Maia полностью

"An old-medicine-man?" asked Maia, staring. "Euda, what's his name, do you know?"

"Yes, I did hear it-wait a minute-yes; Nasada, that's it. Someone said that the Subans-why, what's the matter, Maia? Do you know him, or something?"

"Yes. Yes, I do!" She collected herself. "Well, it's only just that when I was there I was taken bad, sort of, and he put me right, that's all."

"Well, it's a small world, isn't it?" said Eud-Ecachlon. "Did you like him? Is he really anything out of the ordinary or not?"

"If he's coming to Bekla I wouldn't-oh, no, I wouldn't want to miss the chance of meeting him again. Yes, I liked him very much."

"Well, that won't be difficult," replied Eud-Ecachlon. "Our betrothal will have been announced, so of course you'll be able to meet any of the provincial governors and delegates you wish. In fact, I'm sure they'll all be very anxious to meet you. We ought to give a banquet, really. I'll mention it to Kembri-"

"Just a moment. Ogma, would you leave us, please, and shut the door behind you? What did you say, my lord?"

"I said I'd mention it to Kembri-"

"No, before that."

"I said our betrothal will have been announced-"

"I'm afraid not, my lord. You never asked me for my answer, did you? I'm sorry if you took it for granted. I very much appreciate the honor you've done me, but I'm afraid my answer is no."

He stared at her incredulously, looking completely nonplussed. "What, Maia?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't feel able to accept your offer, my lord."

"You mean-you mean you're seriously rejecting the prospect-the certainty, that is-of becoming High Baroness of Urtah?"

"I'd really rather not discuss it or argue about it, my lord, if you don't mind. And I hope you won't ask me for reasons. I've thought about it very carefully and I don't feel able to become your wife."

"Maia-I'd like to say 'dear Maia'-you're very beautiful; and everyone knows that you're very brave, too. But you're also very young and-I hope you won't mind my

saying this-not at all experienced. Have you talked this over with anyone and taken advice?"

"Forgive me, my lord; I don't have to answer that."

"No, you don't have to: but I'm sure any sensible friend and well-wisher would tell you that you'd be going very much against your own best interests to refuse an offer- a future-like this."

"Then I'm going against my own best interests, my lord. Don't let your pork get cold. Be a shame to waste it."

"Maia, believe me, if you insist on this you'll be wasting a lot more. I don't want to frighten you, but it could prove a fatal mistake.",

"Fear would be a very bad reason for marriage, my lord."

– "Oh, Maia, I didn't mean that! But you're so young and you see everything-well, so black and white. This marriage would be much the best thing for you-and for me, too. You realize, don't you, that if you were an ordinary girl living in Bekla with her parents, they could tell you whom you were to marry and you'd be obliged to obey them?"

"Maybe, my lord; but as things are that doesn't happen to be the case."

"Kembri might order you to marry, though."

She paused a few moments, looking straight back at him. "If you was to take me that way, my lord, I'm afraid I wouldn't reckon such a great lot to it; or to you, either."

He was silent, toying with his pair of knives, first one and then the other. She got up and herself served him cheese and fruit, then went out to the kitchen and brought back the tray of little sweet dishes with which a Beklan dinner customarily ended. As she came in and closed the door he said, "Maia, I must ask you this seriously. Is your real reason that you intend to become Sacred Queen? Because if it is-"

She answered him instantly and firmly. "No, my lord, it's not."

"But if you're still living here now, in this same way, at the end of this year, there's not the slightest doubt that the people will acclaim you, whether you wish it or otherwise. Have you thought of that?"

"My lord, you keep telling me I'm very young; and I haven't given you the back-answer as I could have. But yes, I have thought of it, and I'm afraid you must leave

me to order my own affairs. I can only tell you again that I'm not planning to become Sacred Queen."

"Then what is your idea of the future? Maia, I'm only thinking of your safety and welfare, believe me."

The succession of grave, insensitive questions from a man old enough to be her father, whom she could hardly tell to go to hell, was beginning to have its effect. She clenched her hands and her voice rose.

"I've told you, my lord, as I don't want to talk about it n'morel Please let's stop now!"