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accepted lore, fairy children, when nurtured upon human food and living in
human surroundings, gradually lost their haifling cast and were assimilated
into the realm of mortals. But sometimes other tales were heard, of
changelings who never crossed over, and remained odd wild beings: fickle, sly
and cantankerous. Casmir occasionally wondered which sort might be the
Princess Madouc. Indeed she differed from other maidens of the court, and at
times displayed traits which caused him perplexity and uneasiness.
At this time Madouc still knew nothing of her true parentage. She believed
herself the daughter of
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Suldrun: so she had been assured; why should it be otherwise? Even so, there
were discordant elements in the accounts presented by Queen Sollace and the
ladies appointed to train her in court etiquette. These were Lady Desdea and
Lady Marmone. Madouc disliked and distrusted both; each thought to change her
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
in one way or an other, despite Madouc s resolve to remain as she was.
Madouc was now about nine years old, restless and active, long of leg, with a
boy s thin body and a girl s clever pretty face. Sometimes she confined her
mop of copper-gold curls with a black ribbon; as often as she allowed it to
tumble helter-skelter across her forehead and over her ears.
Her eyes were a melting sky-blue, her mouth was wide, and jerked, twisted or
drooped to the flux of her feelings. Madouc was considered unruly and willful;
the words  fantastical ,  perverse ,  incorrigible , were sometimes used to
describe her temperament.
When Casmir first discovered the facts of Madouc s birth, his immediate
reaction was shock, then incredulity, then fury so extreme that it might have
gone badly for Madouc had her neck been within reach of Casmir s hands. When
he became calm, he saw that he had no choice but to put a good face on the
situation; in not too many years Madouc no doubt could be married
advantageously.
Casmir departed the Room of Sighs and returned toward his private chambers.
The route led him across the back elevation of the King s Tower, where the
corridor became a cloistered way overlooking the service yard from a height of
twelve feet or so.
Arriving at the portal which gave on the cloisters, Casmir stopped short at
the sight of Madouc.
She stood in one of the arched openings, poised on tiptoe so that she could
peer over the balustrade down into the service yard.
Casmir paused to watch, frowning in that mixture of suspicion and displeasure
which Madouc and her activities often aroused in him. He now took note that on
the balustrade beside Madouc s elbow rested a bowl of rotten quinces, one of
which she held delicately in her hand.
As Casmir watched she drew back her arm and threw the quince at a target in
the yard below. She watched for an instant, then drew back, choking with
laughter.
Casmir marched forward. He loomed above her.  What mischief do you now
contrive?
Madouc jerked around in startlement, and stood wordlessly, head tilted back,
mouth half open.
Casmir peered down through the arch into the service yard. Below stood Lady
Desdea, staring up in a fury, while she wiped fragments of quince from her
neck and bodice, her stylish tricorn hat askew. At the sight of King Casmir
looking down from above, her face sagged in astonishment. For a moment she
stood frozen into immobility. Then, dropping a perfunctory curtsey, she
settled her hat and hurried across the yard into the castle.
Casmir slowly drew back. He looked down at Madouc.  Why did you throw fruit at
Lady Desdea?
Madouc said artlessly:  It was because Lady Desdea came past first, before
Lady Marmone.
 That is not relevant to the issue! snapped King Casmir.  At this moment Lady
Desdea believes that I pelted her with bad fruit. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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