[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

half-
formed suspicions regarding King Casmir, who wielded such absolute and awful
power!
Dame Maugelin returned to the room, panting in haste and excitement. "Your
father commands you to the banquet. He wishes you to be everything a beautiful
princess of Lyonesse should be.
Do you hear? You may wear your blue velvet gown and your moonstones. At all
times remember court etiquette! Don't spill your food; drink very little wine.
Speak only when you are addressed, then respond with courtesy and without
chewing your words. Neither titter, nor scratch yourself, nor wriggle in your
chair as if your bottom itched. Do not belch, gurgle or gulp. If someone
breaks wind, do not stare or point or attempt to place the blame. Naturally
you will control yoursell as well; nothing is
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- - - - Vance uses many footnotes in this volume more conspicuous than a
farting princess. Come! I must brush your hair."
In the morning Suldrun went to take her lessons in the library, but again
Master Jaimes was not on hand, nor on the day after, nor the day after.
Suldrun became a trifle miffed. Surely Master
Jaimes might have communicated with her despite his indisposition.
For an entire week she ostentatiously absented herself from the library, but
still no word from Master Jaimes!
In sudden alarm Suldrun sought out Dame Boudetta, who sent a footman to Master
Jaimes' bleak little cell in the West Tower. The footman discovered Master
Jaimes outstretched and dead on his pallet. His fever had become pneumonia,
and he had died with no one the wiser.
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Chapter 4
ONE MORNING OF THE SUMMER before Suldrun's tenth birthday she went to the
third floor parlor in the squat old Tower of Owls for her dancing lesson. The
room itself she thought perhaps the finest of all Haidion. A well-waxed birch
parquetry floor reflected light from three windows draped with a pearl-gray
satin. Furniture upholstered in pale gray and scarlet ranged the walls; and
Mistress Laletta made sure that fresh flowers were to be found on all the
tables. The students included eight boys and eight girls of high degree,
ranging in age from eight to twelve. Suldrun judged them a mixed lot: some
agreeable, others tiresome and dull.
Mistress Laletta, a slender dark-eyed young woman of gentle birth but few
prospects, taught competently and showed no favoritism;
Suldrun neither liked nor disliked her.
On this morning Mistress Laletta was indisposed and could not teach. Suldrun
returned to her chambers to discover Dame Maugelin lying grandly naked on
Suldrun's bed, mounted by a hearty young footman named Lopus.
Suldrun watched in startled fascination until Dame Maugelin caught
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- - - - Vance uses many footnotes in this volume sight of her and uttered a
horrified cry.
"Disgusting!" said Suldrun. "And in my bed!"
Lopus, sheepishly disengaging himself, drew on his breeches and departed. Dame
Maugelin dressed herself no less hastily, meanwhile making jovial small-talk.
"Back so soon from dancing, my dear
Princess? Well, then, did you have a good lesson? What you saw was nothing of
moment, just a bit of play. Better, far better, if no one knew " Suldrun spoke
in annoyance: "You've soiled my bed!"
"Now then, dear Princess "
"Take all the bedding out no, first go wash yourself, then bring in all clean
bedding and air the room well!"
"Yes, dear Princess." Dame Maugelin hastened to obey, and Suldrun ran off down
the stairs, with a lift of the spirits, a skip and a gleeful laugh. Dame
Maugelin's strictures might now be dismissed, and Suldrun could do as she
pleased.
Suldrun ran up the arcade, scanned the Urquial to make sure that no one
watched, then ducked under the old larch and thrust open the groaning old
gate. She squeezed through, shut the gate and descended the winding path past
the fane and into the garden. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]