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Page 268
women asked, her fear conquering her resentment of Alinor.
"Yes, quite often. It is very safe and pleasant, especially on a calm day, as it is now."
"But I have heard one dies of sickness."
Alinor shook her head. "No, one never dies of it." Her lips curved into a smile, "Although I remember one time when we were smitten by a sudden squall that I begged my vassal most earnestly to let me die. In fact, if I remember aright, I pleaded with him to throw me overboard so that it might come about more speedily." Alinor laughed affectionately at the memory. "It is nothing. A little discomfort. Besides many are not taken with the sickness, especially on a day like today."
Alinor had no sooner stopped speaking than her maid Gertrude broke away from the men-at-arms who were shepherding the servants aboard and flung herself at Alinor's feet, weeping and pleading to be sent home.
"Get up," Alinor said to her, "and go quietly or what will befall you will be worse than drowning."
Simon stiffened as he heard a whimper come from the group of women. Whatever good had been done by Alinor's speech was being undone by her servant. Hysteria was violently contagious. Before Simon could decide whether it would be worse to have the whole group screaming and throwing fits or to enrage Alinor by disciplining her servant, Alinor solved the problem herself. She threw back her cloak and launched a blow with the back of her hand that took Gertrude in the face. Alinor's ring tore the girl's cheek so that blood streamed from it, and the force of the blow knocked her flat.
"Pick her up," she said to one of the men-at-arms, "and cast her in, and not too gently. I have no time to whip her now, that will come later, but I desire that she be well bruised. I would bid you cast her in the sea, except that I have need of her." She raised her

 
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