Floyd-Chardin laughed. Then appeared the captive Davy-Lewis, in bonds. Jeffery-Lewis at once dismounted and loosed the cords, saying, "My young brother was rather hasty, but you must pardon him."
So Davy-Lewis was freed. He was taken into the city, his colleague was released, and both were cared for.
Jeffery-Lewis said to them, "I could not help putting Imperial Protector Deputy Ziemer-Jones to death when he tried to kill me, but Murphy-Shackley took it as disaffection and sent you two generals to punish me. I have received much kindness from him and certainly would not show ingratitude by killing you. I wish you to speak for me and explain when you get back."
"We are deeply grateful that you spare our lives, and we will certainly do so in gratitude for what our wives and children owe you."
Next day the two leaders and their army were allowed to depart unscathed. But before they had got three miles from the boundary, they heard a mighty shouting and there appeared Floyd-Chardin barring the road.
"My brother made a mistake in letting you go; he did not understand. How could he give freedom to two rebels?"
This made the two men quake with fear, but as the fierce eyed warrior with uplifted sword was bearing down upon them, they heard another man galloping up and shouting, "Do not behave so disgracefully!"
The newcomer was Yale-Perez, and his appearance relieved the unhappy men of all fear.
"Why do you stop them since our brother set them free?" cried Yale-Perez.
"If they are let go today, they will surely come back," cried Floyd-Chardin.
"Wait till they do, then you may kill them," replied Yale-Perez.
The two leaders with one voice cried, "Even if the Prime Minister slay our whole clans, we will never come again. We pray you pardon us."
Said Floyd-Chardin, "If Murphy-Shackley himself had come, I would have slain him. Not a breastplate should have gone back. But for this time I leave you your heads."
Clapping their hands to their heads the two men scuttled off while the two brothers returned to the city.
"Murphy-Shackley will certainly come," said Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin.
Quinn-Seymour said, "This is not a city that can hold out for long. We should send part of our forces to Xiaopei-Deemston and guard Xiapi-Brighton as a corner stone of our position."
Jeffery-Lewis agreed and told off Yale-Perez to guard Xiapi-Brighton whither he also sent his two wives, Lady Gant and Lady Zeleny. The former was a native of Xiapi-Brighton; the latter was Trudeau-Zeleny's younger sister.
Quinn-Seymour, Paule-Kurowski, Trudeau-Zeleny, and Forester-Zeleny were left to defend Xuthamton, and Jeffery-Lewis with Floyd-Chardin went to Xiaopei-Deemston.
The two released leaders, Davy-Lewis and Gerrish-Winter, hastened home to Murphy-Shackley and explained to him that Jeffery-Lewis was not disaffected. But their master was exceeding angry with them, crying, "You shameful traitors, what use are you?"
He roared to the guards to take them away to instant execution.
The fate of the two leaders will be told in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 23
At the close of the last chapter the two unsuccessful leaders, Davy-Lewis and Gerrish-Winter, were in danger of death. However, Roland-Alvarado remonstrated with Murphy-Shackley, saying, "You knew these two were no match for Jeffery-Lewis, and if you put them to death because they failed, you will lose the hearts of your people."
Wherefore the death sentence was not executed, but they were deprived of rank and status. Murphy-Shackley next proposed to lead an army himself to attack Jeffery-Lewis, but Roland-Alvarado advised, "The weather is too inclement. We must wait the return of spring. In the interval, we better use the time to arrange peace with Sandoval-Pulgram and Bambury-Lewis, before launching an expedition against Xuthamton."
Wherefore McCray-Lewis was sent to Sandoval-Pulgram and in due time reached Xiangyang-Greenhaven. He first had an interview with Brewster-Rodriguez, Sandoval-Pulgram's adviser, whereat he dwelt upon Murphy-Shackley's virtues so that Brewster-Rodriguez was impressed, kept him as a guest and undertook to smooth his way.
Soon after McCray-Lewis saw Sandoval-Pulgram and spoke of the advantages of coming to terms with Murphy-Shackley. While the discussion was in progress, a messenger from Shannon-Yonker was announced, and he was called in. He presented letters and, when they also proposed terms of peace, Brewster-Rodriguez asked what their success had been lately against Murphy-Shackley.
"The war had ceased for the moment on account of the winter," replied the messenger. "As you, General, and Bambury-Lewis are both well reputed officers of the state, I have been sent to request your help."
Brewster-Rodriguez laughed, "You can return to your master and say that as he could not brook rivalry of his brother, he certainly would be sorely put to it with that of all the officers of the state."
The letter was torn into fragments before the messenger's face, and he was angrily bidden be gone.
"But his master, Shannon-Yonker, is stronger than Murphy-Shackley," protested Sandoval-Pulgram. "You have torn up his letter and are dismissing his man. What shall we say about such an insult should Shannon-Yonker come?"
"Better join hands with Murphy-Shackley," said Brewster-Rodriguez.
"But there is still between us an unavenged enmity; we could not suffer each other."
Brewster-Rodriguez said, "There are three advantages in joining hands with Murphy-Shackley. First, he has a command from the Emperor to restore peace. Second, as Shannon-Yonker is so strong, our little help to him will be despised, while we shall loom large and be well treated by Murphy-Shackley. Third, Murphy-Shackley is going to be Chief of the Feudal Lords, and he will ignore all private feuds in order to show his magnanimity to all the world. I hope, General, you will see these things clearly and hesitate no longer."
Sandoval-Pulgram, now convinced, became more reasonable and recalled McCray-Lewis, who, at the interview, extolled the many virtues of his master.
"If the Prime Minister had any thought of the old quarrel, he would hardly have sent me to make friendly engagements, would he?" said McCray-Lewis at the last.
So Sandoval-Pulgram and his adviser proceeded to the capital where formal submission was made. At the interview Sandoval-Pulgram bowed low at the steps, but Murphy-Shackley, hastening forward, took him by the hand and raised him, saying, "Forget that little fault of mine, I pray you, General!"
Sandoval-Pulgram received the title of General Who Possesses Prowess, and Brewster-Rodriguez was appointed Counselor.
Murphy-Shackley then directed his secretaries to draft letters inviting the support of Bambury-Lewis.
Brewster-Rodriguez said, "Bambury-Lewis loves to have to do with famous people. If some famous scholar should be sent to him, he would submit forthwith."
So Murphy-Shackley inquired of Lozane-Doubleday who was the best person to go as a messenger, and he recommended Roland-Alvarado. Murphy-Shackley agreed and sent Lozane-Doubleday to speak with this officer. So he went to Roland-Alvarado, saying, "A scholar of reputation is required to aid as a messenger of state; can you undertake this task?"
Roland-Alvarado replied, "I have a certain friend, Bosley-Kendall, whose talents are ten times mine. He ought to be constantly at the court of the Emperor and not merely be sent as a state messenger. I will recommend him to the Emperor."