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night, and bound him anew. He had never behaved that way before. |
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"Do you have pain, Simon?" she asked. |
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She leaned closer, first laying her hand on his forehead to feel for fever and then touching his throat to feel the pulse. There was no fever, but under her fingertips his pulse leapt madly. |
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"What is it?" she whispered. |
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Simon turned his face away and then back. "The Queen will do for you what she can," he said, "but do not think to play your tricks upon the King. Lord Richard is a courteous knight, but" |
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"But King first? I understand that." |
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Simon shook his head and turned away from her. "He is not fond of women," he brought out softly, but as if every word cost him pain. |
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All Alinor understood was that Simon was warning her against flirting with the King. She was puzzled both by the warning and by Simon's distress, but when she had pressed him for more information, he had turned away completely, hissing through closed teeth, "Leave me be. Do you as the King orders and all will be well." Alinor could only fear that Simon had been told something the Queen had concealed from her. |
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Nonetheless, it was hard to remember the doubts and fears when Lord Richard came into view. Alinor had found the Court finely dressed, but Richard's cavalcade was as the sun is to the moon, and the King himself was the most magnificent. His armor shone with gilding; his surcoat was crimson embroidered in gold and set with precious stones; even his horse's trappings were gilded and bejeweled. Yet the man himself outshone all. |
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He swung from his horse when they were close enough with the grace of a cat. Simon, dismounting |
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