Mayenne by E. C. Tubb

Author:E. C. Tubb
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: DAW
Published: 1973-05-23T16:00:00+00:00

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Between the mossy banks the stream made a liquid susurration, the surface flecked and dancing with light from the glowing sky above. Dumarest stripped and dived, hitting the water with a shower of spray, arching his back and arms so as to glide just beneath the surface. The water was as cold as before, numbing with its impact and he rose, gasping, ducking to scoop up a handful of fine grit from the bed. Standing in the water he rubbed the grime and stains from his hands. More grit and he cleaned his clothing; then he spread out his tunic and pants to dry. His thigh showed ugly bruises where Tormyle had gripped the flesh and his hands were sore and swollen. Lying on the bank, he let them trail in the water, the cold numbing and reducing the tenderness.

It was warm and the sultry air held the scent of growing things. Against the cliff the bulk of the ship reared, tall, incongruous in the valley paradise, and thinly he could hear the sound of voices. One of the Qualish brothers calling to the other, and the answer, Mari's higher voice, all muffled by the screen of vegetation. He turned at the sound of movement, a lilting thread of song.

"Mayenne?"

The song died and was replaced by a soft laugh. The rustle of disturbed leaves came closer.

"Is that you, Mayenne?"

He frowned as there was no answer and rose, stepping to where his knife stood half buried in the soil. Before he could reach it, she stepped from the undergrowth and stood smiling before him.

"Lolis! But—"

"Are you disappointed, Earl? Did you expect Mayenne?" She smiled and came closer. "What can she give you that I cannot? Earl, my darling, must you be so blind?"

She looked as he remembered, tall and young and very beautiful. She wore a thin gown of some diaphanous material which clung to the curves of her body. It parted as she sat to reveal the long lines of her thighs, the upper swell of her breasts. One hand patted the ground at her side.

"Come, Earl, sit and talk to me. Why do you look so surprised?"

He said harshly, "I thought you were dead. We all thought that."

"Dead, Earl?" Her laughter was as sweet as the tinkle of the water. "Do I look as if I am dead? I am here before you. Let us make love."

He ignored the invitation, sitting close beside her, his eyes probing her own. There was something beneath the surface, a touch of hardness he had never noticed before, an assurance she had previously lacked.

Quietly he said, "What is your name, my lady?"

"Lolis Egas. I was to have been married to Alora Motril of the House of Ayette."

"Was to have been?"

"I think that I have changed my mind. He no longer appeals to me. Come, Earl, let us make love."

"On the journey here, in the ship, there was a man who took you to see a beast. His name?"

"Really, Earl, does that matter?"

"His name?"

She did not hesitate.

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