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the nearby sea, roamed over every inch of Blade's body. They missed nothing,
those eyes, and their stare gave Blade an uneasy feeling.
She forced Blade to speak first. He smiled, using his charm consciously, if a
great naked brute could be said to possess charm, and said: "Do not be afraid,
Princess Zeena. I am not going to harm you. I had need of your horse, but the
poor beast is dead. And I have even more need of you. But you will not be
harmed and as soon as I can I will let you go."
The violet eyes probed his. "Who are you? How are you called? And how do you
dare lay a hand on a Princess of Sarma?"
Blade made a little bow, contriving for the moment to cover his genitals with
his hands. "I am called
Blade. Richard Blade. I am not in Sarma of my own will but that I will explain
later. I dare hold you prisoner because I must. That also I will explain when
there is time. Now we must leave this place."
She flashed small white teeth at him. "How came you by my name?"
Blade indicated Pelops. "This little man. He claims he is a teacher he even
claims that he taught you as a child. This is true?"
The violet eyes slanted at Pelops. Her laugh was cruel. "He speaks true. I
remember him now. Of all my tutors he could talk the longest and say the
least. Until now I had only that against him." Her eyes narrowed. "But now he
shall share your fate when I am set free."
Pelops cringed, made the T sign, and dabbed at tears in his eyes.
Blade laughed harshly. "We will see about that, Princess. In the meantime you
will be our guest for a little while."
He bent over her. One lovely taut breast was still showing. Blade lifted it
back into the breastplate and secured the strap. She spat in his face. He
cuffed her lightly with the back of his hand. Pelops moaned aloud.
The girl lay quietly, staring up at Blade with wonderment and disbelief in her
violet eyes. It was, he knew, the first time she had been struck. It had been
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no blow at all, merely a token warning, yet the effect was as if he had
bashed her solidly. Their glances locked and held and Blade thought
he recognized another element, a spark, a bare beginning and recognition of
something other than hate or anger or resentment. He had seen that look in
women's eyes before now. He would exploit it if he could.
Blade, unspeaking, picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. She was
silent. He nodded brusquely at Pelops. "Back into the marsh, little one. You
lead. Stay under cover and get us into those hills yonder as soon as
possible." Blade nodded toward the sere mountains on the horizon. "And use
those scholar's brains of yours we must have clothes and food and weapons.
Consider it an equation and let me know when you have the answer."
Pelops stopped trembling long enough to point at the dead horse. "They will
find that. And our tracks lead into the marsh. They will be after us."
Blade, adjusting the bound girl on his shoulder, cradled his chin in a great
fist. "You are right. But
how soon? When does that slave patrol come back to the fort?"
"Tomorrow, sire. Unless the the Princess is missed sooner."
Blade grinned, "We will take that chance, then. Forward, little teacher."
For hours they toiled through the swamp. Insects pestered them and small
animals scuttled away at their approach and several times they saw snakes. The
brown hills appeared to draw away as they approached. The smell of the Purple
Sea vanished, the stink of brackish water replaced it, and it began to grow
dark.
As the light faded they came to a spreading lake of black water in which thorn
trees grew closer together. At this malign and forbidding sight, Blade
called a halt. They would have to wade the lake Pelops said this was
possible and Blade did not want to chance it at night. He found a fairly dry
spot where two giant rocks arched together to form a partial cave, and dropped
the Princess without ceremony. With intent. That which he had glimpsed in her
eyes was still there and Blade meant to use it.
For what advantage he could. A tenuous advantage, to be sure, and not to be
trusted, but for the moment it was much better than nothing.
The Princess Zeena said, "I am bound too tightly. I hurt. Will you loose me,
Blade?"
The big man smiled. "Can I trust you, Princess? You will not try to run away?"
The violet eyes met his gravely. "I will not run away. You have my word for
it. Where could I run?
We have come far and I am as lost as you may be."
He had intended to free her anyway. Free her and watch her closely to see what
she would do. His plan, after all, depended on her attitude. He could have
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