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back； playing her role as wife exquisitely。 This is how it would be if we married； her actions seemed to say。 I'd make no costly demands。
The vendor's face fell in dismay。 It was unlikely that more than one or two merchants in all the Kingdoms of Rofehavan had such a fine wine cooler。
She pulled Gaborn along。 Suddenly； Gaborn felt uneasy。 In the far south； ladies of Indhopal sometimes wore rings or brooches with poisoned needles in them。 They would try to lure wealthy travelers to an inn； then murder and rob them。 It could be that this beauty had nefarious designs。
Yet he doubted it。 A quick glance showed that Borenson was certainly more amused than concerned。 He laughed and blushed； as if to ask； And where do you think you're going？
Borenson； too； was a student of body languageparticularly that of women。 He never took risks with his lord's safety。
The woman squeezed Gaborn's hand； readjusting her grip； holding him more firmly。 Was she seeking a greater claim to his attentions？
〃Pardon me if I seem over familiar； good sir；〃 she said。 〃Have you ever noticed someone from a distance； and felt a tug in your heart？〃
Her touch thrilled him； and Gaborn wanted to believe that； indeed； she'd seen him from afar and fallen in love。
〃No； not like this；〃 he said。 Yet he felt it a lie。 He'd once fallen in love from afar。
The sun shone on them； the skies were brilliant。 The air blowing off the river smelled warm and sweet； carrying the scent of hay fields from across the shore。 On such a fine day； how could anyone feel anything but invigorated； alive？
The cobbles on the street here were smooth with age。 Half a dozen flower girls strolled barefoot through the crowd； calling for patrons in clear voices。 They blew past； a breeze rippling a wheat field。 They all wore faded dresses and white aprons。 They held the centers of their aprons up with one hand； making their aprons into a kind of sack； sacks filled with riotous colorsbrilliant burgundy cornflowers and white daisies； long…stemmed roses in deepest reds and peach。 Poppies and bundles of sweet…scented lavender。
Gaborn watched the girls drift by； feeling that their beauty was as stunning as that of larks in flight； knowing he would never forget their smiles。 Six girls； all with blond or light…brown hair。
His father was camped with his retinue not more than a few hours' ride off。 Seldom did his father let Gaborn wander without heavy guard； but this time his father had implored him to take a little side excursion； saying； 〃You must study Heredon。 A land is more than its castles and soldiers。 In Bannisferre you will fall in love with this land； and its people； as I have。〃
The young woman squeezed his hand tighter。
Pain showed in her brow as she watched the flower girls。 Gaborn suddenly realized what she was； how desperately this young woman needed him。 Gaborn nearly laughed； for he saw how easily she could have bewitched him。
He squeezed her hand； warmly； as a friend。 He felt certain that he could have nothing to do with her； yet he wished her well。
〃My name is Myrrima。。。〃 she said； leaving a silence for him in which to offer his own name。
〃A beautiful name； for a beautiful girl。〃
〃And you are？〃
〃Thrilled by intrigue；〃 he said。 〃Aren't you？〃
〃Not always。〃 She smiled； a demand for his name。
Twenty paces behind； Borenson tapped the scabbard of his saber against a passing goat cart； a sign that he'd left his post at the hostel's doorway and was now following。 The Days would be at his side。
Myrrima glanced back。 〃He's a fine…looking guardsman。〃
〃A fine man；〃 Gaborn agreed。
〃You are traveling on business？ You like Bannisferre？〃
〃Yes； and yes。〃
She abruptly pulled her hand away。 〃You don't make mitments easily；〃 she said； turning to face him； her smile faltering just a bit。 Perhaps she sensed now that the chase was up； that he would not marry her。
〃No。 Never。 Perhaps it is a weakness in my character；〃 Gaborn said。
〃Why not？〃 Myrrima asked； still playful。 She stopped by a fountain where a statue of Edmon Tillerman stood holding a pot with three spigots that poured water down over the faces of three bears。
〃Because lives are at stake；〃 Gaborn answered。 He sat at the edge of the fountain； glanced into the pool。 Startled by his presence； huge polliwogs wriggled down into the green water。 〃When I mit to someone； I accept responsibility for them。 I offer my life； or at least a portion of it。 When I accept someone's mitment； I expect nothing less than total mitmenttheir livesin return。 This reciprocal relationship is。。。it must define me。〃
Myrrima frowned； made uneasy by his serious tone。 〃You are not a merchant。 You。。。talk like a lord！〃
He could see her considering。 She would know he was not of Sylvarresta's line； not a lord from Heredon。 So he would have to be a foreign dignitary； merely traveling in Heredon； an out…of…the…way country； one of the farthest north in all the Kingdoms of Rofehavan。
〃I should have knownyou are so handsome；〃 she said。 〃So you're a Runelord； e to study our land。 Tell me； do you like it enough to seek betrothal to Princess Iome Sylvarresta？〃
Gaborn admired the way that she drew the proper conclusion。 〃I'm surprised at how green your land is； and how strong your people are；〃 Gaborn said。 〃It is richer than I'd imagined。〃
〃Will Princess Sylvarresta accept you？〃 Still； she was searching for answers。 She wondered which poor castle he hailed from。 She sat beside him on the edge of the fountain。
Gaborn shrugged； feigning less concern than he felt。 〃I know her only by reputation；〃 he admitted。 〃Perhaps you know her better than I。 How do you think she will look on me？〃
〃You are handsome enough；〃 Myrrima said； frankly studying his broad shoulders； the long dark…brown hair that fell from under his plumed cap。 By now she must have realized he was not dark enough of hair to be from Muyyatin； or any of the Indhopalese nations。
Then she gasped； eyes going wide。
She stood up quickly and stepped back； unsure whether to remain standing； curtsy； or fall down and prostrate herself at his feet。 〃Forgive me； Prince OrdenI； uhdid not see your resemblance to your father！〃
Myrrima lurched back three paces； as if wishing she could run blindly away； for she now knew that he was not the son of some poor baron who called a pile of rocks his fortress； but that he came from Mystarria itself。
〃You know my father？〃 Gaborn asked； rising and stepping forward。 He took her hand once again； trying to reassure her that no offense had been taken。
〃Ionce he rode through town； on his way to the hunt；〃 Myrrima said。 〃I was but a girl。 I can't forget his face。〃
〃He has always liked Heredon；〃 Gaborn said。
〃Yes。。。yes； he es often enough；〃 Myrrima said； clearly disfited。 〃Ipardon me if I troubled you； my lord。 I did not mean to be presumptuous。 Oh。。。〃
Myrrima turned and began to run。
〃Stop；〃 Gaborn said； letting just a little of the power of his Voice take her。
She stopped as if she'd been struck by a fist； turned to face him。 As did several other people nearby。
Unprepared for the mand； they obeyed as if it had e from their own minds。 When they saw that they were not the object of his attent