Author: Julia Golding
Quotes of Author: Julia Golding
He looked for his tankard, then remembered he'd thrown it away. "Marl! Bring me more beer!"
The serving man appeared in the doorway, fumbling with his apron.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness, but His Majesty says you're to be sober for this evening. He asks your lordships to take the Prince to the royal baths and scrub some sense into him."
Yendral stood up. "Consider it done. Come on, let's get this pitiful prince of ours fit for his princess."
"Roll me in the mud. That's what Her Highness is used to," shouted Ramil as they dragged him down the corridor."To market, my sweet, to buy us a pig,home to our farm to make it grow big," he warbled.
"Can't you shut him up, Yendral?" implored Usk. "What if the Crescent people hear him?"
Lord Yendral took out a handkerchief and stuffed it in the royal mouth. book-quoteTashi, look at me.""I am.""But I can't see you through that veil.""Then you'll just have to trust me."Ramil smiled. "I wanted to give you the flower just as a boy would give a girl a present--not because you are a princess, or an ally, or for any of those reasons. It came with no conditions, no schemes, except perhaps the hope that you might like me just a little better.""Then I accept it and thank you." Tashi felt a burst of happiness. She'd got it al wrong: he did like her."So what's next?" asked Ramil, feeling very pleased with himself."How do you mean?""What should a boy do now?""On the Islands, you'd write a poem in praise of my eyebrow," Tashi said teasingly. "Around here, you'd kiss me." She spurred her pony forward, leaving him wondering. book-quoteI take it, Professor, this is not only a social visit?" he asked, his voice almost normal."No, of course not. I've come to ask why on earth you haven't called on me before now?"Ramil took a step back. "Er . . . well, we've been a bit busy, Professor.""I can see that for myself. I had a terrible job getting here: they've ringed you off with troops five men deep. I had to crawl through the tunnels and some of them are in a disgusting state." Norling sniffed his robe with a doubtful look."But why you did not think to ask the resistance for aid is beyond me. We can be immensely helpful to you."Ramil struck his forehead with the palm of his hand. "Stupid! I should have been drowned at birth," he muttered."Oh, I wouldn't go that far," said Norling generously. "I don't think it's too late. In fact, I'd say that you've managed very well without me. book-quoteRam, can't you see it doesn't matter anymore what I do, but you, you're still needed at home. You go. If my people are still there, tell them the truth. Let them rejoice that Fergox took me away before I could do any more damage to my country.""No, I refuse that mission, Princess. See, you are still ordering me around like a ruler--it's in you, it's what you are meant to be, no matter what others are telling you. I've given my word that I'll only escape with you by my side. So forget about yourself for a moment: if you care anything about me, about the fate of my country and yours, you are coming with me or I don't go.""But, Ram--""You've got my little horse still?"She nodded."I believe that in the Islands it is understood that when you accepted it, you took responsibility for my soul. I'm holding you to that, Tashi. book-quote
