Domnei

One of Cabell's more enduring tales set in the magical, mythical alternate France that is Poictesme, Domnei, a "comedy of woman-worship," relates the sumptuous adventures of Perion, an outlaw who has been wrongly accused of the murder of a king. Taking refuge in the house of a count by masquerading as a prominent vicomte, Perion falls hopelessly in love with Lady Melicent, the count's sister, in the way that people can fall in love only in stories such as this one. Melicent helps Perion escape Poictesme and his pursuers, but his ship is waylaid by thugs in the employ of the ghastly heathen warlord Demetrios, and Perion is taken captive. Learning of Perion's fate, Melicent slips out of Poictesme and makes her way to the court of Demetrios, where she offers herself in exchange for Perion's freedom. Once again, it's the sort of self-sacrifice you'd only get from a character in stories like these. Naturally, Perion doggedly pursues his mission to kill Demetrios and free Melicent so that they can be together, happily ever after.