Treachery of Kings by Neal Barrett Jr

Author:Neal Barrett Jr [Barrett, Neal Jr]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic, Kings and Rulers, Fantasy Fiction, General
ISBN: 9780553581966
Google: i0d8N1jo2DcC
Amazon: 0553581961
Barnesnoble: 0553581961
Publisher: Bantam
Published: 2001-07-31T06:00:00+00:00

THIRTY-TWO

FINN RESISTED, POLITELY DECLINED, SAID HE WAS certain it wasn't the thing to do. The woman, the girl, the sprite insisted, wouldn't take no, and, she made it clear, she was a princess, and people did what she told them to do.

Her quarters weren't far. When they arrived, she slid past the door and he followed her through, certain, now, he was somewhere he shouldn't ever be.

He had seen her only as a dim and hazy vision as she hurried him through the shadowed hall. Even then he'd been dazzled by her beauty, by the lightness of her being, by her effortless grace.

Now, she stood before him in the glow of a hundred candles of crimson, tangerine and gold, clad in some pale and vaporous gown, something more a whisper or a mist that circled round her than a garment of any kind.

Finn felt as if his knees would give way. As if, in her presence, he would simply come apart. And, in a corner of his mind, there came a growing specter of shame, guilt, remorse and deep regret. How, he wondered, could he ever make up for the things he hadn't even done? For, in truth, when he faced Letitia again, he would surely stand condemned for his wicked thoughts alone, for the visions that heated his soul when he gazed on DeFloraine-Marie in this candle-scented room.

“Please, Master Finn, you mustn't stare. That is not the proper thing to do.”

“I surely didn't mean to,” he said. “Coming in from the dark, into the light, you see… “

“Yes, I expect that's so. I hope you don't have a fever. I keep it rather warm in here.”

“No, truly, it's very nice, just right for me. Some people like it cooler, I like it—warmer than others do. Not overly warm, you understand, sort of, what it is now… “

“Make yourself at ease, Master Finn. I'll see to some hot spice tea.”

Just what I need, some hot spice tea…

Finn watched her vanish past a veil of fabric fine as spider silk, watched her disappear past another cloudy weave, and another after that, each no more substantial than a lance of morning light.

Watched, and wondered if creatures of the female persuasion were endowed with some fine hydraulic parts, some wondrous gears than made them move like that.

Finn sat.

There were colorful pillows spread about the room. No table, no chairs. Only a sea of soft cushions and walls of airy veils. Some sweet aroma of the East lingered upon the air.

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