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given to me despite the fact that I could speak French. She then handed me a
letter that explained much as I read the few short paragraphs.
"MY DEAREST LORRAINE:
I AM GIVING YOU YVETTE TO KEEP FOR ME, KNOWING THAT YOU WILL TAKE CARE
OF HER AND NOT ABUSE HER AS SOME MIGHT. SHE IS A GOOD GIRL, WELL TRAINED IN
THE ARTS OF LOVE EVEN IF SHE CAN'T SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE VERY WELL YET. I HOPE
YOU WILL VALUE HER AS I HAVE.
I VERY MUCH FEAR THAT WITH THE DEATH OF OUR BELOVED PRINCESS THAT HER
MOTHER WILL NOW ATTEMPT TO USE THE WAR BETWEEN OUR COUN- TRIES AS AN EXCUSE TO
COMMIT DULARN TO A COURSE OF ACTION THAT WILL END IN DISASTER. I THINK I KNOW
NOW WHY THE PIRATE TARKAS DID NOT FLEE WHEN HE SAW THE "JANIS". IF MY
SUSPICIONS ARE TRUE, IT IS MY DUTY AS A WARRIOR TO DO THE ONLY HONORABLE THING
I CAN.
I AM TRULY SORRY LORRAINE THAT WE ARE ENEMIES, FOR HAD MY PRINCESS
LIVED, I BELIEVE THAT SHE AND DARLANIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK OUT SOME
SORT OF A PEACE BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES. I HOPE YOU WILL REMEMBER ME AND THE
NIGHT WE SPENT TOGETHER. I KNOW THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU AS LONG AS I
LIVE.
LOVE,
CAPTAIN JON RICHARDS
THE RAMSHIP "JANIS"
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My eyes were moist as I turned and waved at the tall figure there on the
Janis' quarterdeck, cursing the cruel fate that would always keep us apart. I
thought I would speak to Darlanis.
Sharon threw herself into my arms as soon as I came aboard Sarnian Lady,
smiling and hugging me, her azure eyes a delight to see after all we had been
through. Telling me that Darlanis wanted to see me just as soon as possible,
there being something about Sharon's actions that told me that she knew more
than what she was telling me! Sharon just "bubbling over" with her secret!
In a few words I told Sharon about Yvette Senchal, my step- daughter's
eyes growing wide as she looked at the slave girl. The wench slipping off her
cloak, revealing herself clad in only the strip of green silk that I had seen
her in before. The crew and officers of Sarnian Lady poking each other and
whispering among themselves at the sight. Captain Stone stepping down to the
deck and informing me to "Please Cloak That!" No doubt con- cerned about her
effect upon the safe operation of his ship. I told Yvette to put her cloak
back on and then asked Sharon to find something for her to wear that covered
her more modestly. I then turned and waved to a figure there on the Janis'
quarterdeck as the big Dularnian galley started turning away, a part of my
heart going with its captain to whatever adventures laid ahead!
Darlanis was as beautiful as ever as Lynn ushered me in, the slave girl
then taking her leave of us as I seated myself next to the bed. The Empress
nibbling at her breakfast, greeting me with a warm smile. Up close I could see
that her azure eyes were a bit puffy, but otherwise thanks to Lynn's
attentions she was the picture of beauty like always. Darlanis being, as I
think I have mentioned before, one of the most "beautiful" women of all time.
"Care for a bit of breakfast?" Darlanis asked, offering me some of hers.
The Empress being in an excellent mood considering all that had happened only
the night before, I thought to myself. I nodded in the negative and thanked
her. I had eaten earlier.
Taking a swallow of her tea, Darlanis said, "I have a very serious
matter to discuss with you, one that could effect the fu- tures of both you
and your stepdaughter." She patted the bed be- side her, reaching out to me
and taking my hand in hers as she then said, "I know that you are unfamiliar
with our customs, but as you perhaps know, I am a widow and childless."
Darlanis tell- ing me of the tragic accident that had taken her daughter
twelve years before. Telling of the storm and the shipwreck, of seeing her
little eight year old Anna being swept away from her. The tears filling her
eyes as she spoke, the memories no doubt still vivid even after all these
years. I understood how she felt, the thought of losing Sharon having given me
a few nightmares since we had been transmitted through time into this barbaric
era.
"Among those of our caste it is frequently the custom that two women
will privately adopt the other's children so that if one is killed, the other
can become their mother," Darlanis said, wiping at her eyes as she regained
control of herself. Telling me that it was a way so that a warrioress'
children knew that they would always have someone to turn to. Someone to
become their new mother. I had earlier made somewhat similar arrange- ments
with Lana for Sharon before the battle with the pirate.
"Last night," Darlanis said, holding my eyes with her own, "Your
stepdaughter saved my life." The Empress swiftly explain- ing that she had
attempted to poison herself after brooding over her sister's tragic death and
that Sharon had fought her with all her strength to keep her from doing so.
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Finally getting the poi- son away from her and throwing it out one of the
stern windows. Sharon had then gotten Darlanis helplessly drunk and somehow
man- aged to get her into bed. Slipping in beside her and holding her as the
Empress sobbed and clung to her like a baby. Darlanis fi- nally passing out
from the amount of alcohol, Lynn being too ter- rified of her Imperial
mistress in such a mood to be of any help!
"That is one reason why I want to adopt Sharon," Darlanis said, holding
my hand, there being a pleading note in her beauti- ful voice that surprising
me. Those beautiful eyes moist with emotion as they looked into mine. I knew I
could never say no to such a request knowing that Darlanis could do for
Sharon. Yet, I feared that Sharon might grow away from me with time, a fear
that made me hesitate to say yes, for Sharon was all I had left now.* * My [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]