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Page 104
"But Rhiannon," Simon said, brightening as he realized that all her objections seemed to center on the fact that he would not be steadfast, "if you wish to hold me, all you need to do is agree to marry me. Then I will be stuck fast, will I, nill I."
"Are you mad?" she cried, recoiling and pulling her hands free with a shudder. "Such a life is an abomination! Do you think I could endure to hold a man on such terms? Am I so poor a thing"
"Rhiannon, Rhiannon," Simon exclaimed, following her and repossessing her hands, I was only jesting. How could you think otherwise? You will need no bonds and no lures to keep me faithful. That you are Rhiannon is enough. My love, you have set a geas upon me that I will never break."
"No! I did not 'call' you! II do not think I did."
"Call me? What do you mean?"
For answer, Rhiannon took her hands from Simon gently and turned toward where his stallion still stood quietly lipping at the sparse grass. "Ymlladd," she called in a peculiar soft, singing tone, "Come, Ymlladd. Come. Come. Come to me."
The animal raised his head and snorted softly. Simon tensed, preparing to jump in front of Rhiannon if the warhorse decided she was a threat and charged.
Come, Ymlladd, she called again, her voice hypnotic with its singing croon.
And the horse came! Simon held his breath as the stallion dropped his head to nuzzle Rhiannon's hand and butted gently against her to demand attention when the hand with which she stroked him paused. Simon blinked and blinked again. Was this Ymlladd, who for years tried to savage the grooms who had tended him? True, Ymlladd never tried to kill Simon himself and would accept tokens of affection from him with grave dignitybut the stallion was acting like a colt!

 
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