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her daughter asked forbut the body/soul dichotomy in humankind had been discussed thoroughly in other than sexual aspects. Suddenly Rhiannon began to laugh. The big cat rose, stretched himself, leapt down to the floor, and stalked away. |
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"Math knows," Rhiannon said, looking fondly at the tiger-striped animal she had named for the high king of ancient Wales. "He senses that I do not need comfort any longer. I think you are right, Mother. I think this heifer has been wandering the fields bawling for a bull. And all my bad temper has been owing to lying to myself about it." |
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"And so what will you do now that you have decided this?" Kicva asked. |
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"Go to my father and look around him for a bull, of course," Rhiannon said lightly. |
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Kicva smiled slowly and swung herself back to her loom. Her eyes clouded for a moment as she looked at her weaving. Then she nodded. "Yes," she said, "if that is what you want, do that." |
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She began to weave again without watching as her daughter got to her feet and walked away, presumably to begin examining her clothing to see what she had to take to court with her. Kicva would not argue with a decision Rhiannon had made, nor would she offer her any except the most general advice. In the past Rhiannon had always made the correct decision, but Kicva had never seen her daughter so much disturbed. Would the fear she recognized and admitted distort her reasoning and drive her into the arms of a man she did not want, just to avoid one she wanted too much? |
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The cloth in the loom might then never be used for the purpose Kicva had in mind when she began it. She had strung the loom the day after Simon brought Rhiannon to Angharad's Hall in the end of March. At first she had wondered whether she could finish the cloth in time; now she wondered whether she should |
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