Close in the shadow of the wall, Semiramis raised her voice in a night-bird's cry. For a space she listened. An answering cry came faintly back, then she raised her packet to fling it across the wall; but behind her Kishra rose, caught the uplifted arm and wrenched the amulet from her grasp.
With a smothered cry, Semiramis wheeled upon him, her eyes two pools of fury, while a storm of passion bubbled to her lips.
"Hound! give back my own. What! Am I, the spouse of Syria's Governor, to be tracked like a pilferer through the night? Have done! Give o'er my packet and begone!"
So fiery was her mien that Kishra took a backward step, drawing a dagger from his belt and presenting its point against attack.
"Not so," he answered, tauntingly. "When captives send forth messengers to Bactria, a palace warden risketh the hazard of his head."
The woman started. What if the eunuch had overheard her whisperings and was advised of all? Yet, how could it chance, when Memetis had watched on every hand. So Kishra read her thoughts, for anger departed from her tongue, and in its place came a tone of craft:
"'Tis naught, good Kishra. 'Tis naught, I swear, save a message to my lord--a token that all is well at Nineveh--an amulet--the little green fish which the merchant of Phoenicia sold. See, Kishra. I pray you break the seal."
"True," he nodded, "'tis but a fish, and being but a fish, can wait for a moon till the stores of grain be dispatched to the King at Zariaspa. Thy message shall journey with the guard."
"Nay," she reasoned, "these wagon-trains are slow, and my haste is great. To-night must it go, or to-morrow, else my runner will come too late."
"Ah!" grinned Kishra. "Then perchance thy lord in Bactria will reward this runner for his haste."
"Aye," replied the Syrian, "even as you shall be rewarded if you cross me not."
"The price of broken faith is large," said the eunuch, artfully. "How much?"
"A purse that is weighted to its very throat."
He laughed in scorn and turned away, but Semiramis caught his robe with a swift, detaining hand.
"Listen," she urged; "if the price be small, then will I add to the purse another purse and such ornaments as are mine--even to the pearls that rim my sandals round."