“Is he witty?” “Yes.” “And good looking?” “Very,” she said, remembering the kisses. She felt color rise to her cheeks and hoped it was not noticed. “And rich?” “Absolutely.” “Oh, he must have lands, does he have good lands?” “Tremendous amounts, thousands of acres.” Alina gave a little false excited clap and said, “Tell us …
“Did he practice the occult?” That was a forbidden practice, not a fad, but a lord who would ask Liko to mesmerize him might well be lunatic enough to turn to the so-called dark forces for assistance. “He hadn’t the mind for any kind of science,” Liko said contemptuously. “Not even the dubious ones.” “Conjury’s …
An eerie blue light flickered along the ridgetops. Sometimes it flashed brightly, bleaching exposed granite into something as stark and lifeless as a full moon. The ribbon of waterfall cascading down the cliffs at the eastern end of the valley caught the light and threw it back so that the mountain seemed to be splitting. …
“You’re welcome to try to convince them. They might dance with you. You’re lively enough. It’s damn boring having to listen to women prattle about nothing.” “I’m aware of that,” she said. “But what do you expect them to talk about if they can’t go to university or take part in commerce or politics? It’s …