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！
d her features。 Miriamele turned away； wishing she could pull the shadows over her like a blanket； wishing she were a child again； living beside an ocean that was still innocent of kilpa； an ocean upon whose waves storms touched only lightly and disappeared at the sun's golden rising。
〃My lady。。。〃 he whispered。 〃Ah； I am so sorry。 You have been badly treated。〃
Miriamele said nothing； but his voice seemed a soothing balm to her painful thoughts。 He spoke again； telling her of her beauty and kindness。 In her feverish sadness the words were little more than nonsense； but his voice was sweet and reassuring。 She felt calmed by it； gentled like a nervous horse。 When he slid beneath the sheet she felt his skin against hers； warm and smooth and firm。 She murmured in protest； but softly； with no real strength： in a way； this； too； seemed a kindness。
His mouth was at her neck。 His hands moved over her with calm possessiveness； as though he handled some lovely thing that belonged only to him。 Tears came to her again。 Full of loneliness； she let herself be drawn into his embrace； but she could not suffer his touch unfeelingly。 While a part of her yearned only to be held； to be drawn into a reassuring warmth； a safe harbor like the one in which Eadne Cloud rocked gently at anchor； untroubled by the storms that swept the great ocean； a different self wished to break free and run madly into danger。 Still another shadow huddled deeper within her； a shape of dark regret； tied to her heart with chains of iron。
The thin light leaking in at the doorframe caught glimmering in his hair as Aspitis pressed himself against her。 What if someone should e in？ There was no latch； no latch on the door。 She struggled。 Mistaking her fear； he whispered soothing things about her beauty。
Each curl of his hair was intricate； textured and individual as a tree。 His head seemed a forest； his dark form looming like a distant mountain side。 She cried out softly； unable to resist such implacability。
Time slid by in the shadows and Miriamele felt herself drifting away。 Aspitis once more began to speak。
He loved her； her goodness and wit and loveliness。
His words； like caresses； were blind but enflaming。 She did not care for flattering talk； but felt her resistance melting before his strength and sureness。 He cared for her； at least a little。 He could hide her away in darkness； pull it around her like a cloak。 She would disappear into the deeps of a sheltering forest until the world was right again。
The boat swayed gently on the cradling waters。
He would protect her from those who would harm her； he said。 He would never desert her。
She gave herself up to him at last。 There was pain； but there were also promises。 Miriamele had hoped for nothing more。 In a way； it was a lesson the world had already taught her。
Awash with strange new feelings； not pletely fortable with any of them； Miriamele sat quietly across the dining table from Aspitis； pushing food from one side of her plate to the other。 She could not understand why the earl had forced her to e sit with him in the brightly candlelit room。 She could not understand why she was not even slightly in love。
A soldier rapped at the doorway； then entered。
〃We've caught him； Lord；〃 the guardsman said。 His satisfaction at having redressed the earlier error of the monk's escape was plain in his voice。 Miriamele； seated across the table from Earl Aspitis； felt herself stiffen。
The guardsman stepped aside and two of his fellows brought Cadrach in； slumped between them。 The monk seemed to be having trouble keeping his head up。 Had they beaten him？ Miriamele felt a sickening pang of regret。 She had half…hoped that Cadrach would just vanish； so that she would never have to see him again。 It was easier to hate him when he was not around。
〃He's drunk； Lord Aspitis；〃 the guardsman said。 〃Stinking。 We found him in the Feathered Eel； down on the east dock。 He'd already bought a place out on a Perdruinese merchantman； but the fool got pissed and diced it away。〃
Cadrach looked up blearily； his face slack with despair。 Even from across the table； Miriamele could smell the stink of wine。 〃Was 'bout t'win it back； too。 Would've。〃 He shook his head。 〃Maybe not。 Luck's gone bad。 Water's rising 。。。〃
Aspitis rose and strode around the table。 He reached out a hand and grasped the monk's chin； pressing with his strong fingers until the flesh bulged between them。 He forced Cadrach's pink face upward until their eyes met。
The earl turned to Miriamele。 〃Has he tried to do this before； Lady Marya？〃
Miriamele nodded helplessly。 She wished she were somewhere else。 〃More or less。〃
Aspitis returned his attention to the monk。 〃What a strange man。 Why does he not just leave your father's service instead of sneaking away like a thief？〃 The earl turned to his squire。 〃And you are sure nothing is missing？〃
The squire shook his head。 〃Nothing； Lord。〃
Cadrach tried to pull his head free from Aspitis' restraining fingers。 〃Had m'own gold。 Stole nothing。 Need t'get away 。。。〃 His eyes fixed uncertainly on Miriamele； his voice took on a note of added desperation。 〃Dangerous 。 。 。 storm will get us。 Danger。〃
The Earl of Eadne let go of the monk's chin and wiped his fingers on the tablecloth。 〃Afraid of a storm？ I knew he was not a good sailor； but still 。 。 。 that is very strange。 If he were my liege man； his back would be flayed for this trick。 Still； the fellow shall certainly not be rewarded for deserting his innocent ward。 Neither shall he share a cabin with you any more； Lady Marya。〃 The earl's smile was stiffy； reassuring。 〃He may have gone mad； or have conceived some drunken fancy。 He says danger； but he is the dangerous one as I see it。 He will be confined on the Eadne Cloud until I return you to Nabban； and we shall then hand him over to Mother Church for discipline。〃
〃Confine him？〃 Miriamele asked。 〃That is not 。。。〃
〃I may not leave him loose to plague you or worry you； my lady。〃 The earl turned to his guardsmen。 〃The hold will do nicely for him。 Give him water and bread； but put the leg irons on him。〃
〃Oh； no'〃 Miriamele was genuinely horrified。 However much she despised the monk and his cowardly treachery； the thought of any living thing forced to wear a chain； trapped in a dark hold。。。
〃Please； my lady。〃 Aspitis' voice was soft but firm。 〃I must have order on my ship。 I gave you sanctuary； and this man with you。 He was your guardian。 He betrayed your trust。 I still am not sure he has not stolen something from me； or perhaps thinks to sell some intelligence of my mission here in Vimtta。 No； I am afraid you must leave such men's business to me； pretty Marya。〃 He waved his hand； Cadrach was led out； staggering between his escorts。
Miriamele felt her eyes blurring with tears。 They spilled over and she lurched suddenly from her chair。 〃Excuse me； Earl Aspuis；〃 she mumbled； feeling her way along the table toward the door。 〃I wish to lie down。〃
He caught her before she reached the handle； grasping her arm and pulling her smoothly around。 The heat of him was very close。 She averted her face； co