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.No doubt he would do better to wait until the effects of the Mindsword wore off, or at least moderated to some extent, as he thought they were bound to do.But with Kristin before him, hanging on his every word, her every expression one of perfect trust and contentment to be with him, he was compelled to keep trying to explain."Kristin, what I wanted to do was.ever since we met for the first time, I have hoped someday to win your love."The Princess glowed."Do you mean it?" she whispered softly."Yes, of course I mean it.Now I can—I must—openly acknowledge that was my secret purpose in coming here.But—I never wanted it to happen like this! I do not want you as a slave."The lovely woman drew back.To Murat's astonishment it was almost as if he had slapped her face.She said in a much different voice: "You may call it slavery or not, as you choose.I only know that all the love I have to give is yours.I am sorry if there is something in the situation that does not please you."He leaned forward, forgetting his injured leg, provoking a sharp twinge of pain."Don't weep! Ibeg of you do not weep!"Moved by the sincerity in her lover's tone and manner, the beautiful young woman ceased to cry.Tentatively she essayed a smile.But Murat, shaking his head, could not force a smile in return.He could only mutter once again:file:///F|/rah/Fred%20Saberhagen/Saberhagen,%2.Lost%20Swords%206%20-%20Minds words%20Story.txt (37 of 115) [2/4/03 9:54:51 PM]file:///F|/rah/Fred%20Saberhagen/Saberhagen,%20Fred%20-%20Lost%20Swords%206%20-%20Mindswords%20Story.txt"I did not want it to be like this."Kristin's smile lingered."But this is the way I am, my lord, and this is how things are.Irejoice to hear that you have wanted me for a long time, and I am overjoyed that you want me still; only the thought that one day you might cease to want me brings utter desolation."Murat opened his mouth and closed it again, remembering how some of his first converts had been ready to kill themselves at the mere suggestion that he was leaving them.He was not going to suggest anything of the kind to this beloved woman.Nor was he going to take advantage of her in her present enchanted condition.Presently a call from a lookout informed the camp that Carlo and his scouting party were returning.Getting to his feet with an effort, his weight on his left leg, Murat waited for his son's report.It was brief and to the point.The reconnaissance patrol had discovered no signs of freshTasavaltan activity.Page 41ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlAs if the sight of Carlo had reminded her of something, Kristin began to look around, her gaze sweeping the distant hills and meadows."What is it, Kristin?""My son Stephen was somewhere around.""Was he—within a hundred meters, when we met?""A hundred meters?" Kristin did not appear to grasp the significance of the distance."No, I don't think so.He may have ridden back to our summer house, before—before you and I met."The Crown Prince sat down again, with a grunt of relief."I remember Stephen.He'll be a year older since I saw him—a likely lad, well able to take care of himself, I'd say." But Murat called his own son to him again, and shortly a cavalry patrol was scouring the area for the boy, with orders to bring Stephen to his mother if that could be accomplished without using force.While the search was in progress, Murat gave orders to set up camp where they were, and maintain a perimeter patrol, to give warning of anyone approaching.Murat's leg needed rest; even more desperately, he decided, he needed time to think.Where was he to take the Princess now, where to lead his augmented force of fanatical followers? He asked her who else was at the summer lodge, and found there was only a minimum staff.He also learned from Kristin that she and her party were not expected back there until late in the afternoon, and no one at the lodge would be really concerned about them until nightfall.Probably not until tomorrow would there be any thought of sending out a search party.Hours passed, and the patrol dispatched to search for Stephen did not return.Again Kristin expressed some vague concern about her son—"He'll think something terrible has happened to me"—but everyone assured her that there was really no reason to be worried about the lad
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