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.Oh, well he finger-combed his hair into place and dressed as quickly as hecould, taking extra pains to make sure that his boots were laced tightly, andhis trousers bloused properly, then slipped hisswords into place.He continued down the path, with only the clothes on his body and the swordsin his sash.He left everything else behind particularly his stick.He couldretrieve it on his way back.Cully would not hobble his way into Her presence.The path twisted up the side of the hill, and then down, into a deep valleyfull of stones.A long table that would have done justice to the finest home Cully had everseen stood on the stones, with two places set at one end.She stood at the head of the table, waiting.Her black hair should haveglistened in the bright sunlight, but it there was no gloss to it, and it fellabout her shoulders like a shadow.Her skin, too white and pale, should havebeen burning beneath the light of the noonday sun, but if it bothered her atall, there was no sign of it on her perfect face.Her lips, red as fresh blood, parted in a smile, revealing the too-even,too-white teeth behind them.She was in person, as She always was in his memory, inhumanly perfect."Hello, Cully," she said.Her voice was as it always had been, as it had tobe: half an octave lower than he had expected, sweet as honey, bracing as acold stream, and as always he didn't know what he wanted to do, although hewanted to do something almost more than he could stand.So he just stood there."My Lady," he finally said."It's been a long time.""Yes, it has.Too long.It would have been a few minutes less long if youhadn't dawdled so," She said, with just a touch of petulance.He shook his head.There was much he was sorry for, but he had no apology forthat."I couldn't appear before You in dirty, tattered clothes, could I?""Of course you could if you thought what I needed was your strong arm and yoursword."He nodded, conceding the point.He would have, and not thought twice about it."But that is not the case.""No, not at the moment.I could summon some ravening beast from the Arroy, ifyou'd like.It could attack me, and you could slay it, and I'd be glad of theeffort, if that would make you feel better about your uncombed hair.""I don't see the need, not at the moment.""Very well.Will you sit?" She gestured toward the chair next to Hers."I'vebeen waiting for you.Ithink you'll find the food to your liking.""No." He shook his head again."I don't think so.I'll willingly kneel beforeYou, if You wish, but Idon't think I can sit and break bread with You."She nodded."As I'd expected." She cleared Her throat."How was the funeral?"He didn't know what to say, so he didn't say anything." 'Art thou greatly wroth?' " She asked."Yes," he said."Greatly wroth." He nodded."Among other things."She smiled sadly."And the other things would be.?" She was suddenlybefore him, close enough to touch, if he dared.His right hand, as though ofits own volition, reached out to cup Her cheek, but he held it back, less thanan inch from that all-too-perfect skin.She started to take his hand in Hers,but stopped."I can't touch you if you won't let Me, Cully."Page 273 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"And I can't let You, Lady." He shook his head."It's temptation enough to behere.More than enough." His jaw hurt, and he forced himself to unclench it."But I had to.""Yes, you did." She nodded."All of the boys love Me; it's part of what I am,and what all of you are.Most of them let Me go, one way or another.But you,Cully.you can't let go of Me any more than I can release you, Cully.Ofall of them and there have been several, over the centuries you've been.different.Special?""I'm.touched," he said, trying to sound sarcastic, and failing.He wasbeing silly.Of course, Sheknew that.She knew everything there was to know about him.That was the wayof it, and he couldn't have changed that if he wanted to."You love them more than you love Me?" She asked.He shook his head."It's more complicated than that." He shrugged."Everythingis always more complicated than everything else.It's one of life's greatcontradictions.You.You don't need me, Lady.My lambs do."She looked at him.If she spoke the truth, that the way he served his lambswas ever and always by leading them to the slaughter, he didn't know what hewould do.There was no sin in speaking the truth, and he certainly deserved tohear it, but he didn't think he could bear to hear it from Her lips."Oh, Cully, my Cully." She sighed."And if your choice is them or Me?" sheasked.He could feel the warmth of her cheek, even though he didn't trust himself totouch it."That decision has long since been made, My Lady," he said.She tilted her head to one side, and he had to move his hand lest he touchher."I was hoping that you would reconsider," She said."Reconsider?" He laughed.It sounded every bit as forced as it felt."Ireconsider every day.There was a time that I reconsidered every minute.Thenevery hour.Perhaps in another ten years, it'll be every month."She smiled."But you'll not change your mind?""Of course not.""It wasn't a serious question.I know you too well.""We have different loyalties, My Lady.Yours are to Your family ""And yours aren't? He's a good boy, this Mordred; he wears his crown withhonor and dignity and wisdom and more than a little courage.His sons willwear the crown even better, if they're permitted."Sons?Not son? Was she speaking metaphorically, or was She seeing something aboutthe princes?He would have asked, but she wouldn't have answered."He's more than that, myLady.I.admire myKing.But
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Tematy
IndexJoel Fleishman The Foundation, A Great American Secret; How Private Wealth is Changing the World (2009)
Joel Shepherd Próba krwi i stali 01 Sasha
Rosenberg Nancy Taylor Sprawiedliwosc Sullivan (2)
Comprehensive Karate Michael Rosenbaum
Rose Joel Kruk
Joel Rosenberg Ties of Blood and Silver
Mleczin Leon
Markowski Henryk Tak Blisko (Rozwój Duchowy)
Rogers Rosemary DzikoÂść serca
Pasikowska Anna Pałac z lusterkami