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8d1eccb
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Who can ever know what turns the spark into flame?
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Sherwood Smith |
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b7cabce
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Last question, why are you riding alone? Wouldn't things be more effective with your army?" "I move fastest alone," he said. "And my own people are in place, and have been for some time." I thought of Nessaren--and the fact that I hadn't seen her around Athanarel for weeks. "When I want them," he said, reaching into the pouch at his belt, "I will summon them with this." And he held up something that glowed blue briefly: the summons-stone I ..
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Sherwood Smith |
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1a713ff
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the stubborn little countess--so unlike anyone Vidanric had ever met--trampled her determined, well-meaning way not only over his plans, but his thoughts.
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Sherwood Smith |
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f6d523a
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Dun came to realize that a man whose entire purpose for living is to command a war will not want to spend his life waiting for its possibility. He was going to have one, and he was going to see to it--after all, it made military sense--that he would have it on his own terms, the ones with which he expected to win
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Sherwood Smith |
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2ef4732
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Is politics just another word for injustice?
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Sherwood Smith |
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65aac57
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It is a shame that so few have the time or inclination for scholarship these days. There is much entertainment to be afforded in perusing the mistakes of our forbears.
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Sherwood Smith |
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cf995e2
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The throne was empty, and above it hung only the ancient flag of Remalna, tattered in places from age. Galdran's banners were, of course, gone. No one was on the dais. Just below it, side by side in fine chairs, sat the Prince and Princess. At their feet Shevraeth knelt formally on white cushions before a long carved table. He now wore white and silver with blue gemstones on his tunic and in his braided hair. I thought, though he was nowh..
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Sherwood Smith |
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7891240
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So you want to know if I'll pay for it?" He shook his head. "I want to know, my lady, what you will do with the information." My first thought was that the Marquise would probably make any servant disappear who spoke thus with her. But I had given Azmus the right. He loved a challenge, this I knew, but he also loved the kingdom. When I first took charge of Tlanth's accounting books, I had discovered that Azmus had been paid only sporadicall..
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Sherwood Smith |
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0e59c23
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Before I ate or drank I had to find out who that rider was. I stepped into the common room, scanning the few people seated on cushions at the low, rough tables. They all had gray, brown, or blue cloaks hung behind them, or hats. No dark cloaks or helms. So I wandered farther inside and encountered a young woman about my age. "Hot punch? Stew?" she offered, wiping her hands on her apron. "My companion came in just ahead of me. Wearing a helm..
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Sherwood Smith |
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28547e1
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As I trod down the hall, I made and discarded plausible excuses. When I reached the tapestry I decided against speaking at all. I'd just take a quick peek, and if the livery was Merindar, then I'd have to hire someone to ride back and warn the Renselaeuses. I pulled my soggy cloak up around my eyes, stuck out my gloved finger, and poked gently at the edge of the tapestry. Remember the surmise I recorded on my arrival at the Residence that ..
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Sherwood Smith |
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76850f5
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I am trying," he said with great care, "to ascertain what your place is in the events about to transpire, and to act accordingly. From whom did you get your information?" The world seemed to lurch again, but this time it was not my vision. A terrible sense of certainty pulled at my heart and mind as I realized what he was striving so heroically not to say--nevertheless, what he meant. He thought I was on the other side."
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Sherwood Smith |
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2f50280
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By the hundreds, from all directions, the Hill Folk had come to Athanarel.
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Sherwood Smith |
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13aaa10
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the one that whupped Galdran Merindar?" Unbidden, Shevraeth's voice spoke inside my head: "You have never lied to me..." I thought desperately, And for a brief moment I envisioned myself snarling Except it wasn't going to stop them; I could see it in their eyes and in the way the woman gripped her sword. "No," I said. "He knocked me off my horse. But I'd taken an oath, so I had to do my best." I drew in a shaky breath. "I know I can't f..
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Sherwood Smith |
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5f9c5f6
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the one that whupped Galdran Merindar?" Unbidden, Shevraeth's voice spoke inside my head: "You have never lied to me..." I thought desperately, And for a brief moment I envisioned myself snarling Except it wasn't going to stop them; I could see it in their eyes and in the way the woman gripped her sword. "No," I said. "He knocked me off my horse. But I'd taken an oath, so I had to do my best." I drew in a shaky breath. "I know I can't f..
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Sherwood Smith |
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6668b16
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Fall in love with heart, not head, to trouble you're led. Fall in love with heart and mind, then true love you'll find.
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Sherwood Smith |
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e2ee7c8
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Shevraeth and I did not speak again; he kept working through his mail, and I, still tired and cold, curled up on a cushion and slipped into uncomfortable sleep. Waking to the sound of Bran's cheery voice and a bustle and rustling of people, I got up, feeling horribly stiff. Though I'd tried to stay with exercise through sword practice, I hadn't ridden that hard all winter, and every muscle protested. It did my spirits no good at all to see ..
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Sherwood Smith |
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aa99598
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I had no conscious plan in mind, but it turned out I did not need one; when I reached the other side of the house, I glimpsed through a wall of vines a splendid terrace, and seated at a table on it was Lord Flauvic. Exquisitely dressed in pale shades of peach and gray, he was all alone, absorbed in reading and writing. I stooped, picked up some small gravel, and tossed it in his direction. He went very still. Just for a moment. Then his hea..
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Sherwood Smith |
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c934fc0
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Well, I had no answer to make to that; thinking about Elenet, or Shevraeth, or that carved throne, caused a cold ache inside, as if I had lost something I had not hitherto valued. So I didn't write back that day. Or the next. The following morning I received a letter that did not refer to thrones, queens, or coronations, to my intense relief. And so, for a handful of days anyway, things went right back to normal. Except, what is normal at a..
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Sherwood Smith |
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2502ee6
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Tell me where you got your information," he said. "Azmus. Our old spy." My lips were numb, and I started to shiver. Hugging my arms against my stomach, I said, "My reasons were partly stupid and partly well-meaning, but I sent him to find out what the Marquise was after. She wrote me during winter--but you knew about that." He nodded. "And you even tried to warn me, though at the time I saw it as a threat, because--well, because." I felt t..
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Sherwood Smith |
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cb8c482
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And no one else knows of this?" he asked gently. I shook my head slowly, unable to remove my gaze from his faze. "Azmus discovered it by accident. Rode two days to reach me. I did send him..." There was no point in saying it again. Either he believed me, and--I swallowed painfully--I'd given him no particular reason to, or he didn't. Begging, pleading, arguing, ranting--none of them would make any difference, except to make a horrible situa..
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Sherwood Smith |
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17fca5b
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There was no point in saying it again. Either he believed me, and--I swallowed painfully--I'd given him no particular reason to, or he didn't. Begging, pleading, arguing, ranting--none of them would make any difference, except to make a horrible situation worse. I should have made amends from the beginning, and now it was too late. He took a deep breath. I couldn't breathe, I just stared at him, waiting, feeling sweat trickle beneath my alr..
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Sherwood Smith |
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dd34ea4
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Brace up. We're not about to embark on a duel to the death over the dishes.
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Sherwood Smith |
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906d224
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Meanwhile, the peculiar life of Athanarel continued. We did not have a king, yet the government was somehow carried forward, and foreign diplomats attended the constant round of social events, and they all seemed content with things as they were. Not so the more serious of the courtiers, but as yet the questions everyone most wanted to ask--"When will we have a king? Why does he wait?"--were as yet discussed only in quiet corners of informa..
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Sherwood Smith |
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991bbf5
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Serenades," he said, "are customarily performed under moonslight, or have fashions here changed?" "I don't know," I said. "No one's serenaded me, and as for my serenading anyone else, even if I wanted to, which I don't, my singing voice sounds like a sick crow."
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Sherwood Smith |
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1acefc6
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We clattered into the streets of Remalna under a brilliant sky. The cobblestones were washed clean, the roofs of the houses steamed gently. A glorious day, which should have brought everyone out not just for market but to talk and walk and enjoy the clear air and sunshine. But every window was shuttered, and we rode alone along the main streets. I sensed eyes on us from behind the barriers of curtain, shutter, and door, and my hand drifted ..
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Sherwood Smith |
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55960d3
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At one end of the room was a group of young teens busy with swordplay, and at the other a swarm of children circled round on ancient carved horses mounted on cart wheels or played at stick-and-ball. I wandered toward my friends and was soon hailed by Renna, who offered me a bout. Time passed swiftly and agreeably. I finished my last engagement with one of Nee's cousins and was just beginning to feel the result of sustained effort in my arm..
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Sherwood Smith |
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b5941e3
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Except, what is normal at any given time? We change just as the seasons change, and each spring brings new growth. So nothing is ever quite the same. I realize now that what I wanted was comfort, but that, too, does not often come with growth and change.
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Sherwood Smith |
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1d2fb52
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I can see her struggling to make what she considers courtly banter, but if she's ever been kissed before, I'll eat my hat. I'll eat your hat, which has more lace on it.
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Sherwood Smith |
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4f995b1
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Elenet and Savona appeared, arm in arm, she dressed in forest green and he in a very dark violet that was almost black. They came directly to me, smiling welcome, and with a pretty fan-flourish of Friends' Recognition. Elenet said, "You look lovely, Meliara. Do come stand with us; we have found a good place." And it was a good place, from which we could see all three Renselaeuses plus the petitioners. We could hear them all without too much..
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Sherwood Smith |
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9e6a862
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He turned to me and, with a mockingly courteous gesture, said, "I fault no one for ambition. If you wish, you may gracefully exit now and save yourself some regrettably painful experience. I like you. Your ignorance is refreshing, and your passions amusing. For a time we could keep each other company." I opened my mouth, trying to find an insult cosmic enough to express my rejection, but I realized just in time that resistance would only en..
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Sherwood Smith |
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2560a63
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Beyond the doors, the street and the gates were empty. The Hill Folk had vanished as mysteriously as they had come. A shuddering sigh of relief, not my own, brought my attention home and heartward. I shut my eyes, smiling, and clung with all my strength to Vidanric as kisses rained on my hair, my eyes, and finally--lingeringly--on my lips. The duel was over, and we had won.
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Sherwood Smith |
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07eef76
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Now, how did you know about that?" the man said, and this time there was no mistaking the threat in his voice. He laid his hand significantly on his sword hilt. "It's my business, as you said." I tried my best to sound assured, waving my sodden arm airily in my best Court mode. The woman bowed with exaggerated politeness. "And who might you be, Your Royal Highness?" she asked loudly. The leader, and the third and fourth drivers who had just..
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Sherwood Smith |
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1603d4a
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I guess I am trying to tell you what you already seem to know--that the Merindars are going on the attack, with hired mercenaries from Denlieff. But--why do you want me to tell you when you already know all this?" I looked up from wringing out my gloves. "I am trying," he said with great care, "to ascertain what your place is in the events about to transpire, and to act accordingly. From whom did you get your information?" The world seeme..
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Sherwood Smith |
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295af33
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So my only hope, therefore, was to make him so angry he'd kill me outright and save us both a lot of effort. These were my cheery thoughts--not that my head was any too clear.
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Sherwood Smith |
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e270f61
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And no one else knows of this?" he asked gently. I shook my head slowly, unable to remove my gaze from his faze. "Azmus discovered it by accident. Rode two days to reach me. I did send him..." There was no point in saying it again. Either he believed me, and--I swallowed painfully--I'd given him no particular reason to, or he didn't. Begging, pleading, arguing, ranting--none of them would make any difference, except to make a horrible situa..
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Sherwood Smith |
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4df6a92
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The morning of the ball dawned. When I reached the ballroom for my last inspection and saw the faces awaiting me, I realized I had fully as many people working for me as there would be guests. I could feel the excitement running high among performers and servers alike, showing me this or that detail, all rehearsing their arts. As I moved about admiringly, it seemed to me that my event served as a symbolic representation of the kingdom: Thes..
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Sherwood Smith |
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ef0de71
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Please don't think you have to change your direction for my sake," I said. "I'm just out wandering about, and my steps took me past Merindar House." "And lose an opportunity to engage in converse without your usual crowd of swains?" Savona said, bowing. "Crowd? Swains?" I repeated, then laughed. "Has the rain affected your vision? Or am I the blind one? I don't see any swains. Luckily." A choke of laughter on my right made me realize--belat..
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Sherwood Smith |
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6e57b8f
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And then you compounded your attractions by keeping my lazy cousin on the hop for days." He indicated Shevraeth with an airy wave of the hand. Those memories effectively banished my mirth. For it wasn't just Galdran's bullying cousin Baron Debegri who had chased me halfway across the kingdom after my escape from Athanarel. Shevraeth had been there as well. I felt my shoulders tighten against the old embarrassment, but I tried not to show it..
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Sherwood Smith |
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6a24c99
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Why did you get me drunk?" I asked. "I'm no rival of yours." She made a quick, sharp gesture of negation. A diamond on her finger sparkled like spilled tears, and I realized her fingers were trembling. "It's true," I said, watching her bury her hands in the folds of her skirts. "What little you know of me ought to make one thing plain: I don't lie. That is, I don't do it very well. I don't fault you for ambition. That would be mighty two-fa..
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Sherwood Smith |
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5ebd0f8
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The effect of knowing one looks one's best is enormously bracing.
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Sherwood Smith |
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6dc7597
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Then suddenly Tamara was before me. "But we have strayed far enough from our purpose. Come, friends. I bid you to be silent. The Countess did promise to entertain us by describing her adventures in the late war." I thought, trying to recall what she'd said--and what I'd promised. My thoughts were tangled, mixing present with memory, and finally I shook my head and looked around. Every face was turned expectantly toward me. My vision seemed..
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Sherwood Smith |
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f3b3d5e
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I sighed, and for a long, pleasant moment envisioned myself sneaking out in my nightdress, grabbing a horse from the stables, and riding hard straight for home. Tlanth was safe. Tlanth was friendly and honest and respectful. I thought aggrievedly. Court was nothing but betrayal in fine clothing.
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Sherwood Smith |
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b1d7152
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Despite Nee's good intentions, there was no opportunity for any real converse with Elenet after that concert. Like Nee, Elenet had unexpectedly risen in rank and thus in social worth. If she'd been confined to the wall cushions before, she was in the center of social events now. But the next morning Nee summoned me early, saying she had arranged a special treat. I dressed quickly and went to her rooms to find Elenet there, kneeling gracefu..
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Sherwood Smith |
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28e6de4
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I'd learned something, all right, about the power of attraction, and Nee was right, it was potent. But I'd also learned that the self might want one thing, but that didn't mean it was right. Isn't that why we have minds?
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Sherwood Smith |