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.When she reached a set of oak doors, Millie ushered them inside."Please wait here while I alert the lady to your presence.""I'll do no such thing," Catrin said, her hands on her hips."You've dragged me here against mywill, and I'll either see the lady now or be on my way."Morif crossed his arms over his chest as if to bar her path, but Catrin pushed him out of her way.He glanced at Millie, obviously looking for direction, and she sighed."Very well," she said."Suit yourself.""I believe I'll do just that," Catrin replied with venom.Millie jogged ahead, but Catrin refused to be rushed.She let Millie gain distance on them as shestrode with feigned confidence through the hallowed halls of her ancestral home.She felt no morecomfortable, but she refused to let her insecurity show.Morif followed them with a scowl, but shepretended he wasn't there.Instead, she acted as if she were the one who ruled this house.Benjin walked beside her and matched her step.He didn't appear happy about her outbursts, buthe supported her nonetheless.They were in this together for right or wrong, and she appreciated his notchastising her when it was obvious he didn't approve. A pair of young men in rose-embroidered livery flanked doors no smaller than those at the mainentrance.Millie rushed toward them.The men did not stall her, and she scurried inside.When Catrin andBenjin arrived, however, they barred the way.Catrin didn't attempt to force her way past them andinstead stood in as regal a manner as she could muster.She listened intently but could hear only muffledconversation at first."What?" came a louder voice from inside."Here? Now? Why did you not leave them in anaudience room?" This was followed by more low conversation.The two young men exchanged puzzledglances but remained at attention."Insisted, did she? Well, bring the whelp in.Let us see what she has tosay for herself." Catrin heard the disdain in the lady's voice, and her mood worsened.Millie was pale and shaken when she reappeared, and she motioned for them to enter.Catrinwaited a moment, just for the sake of being contrary, and the two young men wore their shock on theirfaces."Let's not start things off badly, li'l miss.We've been summoned," Benjin said, urging her inside."I'll enter when I'm good and ready," Catrin said, and a tense silence hung over the hall.After avery long moment, she strode into the room as if it were her own, and Benjin followed closely."So, Benjin Hawk, you darken my doorway once again, after all these years.What do you planto steal this time?" asked the elderly woman who waited inside.She was petite and her skin hung on herlike an overlarge garment, but her eyes bored holes into whatever met her stare."Lady Mangst," Benjin said with a slight bow, but he said no more, as if he had not heard herquestion."And who is this waif at your side? Someone posing as my granddaughter?""Catrin Volker, Lady.Daughter of Wendel Volker and Elsa Mangst," he replied in a polite toneeven as Catrin's anger flamed higher."Do not speak that foul name in my presence.That man stole my daughter, and his get is notworthy of my name.""If you wish to address my Guardian, you will do so with respect.And with regards to my father,you are not fit to speak his name, for you would only foul it with your forked tongue," Catrin said as shestepped between Benjin and her grandmother.All the color drained from Millie's face, and she eased into the shadows, but the Lady Mangstdrew herself up, and a fire to rival Catrin's burned in her eyes."Respect is earned, not given.""Every creature deserves a basic amount of respect.Unless, of course, you consider yourselfbetter than everyone else," Catrin replied."Insolent child.""Self-righteous wench," Catrin parried, and the air between them was charged with hostility."Now, ladies, surely we can be civil," Benjin interjected, and both women wheeled on him."Stay out of this," they said in unison."At least you two can agree on something," he mumbled as he took a step back."So what brings you here, sweetling?" the Lady Mangst asked."Your serving woman dragged me here on the threat of my life.I had no desire to come here.Infact, I believe I'll be leaving now," Catrin said as she turned to leave, but she was shocked to hear a slapecho through the room.She turned to see Millie with tears in her eyes, holding a hand to her face, and theLady Mangst turned from Millie to face Catrin once again."You expect me to believe that you were not bound here anyway? Where else would you beheaded?""Adderhold," Catrin replied.The Lady Mangst spit on the floor."What would you want in that house of vipers and vermin, toworship idols perhaps?""I don't see where that is any of your business.""I'm your grandmother.""You certainly don't act like it," Catrin said, and she realized this argument would get them nowhere, but she refused to back down, refused to show weakness in the face of one so pious.And shewas surprised to see her antagonist reappraise her [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.When she reached a set of oak doors, Millie ushered them inside."Please wait here while I alert the lady to your presence.""I'll do no such thing," Catrin said, her hands on her hips."You've dragged me here against mywill, and I'll either see the lady now or be on my way."Morif crossed his arms over his chest as if to bar her path, but Catrin pushed him out of her way.He glanced at Millie, obviously looking for direction, and she sighed."Very well," she said."Suit yourself.""I believe I'll do just that," Catrin replied with venom.Millie jogged ahead, but Catrin refused to be rushed.She let Millie gain distance on them as shestrode with feigned confidence through the hallowed halls of her ancestral home.She felt no morecomfortable, but she refused to let her insecurity show.Morif followed them with a scowl, but shepretended he wasn't there.Instead, she acted as if she were the one who ruled this house.Benjin walked beside her and matched her step.He didn't appear happy about her outbursts, buthe supported her nonetheless.They were in this together for right or wrong, and she appreciated his notchastising her when it was obvious he didn't approve. A pair of young men in rose-embroidered livery flanked doors no smaller than those at the mainentrance.Millie rushed toward them.The men did not stall her, and she scurried inside.When Catrin andBenjin arrived, however, they barred the way.Catrin didn't attempt to force her way past them andinstead stood in as regal a manner as she could muster.She listened intently but could hear only muffledconversation at first."What?" came a louder voice from inside."Here? Now? Why did you not leave them in anaudience room?" This was followed by more low conversation.The two young men exchanged puzzledglances but remained at attention."Insisted, did she? Well, bring the whelp in.Let us see what she has tosay for herself." Catrin heard the disdain in the lady's voice, and her mood worsened.Millie was pale and shaken when she reappeared, and she motioned for them to enter.Catrinwaited a moment, just for the sake of being contrary, and the two young men wore their shock on theirfaces."Let's not start things off badly, li'l miss.We've been summoned," Benjin said, urging her inside."I'll enter when I'm good and ready," Catrin said, and a tense silence hung over the hall.After avery long moment, she strode into the room as if it were her own, and Benjin followed closely."So, Benjin Hawk, you darken my doorway once again, after all these years.What do you planto steal this time?" asked the elderly woman who waited inside.She was petite and her skin hung on herlike an overlarge garment, but her eyes bored holes into whatever met her stare."Lady Mangst," Benjin said with a slight bow, but he said no more, as if he had not heard herquestion."And who is this waif at your side? Someone posing as my granddaughter?""Catrin Volker, Lady.Daughter of Wendel Volker and Elsa Mangst," he replied in a polite toneeven as Catrin's anger flamed higher."Do not speak that foul name in my presence.That man stole my daughter, and his get is notworthy of my name.""If you wish to address my Guardian, you will do so with respect.And with regards to my father,you are not fit to speak his name, for you would only foul it with your forked tongue," Catrin said as shestepped between Benjin and her grandmother.All the color drained from Millie's face, and she eased into the shadows, but the Lady Mangstdrew herself up, and a fire to rival Catrin's burned in her eyes."Respect is earned, not given.""Every creature deserves a basic amount of respect.Unless, of course, you consider yourselfbetter than everyone else," Catrin replied."Insolent child.""Self-righteous wench," Catrin parried, and the air between them was charged with hostility."Now, ladies, surely we can be civil," Benjin interjected, and both women wheeled on him."Stay out of this," they said in unison."At least you two can agree on something," he mumbled as he took a step back."So what brings you here, sweetling?" the Lady Mangst asked."Your serving woman dragged me here on the threat of my life.I had no desire to come here.Infact, I believe I'll be leaving now," Catrin said as she turned to leave, but she was shocked to hear a slapecho through the room.She turned to see Millie with tears in her eyes, holding a hand to her face, and theLady Mangst turned from Millie to face Catrin once again."You expect me to believe that you were not bound here anyway? Where else would you beheaded?""Adderhold," Catrin replied.The Lady Mangst spit on the floor."What would you want in that house of vipers and vermin, toworship idols perhaps?""I don't see where that is any of your business.""I'm your grandmother.""You certainly don't act like it," Catrin said, and she realized this argument would get them nowhere, but she refused to back down, refused to show weakness in the face of one so pious.And shewas surprised to see her antagonist reappraise her [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]