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.Youknow the Templars are a fierce lot and are particularly wary of women"Because they can't have any," Duncan interrupted."They seek any reason to mistrustwomen in their effort to keep lustful thoughts at bay.A vow of celibacy is not naturalfor men; it makes them cold, irritable bastards.I, on the other hand, am always relaxed,even-tempered, and amiable." He flashed a pleasant smile at them both, as if to provethe validity of his theory.Despite his problems, Circenn's mouth quirked.Duncan had a tendency to behaveoutrageously, and the more irreverent he was, the more irritated Galan became.Galannever seemed to realize that his younger brother did it on purpose, and the entire timeDuncan was acting like an irresponsible youth, his astute Douglas mind wasn't missinga thing going on around him."Lack of discipline does not a warrior make, little brother," Galan said stiffly."You areone extreme and the Templars are the other.""Wenching does not diminish my battle prowess one whit and you know it," Duncansaid, sitting up straighter in his chair, his eyes sparkling in anticipation of the argumentto come."Enough," Circenn interrupted."We were discussing my oath and the fact that I amforsworn to kill an innocent woman.""You doona know she is innocent," Galan protested."I doona know she is not" Circenn said."Until I have some indication of guilt orinnocence, I " He broke off and sighed heavily.He found it nearly impossible to saythe next words."You what?" Duncan asked, watching him with fascination.When Circenn didn't reply,he pushed, "Will you refuse to kill her? Will you break a forsworn oath?" Duncan'sincredulity was etched all over his handsome face."I didn't say that," Circenn snapped."You didn't not say it," Galan said warily."I would appreciate it if you would clarifyyour intentions.Do you plan to kill her or not?"Circenn rubbed his jaw again.He cleared his throat, trying to form the words hisconscience demanded he say, but the warrior in him resisted.Duncan's eyes narrowed as he regarded Circenn thoughtfully.After a moment, heglanced at his brother."We know what Adam is like, Galan.His way has oft been swift, unnecessary destruction, and enough blameless lives have been taken in the quest tosecure the throne.I propose Circenn take the time to discover who the woman is andwhence she comes prior to passing sentence.I cannot speak for you, Galan, but I doonawish the blood of another innocent on my hands, and if we urge him to kill her, the deedbecomes ours as well.Besides, recall that although Circenn swore to kill the bearer ofthe flask, nothing in his oath addressed timeliness.He might wait twenty years to killher without breaking his oath."Circenn glanced up at Duncan's last words, surprised.He hadn't considered thatpossibility.In truth, his oath had not contained one word specifying how swiftly hemust kill the bearer of the flask hence it was neither amoral nor a violation of his oathto refrain for a short time in order to study the person.One might even argue that it waswise, he decided.You split hairs with a battle-ax.Adam's words, from six years ago,surfaced in Circenn's mind to mock him."But you had best be aware," Galan warned, "that if you doona kill her, and should anyof the Templars discover who she is and the nature of the oath you swore, the knightswill lose faith in your ability to lead.They will see a vow broken as an unforgivableweakness.The only reason they agreed to fight for our country is because of you.Sometimes I think they would follow you into hell.You know they are fanatic in theirbeliefs.To them, there is no justification for breaking an oath.Ever.""Then we will not tell them who she is or what I swore, will we?" Circenn said softly,knowing the brothers would support his decision whether they agreed with it or not.TheDouglases always stood behind the laird and thane of Brodie an ancient blood oathhad united the two clans long ago.The brothers studied him, then nodded."It will remain between us until you reach yourdecision."* * *Breathing deeply of the crisp, cool air, Circenn paced the courtyard while the womanwaited in his chambers for mercy that was not his to grant.He struggled to hardenhimself against her.He had lived so long by the rules that he almost hadn't heard hisconscience clamor when he'd raised his sword to her neck.While his warrior's traininghad insisted he honor the vow, a thing he had thought dead in him had undermined hisresolution.Compassion.Sympathy.And an insidious little voice that had softly, but relentlessly,questioned the sagacity of his rules.He had recognized that voice; it was doubt a thinghe hadn't suffered for an eternity
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Tematy
IndexLumley.Brian. .[Psychomech.03]. .Psychoamok
Jeffries Sabrina Lord 03 Niebezpieczny lord
Coulter Catherine Gwiazda 03 Gwiazda z nefrytu
Łajkowska Anna Wrzosowisko 03 Cienie na wrzosowisku
Coulter Catherine Baron 03 Szalony baron
Fiora 03 Fiora i papież Benzoni Juliette
Marlowe Mia Dotyk 03 Dotyk oszustaS303
Brent Madeleine Angielska niewolnica
Wyspy szaleństwa Graves Robert
Ryan William Aleksiej Korolew 01 ÂŚwiętokradcy