Wielding a Red Sword by Piers Anthony Read Free Book Online

Her tiny ears showed at the edge of her coursing hair like shells at the fringe of a lake, sparkling iridescently. Her mouth was a perfect dainty crimson bow, too delicate for anything approaching a coarse word. Her breasts beneath the robe were like twin fawns, firm and perfectly rounded, surely as soft to the touch as man’s desire could wish. Her hips—
    She turned to face him.
Stay your lascivious thoughts, ruffian
! she thought fiercely at him.
Have you forgotten already where you are
?
    Indeed, he had, for the moment! Her amazing beauty had smitten him unprepared, disrupting his anger at her presence before it could be fairly settled. Now he felt himself blushing, and that infuriated him—and made his face burn more hotly.
    She laughed, satisfied to be one up on him. He had broadcast his impressions as openly as any schoolboy might have, while she had maintained her reserve.
    But now she sobered. “Know, O Prince of Gujarat, that this union is no more my wish than yours,” she said clearly, and now her emotion came at him, controlled anger. “I love another and will always love him; but for the will of my father, I would be with him this moment and forever. You are but an obstacle in my way, and we shall pass this trial most readily if you keep your body and your mind well clear of mine.”
    Mym could hardly believe it. “You are against this betrothal?” he sang. “That I did not know.”
    “There is surely much you do not know, Prince of the tongue-tied. And much you had best never learn. Now come into the open so I can see the image of my enemy.”
    Embarrassed anew, Mym stepped out into the light.
    Why, he is a handsome man
, she thought with surprise.
    That is immaterial
, he responded in the same manner, and now it was her turn to blush. She had been caught the same way. It was one thing to know that their thoughts would be completely open to each other, and quite another to experience the reality.
    “True, Pride of the Kingdom,” she replied, and thatset him back again. Even as it happened, he kept forgetting!
    Choose what quarters you prefer
, he thought quickly, to cover up whatever else he might otherwise think.
I shall take quarters on the opposite side
.
    “There is nowhere on the premises that we can avoid each other’s minds,” she said. “Only mental discipline will suffice.”
    That will suffice
, he agreed grimly.
    So they selected suites on opposite sides of the castle. But that proved to be impractical, because there was neither food nor water in the suites; they had to emerge to obtain these things. There was a kitchen section, stocked with all manner of delicacies, but it was so constructed as to require the simultaneous action of two parties. One person had to hold open the pantry door, while the other reached for the food; it could not otherwise be obtained. It spoiled rapidly outside the magic pantry, so that it was not feasible to cooperate for one big raid; two people had to be present for every fresh meal.
    The water was even more of a problem. It issued from an old-fashioned pump with a long red handle. One person had to pump, while the other held the cup in place; there was no other way. Each served the other for a cupful—but even this evaporated the moment it was taken from the dining chamber. They were stuck together for meals.
    That was the least of it. “But I want to wash!” the Princess said annoyed.
    Mym pondered. “I could pump while you sat under the spout,” he sang.
    She turned on him a withering look. “Or I could pump while
you
sat under it.”
    He appreciated the problem.
Believe me, Rapture, I have no desire to gawk at your fair flesh
, he thought.
    “You lie, Pride,” she gritted.
    True, he realized. He did not love her and had no wish to be corrupted by her, but he was a man and enjoyed the sight of voluptuous female flesh wherever it occurred—and hers was as voluptuous as such flesh came. He was a voyeur at heart.
    “And I have no wish to corrupt