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serpents； where she perished； screaming that it was Urco who had
forced her to the deed。〃
〃That does not comfort me； man。 What of Quilla？ Did she die？〃
〃Lord； it is said not。 It is said that the Mother of the Virgins
dashed away the cup as it touched her lips。 But this is said also；
that some of the poison flew into her eyes and blinded her。〃
I groaned； for the thought of Quilla blinded was horrible。
〃Again take comfort； Lord； since perchance she may recover from this
blindness。 Also I was told； that although she can see nothing； her
beauty is not marred； that the venom indeed has made her eyes seem
larger and more lovely even than they were before。〃
I made no answer； who feared that Kari was deceiving me or perhaps was
himself deceived and that Quilla was dead。 Presently he continued his
story in the same quiet； even voice； saying：
〃Lord； after this I sought out certain of my friends who had loved me
in my youth and my mother also while she lived； revealing myself to
them。 We made plans together； but before aught could be done in
earnest； it was needful that I should see my father Upanqui。 While I
was waiting till he had recovered from the stroke that fell upon him；
some spy betrayed me to Urco； who searched for me to kill me and well…
nigh found me。 The end of it was that I was forced to fly； though
before I did so many swore themselves to my cause who would escape
from the tyranny of Urco。 Moreover； it was agreed that if I returned
with soldiers at my back； they and their followers would come out to
join me to the number of thousands； and help me to take my own again
so that I may be Inca after Upanqui my father。 Therefore I have come
back here to talk with you and Huaracha。
〃Such is my tale。〃
CHAPTER VIII
THE FIELD OF BLOOD
When on the morrow Huaracha； King of the Chancas； heard all this story
and that Urco had given poison to his daughter Quilla； who； if she
still lived at all； did so； it was said； as a blind woman； a kind of
madness took hold of him。
〃Now let war come； I will not rest or stay；〃 he cried； 〃till I see
this hound； Urco； dead； and hang up his skin stuffed with straw as an
offering to his own god； the Sun。〃
〃Yet it was you； King Huaracha； who sent the lady Quilla to this Urco
for your own purposes；〃 said Kari in his quiet fashion。
〃Who and what are you that reprove me？〃 asked Huaracha turning on him。
〃I only know you as the servant or slave of the White…Lord…from…the…
Sea； though it is true I have heard stories concerning you；〃 he added。
〃I am Kari； the first…born lawful son of Upanqui and by right heir to
the Inca throne； no less； O Huaracha。 Urco my brother robbed me of my
wife； as through the folly of my father； upon whose heart Urco's
mother worked； he had already robbed me of my inheritance。 Then； to
make sure； he strove to poison me as he has poisoned your daughter；
with a poison that would make me mad and incapable of rule； yet leave
me livingbecause he feared lest the curse of the Sun should fall
upon him if he murdered me。 I recovered from that bane and wandered to
a far land。 Now I have returned to take my own； if I am able。 All that
I say I can prove to you。〃
For a while Huaracha stared at him astonished； then said：
〃And if you prove it； what do you ask of me； O Kari？〃
〃The help of your armies to enable me to overthrow Urco； who is very
strong； being the Commander of the Quichua hosts。〃
〃And if your tale be true and Urco is overthrown； what do you promise
me in return？〃
〃The independence of the Chanca people； who otherwise must soon be
destroyed； and certain other added territories which you covet； while
I am Inca。〃
〃And with this my daughter； if she still lives？〃 asked Huaracha
looking at him。
〃Nay；〃 replied Kari firmly。 〃As to the lady Quilla I promise nothing。
She has vowed herself to my Father the Sun； and what I have already
told the Lord Hurachi here； who loves her I tell you。 Henceforward no
man may look upon her； who is the Bride of the Sun； for if I suffered
this； certainly the curse of the Sun would fall upon me and upon my
people。 He who lays a hand upon her I will strive to slay〃here he
looked at me with meaning〃because I must or be accurst。 Take all
else； but let the lady Quilla be。 What the Sun has； he holds forever。〃
〃Perhaps the Moon； her mother； may have something to say in that
matter；〃 said Huaracha gloomily。 〃Still； let it lie for the while。〃
Then they fell to discussing the terms of their alliance and； when it
came to battle； what help Kari could bring from among those who clung
to him in Cuzco。
After this Huaracha took me to another chamber； where we debated the
business。
〃This Kari； if he be Kari himself； is a bigot；〃 he said； 〃and if he
has his way； neither you nor I will ever set eyes on Quilla again；
because to him it is sacrilege。 So； what say you？〃
I answered that it would be best to make an alliance with Kari； whom I
knew to be honest and no Pretender； since without his help I did not
think that it would be possible to defeat the armies of the People of
the Incas。 For the rest； we must trust to chance； making no promises
as to Quilla。
〃If we did they would avail little；〃 said Huaracha； 〃seeing that
without doubt she is dead and only vengeance remains to us。 There is
more poison in Cuzco； White Lord！〃
Eight days later we were marching on Cuzco； a great host of us；
numbering at least forty thousand Chancas and twenty…five thousand of
the rebellious Yuncas； who had joined our standard。
On we marched by the great road over mountains and across plains；
driving with us numberless herds of the native sheep for food； but
meeting no man； since so soon as we were out of the territory of the
Chancas all fled at our approach。 At length one night we camped upon a
hill named Carmenca and saw beneath us at a distance the mighty city
of Cuzco standing in a valley through which a river ran。 There it was
with its huge fortresses built of great blocks of stone； its temples；
its palaces； its open squares； and its countless streets bordered by
low houses。 Moreover； beyond and around it we saw other things；
namely； the camps of a vast army dotted with thousands of white tents。
〃Urco is ready for us；〃 said Kari to me grimly as he pointed to these
tents。
We camped upon the hill Carmenca and that night there came to us an
embassy which spoke in the names of Upanqui and Urco； as though they
reigned jointly。 This embassy of great lords who all wore discs of
gold in their ears asked us what was our purpose。 Huaracha answered
to avenge the murder of the lady Quilla； his daughter； that he heard
had been poisoned by Urco。
〃How know you that she is dead？〃 asked the spokesman。
〃If she is not dead；〃 replied Huaracha； 〃show her to us。〃
〃That may not be；〃 replied the spokesman； 〃since if she lives； it is
in the House of the Virgins of the Sun； whence none come out and where
none go in。 Hearken； O Huaracha。 Go back whence you came； or the
countless army of the Incas will fall upon you and destroy you； you
and your handful together。〃
〃That is yet to be seen；〃 answer