She was
visibly pleased and excited. He looked doubtful for an instant, and then
apparently followed her suggestion, regardless of consequences.
"Would you be willing to utilize your knowledge as an engineer by
suggesting means to strengthen the fortress?" The others stared in fresh
amazement. Marlanx went as white as death.
"Never!" he blurted out hoarsely.
"I will do anything the princess commands me to do," said Baldos easily.
"You mean that you serve her only?"
"I serve her first, sir. If she were here she could command me to die,
and there would be an end to Baldos," and he smiled as he said it. The
real princess looked at him with a new, eager expression, as if
something had just become clear to her. There was a chorus of coughs and
a round of sly looks.
"She could hardly ask you to die," said Yetive, addressing him for the
first time.
"A princess is like April weather, madam," said Baldos, with rare humor,
and the laugh was general, Yetive resolved to talk privately with this
excellent wit before the hour was over. She was confident that he knew
her to be the princess.
"I would like to ask the fellow another question," said Marlanx,
fingering his sword-hilt nervously. "You say you serve the princess. Do
you mean by that that you imagine your duties as a soldier to comprise
dancing polite attendance within the security of these walls?"
"I believe I enlisted as a member of the castle guard, sir.
Pages:
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186