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stay in the saddle with only one foot in the stirrup. And that meant that there would be three extra horses for the remaining men to lead uphill and down. But there were no complaints; all were too fearful that the bridge would not hold to say a word. |
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One of the menin fact, it was he who had not wished to repeat to Sybelle what he had saidvolunteered to lead his horse across first. The bridge held. Then Sybelle said she would go. Walter opened his mouth to protest, but she shook her head. |
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"It is the safest time," she said steadily, "before many crossings have weakened it. My mare and I are both lighter than those who went first. And you must follow just after me, my lord. I will have your word upon it before I go. You are necessary to all our safety. God forbid any should fall, but if one must, it must not be you." |
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Walter smiled at her. "I love you," he said. "There can be no woman in the world your equal. Go, then. I will follow." |
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Sybelle crossed without difficulty, murmuring to her mare comfortingly as the beast was coaxed to put one fearful foot before the other. But after her came not Walter but the two men carrying in a litter the third who had broken his leg. They were all muttering under their breaths, but it was prayers this time, not blasphemies. Sybelle bit her lip. She had again forgotten Walter's cleverness. He had said he would follow, but not when. Sybelle understood. There were three men at risk, and all of them together weighed less than Walter and Beau. But after them, Walter started Beau over. |
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Midway, the stallion jibbed. The bridge groaned, and trickles of scree rolled down the slope. Sybelle closed her eyes and prayed. She beard Walter's voice, firm, easy, chiding Beau for foolishness. The bridge groaned again, and Sybelle heard pebbles skittering. The prayer went out of her head; in her terror she could not remember words she had said thousands and thousands of times. Then her chin was tipped up, and her lips were kissed, and she heard Walter laughing. |
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"You can open your eyes now, you goose. Why do women always close their eyes then they do not want something to happen?" |
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Later Sybelle remembered that although the men had been clustered close around her, she had not heard a normal breath in the entire time it took them all to cross the bridge over the |
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