
he said that soon he would be Inca and that then； if he must tear the
House of Virgins stone from stone； as Inca he would drag forth the
lady Quilla and make her his wife。
〃Now at these words Upanqui stood up and rent his robes。
〃'Must my ears be outraged with such blasphemies？' he cried。 'Know；
Son Urco； that this day I was minded to take off the Royal Fringe and
to set it on your head； crowning you Inca in my place while I withdrew
to pass the remainder of my days at Yucay in peace and prayer。 My will
is changed。 This I shall not do。 My life is not done and strength
returns to my mind and body。 Here I stay as Inca。 Now I see that I am
punished for my sin。'
〃'What sin？' shouted Urco。
〃'The sin of setting you before my eldest lawful son； Kari； whose wife
you stole； Kari； whom also it is said you poisoned and who at least
has vanished and is doubtless dead。'
〃Now； Lord； when I； Kari； heard this my heart melted in me and I was
minded to declare myself to Upanqui my father。 But while I weighed the
matter for a moment； knowing that if I did so； such words as these
might well be my last since Urco had many of is following present； who
perhaps would fall upon and kill me； suddenly my father Upanqui fell
forward in a swoon。 His lords and physicians bore him away。 Urco
followed and presently the multitude departed this way and that。
Afterwards we were told that the Inca had recovered but must not be
disturbed for many days。〃
〃Did you hear more of Quilla； Kari？〃
〃Yes； Lord；〃 he answered gravely。 〃It was commonly reported that；
through some priestess in his pay； Urco had poisoned her； saying that
as she had chosen the Sun as husband； to the Sun she would go。〃
〃Poisoned her！〃 I muttered； well…nigh falling to the ground。 〃Poisoned
her！〃
〃Aye； Lord； but be comforted for this was addedthat she who gave the
poison was taken in the act by her who is named the Mother of the
Virgins； and handed over to the women who cast her into the den of
serpents； where she perished； screaming that it was Urco who had
forced her to the deed。〃