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Page 304
or death would not alter his purposeexcept to make him put to death shamefully and cruelly ten or twenty or a hundred English knights to pay for my blood. Winchester must know this."
"I tell you, you know nothing about it," Simon raged. "You are ignorant of the ways of this court. In the future, simply obey me and do not cause me so much trouble."
"I will cause you none at all by my will," Rhiannon hissed, "for I will have no more to do with you than I can helpand that will be little indeed."
At that inopportune moment they arrived at the house. Simon was appalled by the icy rage which gave force to Rhiannon's words. He reached for the bridle of her mare, to lead it on so that he would have time to take back what he had said and calm her, but she slipped from the saddle and ran past the gate, through the courtyard, and into the house. Simon was after her in moments, but it was too late. By the time he caught up, she was standing in front of the screen that shielded their bed.
"You are not welcome here," she said softly but very coldly.
"Be reasonable," Simon protested, also softly. "There is no other place for me."
"Go find yourself another woman's bed. There are plenty open to you, I hear. So skilled as you are, they should be far less trouble to you than I am."
"You hear aright, and it would be less trouble," Simon grated, infuriated past good sense, "but I am constrained by my oath and I will not so lightly release you from yours."
Rhiannon's lips drew back from her teeth, but not in a smile. "You think yourself irresistible? You have much to learn about me, Simon. We will see whose hunger conquers." She stepped aside. "Stay or go as you please thenbut do not touch me."
She went about her business after that as if he were

 
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