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. Have we reached Bordeaux? she asked as her eyes returned to the tome. No, though it is in sight.I came to see if you were well. I am, not least because I have rediscovered sleep.It has been too long. The ground is not the best of bedfellows, he smiled. Have you known any other? and she laughed, though without reason.Still,beauty cannot be considered foolish, and Willard laughed with her. However, she continued, I slept on the ground.Horatio took the bed: it seems you have made a man of him. That he enjoyed luxury, or that he put himself first? The former, for I insisted.I have become used to a hard bed, and now it hasa certain fondness for me.It is youth and freedom, since it has no boundaries; and it is always new,since no matter which way you lay you will awake somewhere else.Besides, I donot think men are selfish.I have known you, have Inot? Am I selfless? She looked at him closely. Do you think otherwise? I have seen you risk deathfor a man of a day s acquaintance. Perhaps I only enjoy the adventure, or make love with death? No, she continued looking at him, No, for I was there, and I saw.You arethe king, and you were then, even before you knew it.You were predestined foryour place, as I was to mine. Which is? He paused. A king must have a queen. And you will find one, she returned to her book, though she did not read. Iam betrothed to another king, and he is a jealous God. They were silent, having reached an impasse in their insinuations whichneither dared to confront.Horatio laid on the bed, and Willard took a seat beside him.If the bear borehimself like a man, Willard was still the master and he the beast.Yet evenamong men, it is the same with kings.After a moment, Ivona closed the bookand placed it on the table beside her.Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html I have heard that there is a certain man in France, she began, Who we maycome across before we return home.What do you know of de Casanova? Willard returned to his feet and paced to the side of the cabin. You haveheard of de Casanova, then? Could I not have? I am Lord Milada s daughter. And so you know he is in France, Willard hesitated. I have been warnedabout him, first by deGarcia, then by Vahan Lee. Then let me add my warning, and she lowered her head to hide her face. You now what he has done? I have not heard, except that he is the agent ofthe King of Hibernia, even as the Montague brothers are the agents of Gylain.Beyond that, no one would speak, but rather lower their heads as you havedone, and assure me he is debased. Does that not suffice? Not for a king. Ivona s lip trembled slightly, and even her composure could not keep a tearfrom escaping her eyes and fleeing down her cheek. He did many things inHibernia. But I am not Hibernian, Willard insisted. I have heard that he helpedGylain in the revolt, but beyond that I cannot gather.I should know, if I amto come across him. He is the man who planned the murder of my mother. She trembled, not inwrath but in terror -- in fear of the terrible punishment that God wouldinflict on him.Such was her compassion.Page 170 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlWillard put his hand on her shoulder.It was not the touch of a friend or of alover, but of a king.She raised her head again, and continued her story: When Gylain took power, the king s loyal followers were assassinated orweakened.My father was too powerful to be harmed personally, but my motherwas away when news of the revolt came.DeCasanova saw his chance, and had a great warrior sent to dispatch her.When myfather heard what had happened, he broke and did as Gylain wanted.Weretreated to the Western Marches, given us byGylain as a haven, far from the center of power.But look at us, Willard: foryou comfort me for the loss of my mother, while you lost both parents in thesame insurrection.Does no one comfort you? I am the king, he answered. There is no comfort for a king. I would comfort you, she whispered, without realizing what she said.Whenshe heard herself, she grabbed the book and pretended to read.But she couldnot; she was trembling that she said what she had not wanted to say. I willfollow only God, she whispered, as if she could sermonize herself to piety. The love of men is not what I desire. Willard, meanwhile, stood by with a closed countenance.She looked up, and fora moment their eyes held a secret rendezvous. As a friend, she said in monotone, As a friend; I could not love a man. Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlAt that moment, Vahan Lee entered. We have arrived, my friends, he said. Do not doubt my loyalty to Atilta,your majesty, for what Ikeep to myself I do only for your best interest.It is better that you beunknown in France, or else everyone will know of your journey to the Cervennesmountains.Above all, court politics could be hindered if you did not see theking first, yet you have no time to see him.So we must keep your identityfrom being known.As for the court, I will handle them. You have served us well in this, Willard said, And your advice will beheeded. With that, the party went above deck.The sun was now full in the sky, and thewaters within the harbor were smooth.Triremes and galleons -- after both thePhoenician and Roman models -- filled the docks, and their small cutterreceived little attention.Vahan led them to a longboat that was prepared fortheir departure and in five minutes they were ashore, landing opposite a long,low building with an entrance in both the harbor and the city.It was thecustoms house. We are safe in France, Vahan said, But Bordeaux is still dangerous
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