United States or Dominica ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
First came the merchant, tugging at his long beard as he advanced, though whether his meditations were the leavings of the mood that had held him or a reaching forward into the busy future, none could tell. Him, Sebert's eye dismissed with a listless glance.
As he bowed in acknowledgment, some embarrassment was visible in Sebert's manner; but he was spared a reply, for after a moment's rubbing of his chin, the King continued, "As regards the boy, however, there is something besides his knife to be taken into consideration. I think we run more risk from his tongue."
When she caught sight of the misery of discomfort in Sebert's frank face, she lost her voice entirely and waited in utter silence while they drank their wine. Yet Thorkel's manner was unwontedly genial when at last he broached his errand. "You lack the eagerness that is to be expected, lady," he said as he gave his mouth a last polish with the delicate napkin.
A picture rose in her mind of Sebert's dream-lady, passing her waiting-time among soft-voiced maids, and her heart turned sick within her. It was little time that the pack gave her for revery, however; now it was Edric Jarl of whom they wanted to hear.
Suddenly, he snatched her from Sebert's grasp and held her down to the firelight. Could she have seen the mask which dust and blood had made for her, she would have been spared the terror-swoon that left her limp in his grasp. But it only bewildered her when, after an instant's scrutiny, he let her fall with an angry laugh. "The boy from Avalcomb! Certainly these Danes are as hard to kill as cats!
For a moment she tortured herself with the thought that she knew not which side to pray for, since the victory of either would mean her beloved's undoing; then she forgot Sebert's future in her own present.
There is another task in store for you than to fight Normans, and it may be that you will think it beneath your rank, for instead of the State, it concerns me and my life, which someone has tried to take. Yet I expect you will see that my death would be little gainful to England." A second curt gesture cut short Sebert's rather embarrassed protest. "Here are no fine words needed.
But Sebert's hand silenced the tremulous lips. "No more, youngling! I adjure you by your gentleness," he whispered unsteadily. "You owe me no such love; and it makes my helplessness a thousand-fold more bitter. Say no more, little comrade, if you would not turn my heart into a woman's when it has need to be of flint. Sit you here on the ledge the while that I take one more turn. You will not?
The only man who can end it, while keeping quiet, is the one who has the friendship of the only woman among them to whose honor I would risk my life. I mean Randalin, Frode's daughter." Whether or not he heard Sebert's exclamation, he spoke on as though it had not been uttered.
"Now since honesty is to your wish, I will go so far as to confess that the word came neither from Frode's son nor from me." Sebert's foot rang upon the ground. "Say then that the Devil sent it, and a truce to this juggling! Since you know that I am the boy's friend, you understand that any harm he has suffered is a harm to me, and that my sword is equally ready to avenge it."
Word Of The Day