All Fall Down by Christine Pope Page B

next to him, instead of here next to Arnad. Our proximity, I feared, would make it seem as if I were in agreement with his preposterous proposal. I did not wish for anyone to think I had a hand in his offer or wished to go with him.  
    The tension seemed to radiate off him in waves. I had no idea why he had fixated on me. Perhaps it was merely because I presented a novelty. Now, however, I got the distinct impression that this developing contest of wills between him and Lord Shaine had very little to do with me.
    “Lord Shaine,” Arnad said, and although his voice remained pleasant enough, the tightness of his mouth belied the even tone of his words, “I am offering you a fortune. Surely she can be replaced easily enough.”
    “And I am not in need of a fortune, being already in possession of one.” Deliberately, Lord Shaine lifted a flagon of wine and poured a good measure into a pewter goblet. Then he raised it toward Arnad, offering it to him. “Come now, my lord. Have a drink, and let us forget this foolishness.”
    “Foolishness?” Arnad’s eyes narrowed, and he said cuttingly, “I think you forget yourself, Shaine.”
    The dropping of the honorific was not lost on me…nor on its target. The merest shadow of a frown passed over Lord Shaine’s features, but he remained calm. Instead, he looked over at me and said briefly, “Perhaps it would be best if you retired for the evening, Merys.”
    Relieved beyond measure that he had offered me a way out of the awkward situation, I lowered my head and replied, “As you wish, my lord.” Not daring to risk a glance at Arnad, I gathered up my skirts and fled toward the entrance to the tower. All around me people backed out of the way, staring at me as if I were some sort of legendary monster that had been dropped in their midst.  
    At least Arnad made no attempt to stop me. Perhaps he had realized that seizing me in Lord Shaine’s hall, in front of so many witnesses, would make an already awkward situation completely untenable. Whatever the reason, I was able to make my escape unmolested. I ran up the stairs, my low indoor shoes slapping on the stone, my breath coming in great heaving gasps. It was not until I had achieved the relative safety of my tower room that I realized how my heart pounded, how the blood throbbed in my face and my throat.
    Not knowing what else to do, I sat down on the bed and stared out the narrow window until my breath had calmed itself somewhat. The view was blurred by the bubbled glass, but at least I thought I could see the vaguest glimmer of Taleron, the larger of the two moons, as it made its way up over the foothills to the east. Tears began to burn, unshed, in my eyes, but I blinked them away. Weeping would accomplish nothing. At least I had gotten away before the situation grew any worse.
    That thought led me to wonder what further words might have been exchanged after I had gone, but I probably didn’t want to know. I was sure that Lord Shaine would eventually gain the upper hand, but what sort of lasting scars might such a confrontation create?  
      All at once I was reminded of how much a stranger I was here, how little I knew of Lord Shaine and his connections to his neighbors. Had he and Lord Arnad been friends before this? Did Lord Arnad have a reputation for a hot temper and an eye for women? I guessed that was quite possibly so, but no one had thought to give me any warning to stay away from him. Then I shook my head. Blaming others served no useful purpose. How could anyone have guessed that I might have attracted such unwanted attentions from him?
    Slowly I felt my body begin to still, the blood cool in my cheeks. Much as I would have liked to discard the heavy gown I wore and take my hair down from its uncomfortable pins, I thought it better to wait. The evening was still in its youth, and perhaps I would be needed after the guests had gone.
    To keep myself from going mad with waiting, I retrieved some neglected darning