You'll find it the same.You'll find it the same." "I do not trust you." She bit slightly at her lower lip. "Dammit, Anni, I'm seven hundred years old. I've had plenty of time to learn a martial art or two. Do you think if I really wanted to kill you there's anything to stop me?" She looked at me, emotions warring on her face for supremacy. Finally she walked towards me and put her hand on my cheek, right where she had slugged me just minutes ago. "It feels the same." I smiled, my jaw aching only slightly. "I can prove it. If you are willing to trust me." "How can I? I am still angry that you did not tell me the truth." "What would the point be? From your point of view, either was a lie. That was me on llerki that day, talking to your mother. I remember you telling me about Maerts. I remember you slipping the note into my pocket. Tell me, was that a common style, or did Aaraon arrange for that?" She smiled slightly and said, "I asked Aaraon for your dimensions and had the clothes delivered to the embassy." "My dimensions. They fit me well enough, didn't they?" She thought about that for a second. "Very well, I will accompany you." "Alone." "No." "Anni, I put myself into your hands by coming here. Trust me in return." I paused for a second. "Please?" That bite of the lip came back, and finally she said, "Shardik, there is one difference between us. If I were to kill you, I would die as well in the ensuing war. If you were to kill me, all llerkin would have to show for it is another humiliating defeat by the Pendor Fleet and the loss of a Princess. There is something riling in the knowledge that nothing but a peculiar concept of peace keeps Pendor from making a servant of llerkin. |