Nor
did she speak, but my soul heard her words."
"Narrate them."
"She commanded: `Say this to the Rana: "In Chitor is My altar; in
Chitor is thy throne. If thou wouldest save either, send forth
twelve crowned Kings of Chitor to die.'"
As he said this, the Rana, fore-spent with fighting, entered and
heard the Divine word.
Now there were twelve princes of the Rajput blood, and the
youngest was the son of Padmini. What choice had these most
miserable but to appease the dreadful anger of the Goddess? So on
each fourth day a King of Chitor was crowned, and for three days
sat upon the throne, and on the fourth day, set in the front,
went forth and died fighting. So perished eleven Kings of Chitor,
and now there was left but the little Ajeysi, the son of the
Queen.
And that day was a great Council called.
Few were there. On the plains many lay dead; holding the gates
many watched; but the blood was red in their hearts and flowed
like Indus in the melting of the snows. And to them spoke the
Rana, his hand clenched on his sword, and the other laid on the
small dark head of the Prince Ajeysi, who stood between his
knees.
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