按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
speaking of this。
〃You sold flowers as a child？〃 Gaborn asked。
Myrrima smiled。 〃The meadow behind our house provided little else to sustain us。〃
Gaborn reached to his money pouch； pulled out a gold coin。 One side showed the head of King Sylvarresta； the other showed the Seven Standing Stones of the Dunnwood； which legend said held up the earth。 He was unfamiliar with the local currency； but knew the coin was large enough to take care of her small family for a few months。 He took her hand； slipping it into her palm。
〃I。。。have done nothing for this；〃 she said； searching his eyes。 Perhaps she feared an indecent proposal。 Some lords took mistresses。 Gaborn would never do so。
〃Certainly you have；〃 Gaborn said。 〃You smiled； and thus lightened my heart。 Accept this gift； please。 You will find your merchant prince someday；〃 Gaborn said； 〃and of all the prizes he may ever discover here in the markets of Bannisferre； I suspect that you will be the most treasured。〃
She held the coin in awe。 People never expected one as young as Gaborn to speak with such grace； yet it came easily after years of training in Voice。 She looked into his eyes with new respect； as if really seeing him for the first time。 〃Thank you； Prince Orden。 Perhaps。。。I tell you now that if Iome does accept you； I will praise her decision。〃
She turned and sauntered off through the thickening crowd； circled the fountain。 Gaborn watched the graceful lines of her neck； the clouds of her dress； the burning flames of her scarf。
Borenson came up and clapped Gaborn on the shoulder； chuckling。 〃Ah； milord； there is a tempting sweet。〃
〃Yes； she's altogether lovely；〃 Gaborn whispered。
〃It was fun to watch。 She just stood back； eyeing you like a cutlet on the butcher's block。 She waited for five minutes〃Borenson held up his hand； fingers splayed〃waiting for you to notice her！ But youyou day…blind ferrin！ You were too busy adoring some vendor's handsome chamber pots！ How could you not see her？ How could you ignore her？ Ah！〃 Borenson shrugged in exaggeration。
〃I meant no offense；〃 Gaborn said； looking up into Borenson's face。 Though Borenson was his bodyguard and should thus always be on the watch for assassins； the truth was that the big fellow was a lusty man。 He could not walk through a street without making little crooning noises at every shapely woman he passed。 And if he didn't go wenching at least once a week； he'd croon even at the woman who had no more shape than a bag of parsnips。 His fellow guards sometimes joked that no assassin hiding in between a woman's cleavage would ever escape his notice。
〃Oh； I'm not offended；〃 Borenson said。 〃Mystified； maybe。 Perplexed。 How could you not see her？ You must have at least smelled her？〃
〃Yes； she smells very nice。 She keeps her gown in a drawer layered in rose petals。〃
Borenson rolled his eyes back dramatically and groaned。 His face was flushed； and there was a peculiar excitement； an intensity in his eyes。 Though he pretended to be jesting； Gaborn could see that Borenson had indeed been smitten by this northern beauty more than he cared to admit。 If Borenson could have had his way； he'd have been off chasing the girl。 〃At least you could have let her cure you of that vexing case of virginity you suffer from； milord！〃
〃It is a mon enough malady for young men；〃 Gaborn said； feeling offended。 Borenson sometimes spoke to Gaborn as if he were a drinking partner。
Borenson reddened even more。 〃As well it should be； milord！〃
〃Besides；〃 Gaborn said； considering the toll a bastard child sometimes took on a kingdom； 〃the cure is often more costly than the malady。〃
〃I suspect that that cure is worth any price；〃 Borenson said longingly； with a nod in the direction Myrrima had gone。
Suddenly； a plan blossomed in Gaborn's mind。 A great geometer had once told him that when he discovered the answer to a difficult calculation； he knew that his answer was right because he felt it all the way down to his toes。 At this moment； as Gaborn considered taking this young woman home to Mystarria； that same feeling of rightness struck him。 Indeed； he felt that same burning pulsion that had drawn him to this land in the first place。 He yearned once again to take Myrrima back to Mystarria； and suddenly saw the way。
He glanced at Borenson； to verify his hunch。 The guardsman stood at his side； more than a head taller than Gaborn； and his cheeks were red； as if his own thoughts embarrassed him。 The soldier's laughing blue eyes seemed to shine with their own light。 His legs shook； though Gaborn had never seen him tremble in battle。
Down the lane； Myrrima turned a corner on a narrow market street； breaking into a run。 Borenson shook his head ruefully； as if to ask； How could you let her go？
〃Borenson；〃 Gaborn whispered； 〃hurry after her。 Introduce yourself graciously； then bring her back to me； but take a few minutes to talk as you walk。 Stroll back。 Do not hurry。 Tell her I request an audience for only a moment。〃
〃As you wish； milord；〃 Borenson said。 He began running in the swift way that only those who had taken an endowment of metabolism could； many in the crowd parted before the big warrior； who wound his way gracefully between those who were too slow or clumsy to move for him。
Gaborn did not know how long it might take Borenson to fetch the woman； so he wandered back to the shadows thrown by the inn。 His Days followed。 Together they stood； annoyed by a cloud of honeybees。 The front of the inn here had an 〃aromatic garden〃 in the northern style。 Blue morning…glory seeds were sewn in the thatch of the roof； and a riot of window boxes and flowerpots held creeping flowers of all kinds： palest honeysuckle dripped golden tears along the walls； mallow； like delicate bits of pearl； fluttered in the gentle breeze above the snow…in…summer； giant mandevilla； pink as the sunrise； was nearly strangled by the jasmine。 And interspersed with all of these were rose vines； climbing every wall； splotches of peach。 Along the ground were planted spearmint； chamomile； lemon verbena； and other spices。
Most northern inns were decorated with such flowers。 It helped mask the obnoxious scents of the market； while herbs grown in these gardens could be used for teas and spices。
Gaborn stepped back into the sunlight； away from the heavy perfume of the flowers。 His nose was too keen to let him stay。
Borenson returned in a few moments with his big right hand resting gently on Myrrima's elbow； as if to catch her should she trip on a cobblestone。 It was an endearing sight。
When the two stood before him； Myrrima bowed slightly。 〃Milord wished to speak to me？〃
〃Yes；〃 Gaborn said。 〃Actually； I was more interested in having you meet Borenson； my body。〃 He left off the word guard； as was the custom in Mystarria。 〃He has been my body for six years now； and is captain of my personal guard。 He is a good man。 In my estimation； one of the finest in Mystarria。 Certainly the finest soldier。〃
Borenson's cheeks reddened； and Myrrima glanced up at the big guard； smiling discreetly； gauging him。 She could not have failed to notice by now that Borenson had an endowment of metabolism to his credit。 The hastiness of his speeded rea