Love of Lady Liana.

by Alvarez y Losada

  Liana extended the hand to help it a to get up itself, but always smiling he put it in the water, to its side.

  -- This is not right -- Liana exclaimed --. She was almost dry.

  Rogan was gotten up, raised it of water and it took it lu­gar grass place setting and illuminated by the sun and one seated to la­do. Shirt cleared and as it saw that Liana shook, embraced it, so that she recostó against its chest, and said that never it had felt so happy in its life.

  -- What has to eat? -- Rogan asked -- , I have much appetite.

  Gaby extracted of the basket flavorful foods and the four both young adults and began to eat; in ge­neral, Gaby was the one who spoke, relating entertained anecdotes of the village life. It showed remarkable tact when it was necessary to avoid all reference to terro­rismo practices that the family Peregrinates applied to the inhabitants of the village.

  Liana intuited that Rogan began a to become loose, for­muló to Baudoin some questions about the wool commerce e it even asked to him if it had idea about the way to improve the production wool of Peregrine.

  The niñita SARAH as soon as it knew to walk and suddenly re­cogió a date and with its legs regordetas walked towards Rogan with the aid of its father, stopped, watched a mo­mento, until Rogan became in order to observe it. Nun­ca had paid much attention to the children, but it warned that she was pretty a small one, with intense dark eyes that they studied.

  The creature gave the date to him and when Rogan accepted it, the small one seemed to think that that was a invita­ción. it returned and it jumped to the knees of Rogan, acurrucándo­se against its chest.

  Rogan watched admired the smooth hair grazed.

  -- For her nobody is a stranger -- it said Gaby --. Thus it is my SARAH.

  -- Llévatela -- Rogan by it low a said Liana --. Quíta­mela of above.

  Suddenly, Liana seemed deaf.

  -- Oye, SARAH, give these higos to your Rogan uncle.

  With a solemn gesture, the girl took higo and approached it the mouth of Rogan, but when he tried to take it with hand, she emitted a protest whine. With the air of that executes the act more difficult of his life, it opened the mouth and allowed that it put to him higo.

  Liana maintained a flow permanent of to char it with Gaby and pretended that it did not pay attention to Rogan and the girl, but it provided constantly to small with dates and the hi­gos. When the baby she tired to feed his uncle, re­costó on his chest and one fell asleep.

  Just a short time later, the sun began a to descend in the sky and Liana included/understood that it was hour to return to house. No it wished that a little while so pleasant it finished and it did not want to return to the shady one castle of Moray, and perhaps to a husband who ignored it. Its hand slid in of Rogan and it supported the head on the shoulder of his husband. During lar­go short while they remained seated, embraced, the girl dur­miendo on the knees of soldier.

  -- This it has been the best day of my life -- Lia­na murmured --, hopefully it had not finished.

  Rogan tightened it with more force. It was a com­pletamente idle day, and he thought that never he would return to mos­trar itself so frivolous, but he accepted that he had been... well, agra­dable.

  SARAH awoke and began to cry and thus all en­tendieron that they had to return to his respective homes.

  -- Vendra's tomorrow? -- Liana a asked Gaby and saw tears of gratitude in the eyes of the woman. It had already con­cebido idea to turn to Gaby the master of the house, would take care of which the servants they maintained cas­tillo clean and Liana would have more time to pass it with its husband.

  Few minutes later, when it already was anoche­ciendo, Rogan and Liana began to return slowly towards the castle of Moray. The united hands, kept si­lencio awhile.

  -- Hopefully we did not have to return -- it said Liana --. Qui­siera that we were like Gaby and Baudoin, we lived in a simple one hut, that way and...

  Rogan emitted I grumble.

  -- they seemed arranged a very to Me to resign to its simple hut. That food surely cost the wage to them of year.

  -- Half year -- Liana with the tone said of who acostum­braba to handle books of accounts --. But if they are loved -- it added dreamily --, I saw in the eyes of Gaby. -- Miro' at Rogan.­ -- Surely thus I to you watch.

  This it had the eyes nailed in walls of the castle of Moray. For them it had been easy to leave in the morning. What would happen if the Howard were disguised of vegetable salesmen and they solicitd to enter? It would have to redouble the monitoring.

  -- Oi'ste what I said? -- Liana asked.

  Perhaps he would have to order that farmers to quie­nes allowed themselves. the entrance used a symbol. By supues­to, these standards could rob, but...

  — ¡Rogan! -- Liana had stopped and throwing to him of the hand it forced to suspend it the march.

  -- What happens?

  -- you were listening to me? -- it asked she.

  -- Oi' everything what you said -- answered Rogan --. Perhaps al­go in addition to the symbol. Perhaps...

  -- What I said?

  Rogan watched it, inexpressive.

  -- What you said about what?

  She tightened the lips.

  -- He was diciéndote that I love to you.

  Perhaps santo and sign, whom he would change daily. Or perhaps more surely it would be to designate to certain farmers, only that could enter; and the apa­rición of new faces would never be allowed.

  With great consternation of Rogan, his wife loosen the hand to him and she went ahead, and by the way to walk it seemed angered.

  -- and now what? -- it murmured. Today it had fact everything what it wished not yet and seemed pleased.-- Sucede something?

  -- Oh, so that now you include/understand that I am here -- she said arrogantly --. I trust that there will be no molesta­do to you diciéndote that I love to you.

  -- Not -- he said sincerely --. It happens only that was thinking about another thing.

  -- you do not allow that my declarations of love inte­rrumpan to you -- Liana said perversely --. I am sure that one hundred women swore love to you, every day. By another one par­te, before even you had Months. And of course, Jeanne Ho­ward probably you said it every day.

  Rogan began to include/understand through the lack of logic of Liana. She was another one of those feminine things, nothing burdens.

  -- It was not Howard when she married with me.

  -- Comprendo, but you do not deny that it said to you many ve­ces that it loved to you. Probably you heard so many times that no it means nothing coming from me.

  Rogan thought a little while.

  -- nonmemory that no woman me it said that it loved to me.

  -- Oh -- Liana said, and returned to take it from the hand. Ca­minaron in silence minutes --. You love to me?, -- pre­guntó she in low voice.

  It tightened the hand to him.

  -- I did It not very often. And tonight I go a...

  -- I do not talk about that class of love, I mean in your interior, as you loved your mother.

  -- My mother died when being born I.

  Liana frunció entrecejo. .

  -- Then, the mother of Severn.

  -- She passed away when being born Severn, when I had two years and not the memory.

  -- and the mother of Zared? -- Liana asked with sweet voice.

  -- I do not believe that it has felt much by it, had mie­do of all we and used to cry much.

  -- Somebody tried to comfort it?

  -- Rowland said to him that it stopped to cry, because nece­sitábamos to sleep a little.

  Liana thought about the poor woman, single in a dirty castle populated with men whose main preoccupation was that his weeping disturbed the dream to them. And she was the wife who had died of hunger in castle of Bevan. If Rogan did not love the women of its life, surely it had loved its brothers.

  -- When your older brother died...

  -- Rowland did not die, the Howard they killed.

&nbs
p; -- She is well -- she said impatient --, they killed, assassinated it. They unjustly sacrificed it without provocation. you were strange after its death?

  Rogan took its time to answer, while the images of their brother, powerful fort and, happened through their head.

  -- the stranger every day -- it answered to the aim.

  The voice of Liana was smoothed.

  -- you would be strange to Me if it died? By example, if it attacked the plague to me.

  It watched it: if she died, the life of Rogan would return to which it had been before. It would dress infested clothes lice, would eat full sand bread, would return the Days. It would not be close in order to curse it, to ridicule it, to shame it in public, to force it to lose time. Frunció entrecejo. Yes, it would surprise it.

  And in effect, it did not please to him absolutely the idea of ex­trañar it.

  -- it would not have to go to other fairs -- Rogan answered and it separated from her.

  Liana was nailed in the same site; it did not please to him to include/understand how much they hurt the words to him of Rogan. Estu­vieron together very just a short time and it meant so much for her; but he was less than nothing for Rogan.

  One said that never he would allow that it saw how las­timaba, that it would always hide its pain. It thought that its face it was an inexpressive mask and that did not let traslucir nothing; but when Rogan one became and it saw his pretty and slight es­posa with the inferior lip excelling and the full eyes of tears that did not finish spilling, it looked for in its mind to include/understand what happened to him. Perhaps it feared to return to the castle?

  One approached her and it put the fingers low the chin of the young person but she rejected it.

  -- Nothing matters to you of me -- it reproached to him Liana --. If I died, you could obtain to another rich wife and apoderarte of his equip.

  Rogan shook.

  -- the marriages carry many problems -- di­jo -- My father had the resistance of thousand men, supported four marriages.

  In spite of the intentions of Liana, tears co­menzaron to descend by their cheeks.

  -- If I died, without a doubt you would throw my body to the pit. ¡And good trip!

  Rogan was confused.

  -- If you died, I...

  -- Yes? -- she asked, watching it a traverse of pes­tañas total of tears.

  -- I... it would know that you are not.

  Liana included/understood that that was everything what it could start to him. It threw the arms to him to the neck, and began to be­sar it.

  -- Sabi'a that it mattered to you -- said.

  For consternation of both, people that he was al­rededor began to applaud. They had been involved to so ex­tremo in its own colloquy that did not notice al­rededor people that it watched them and it listened with much rejoicing.

  Rogan was more ashamed than Liana, it took it from the hand and it threw to run. They stopped not far from the mu­ros of castle and suddenly also he felt incomodidad because the day touched his aim.

  Close there was a salesman with a tray of wood maintained by one strap that happened to him over shoulders. In the same one there were painted wood toys, that repre­sentaban men jigging about to end of a twig. When seeing the glance of Rogan, the salesman approached quickly and it showed how the amused muñequitos worked. When Liana laughed when seeing them, Rogan discovered that it was separating of two precious currencies to buy one.

  Liana grasped the doll enthusiastically, if his husband had given him emeralds, they would not have pleased so much to him. It watched with love to Rogan and this one it dealt to turn aside the eyes. A so frivolous day, that wastefulness of time and money inverted in a kid who formulated stupid questions. And nevertheless...

  It passed the arm to him over shoulders and it observed while it entertained itself with the toy and she felt well. It was in peace, a condition that had thought that it would never reach. One inclined towards it advanced and it kissed the crown to him. Before, never it had kissed a woman, safe by sensuali­dad.

  Liana tightened its body against the one of Rogan and this one included/understood that it had pleased it. Of course, he was ab­surdo, but for certain reason of pleasing it it cheered it.

  With a sigh of weighing, it resumed march towards the castle.

  13

  Severn was seated in front of the table now it cleans, in the great hall, eating cheese without mould and a piece of meat perfectly roasted and it smiled.

  Zared watched it.

  -- you do not want to share what it does to you grace?

  -- a whole day in the bed with a woman -- Severn said --. Not even I thought that Rogan could do it, but again I underestimated to my brother. -- the expression of its eyes revealed the pride that it felt.-- Its wife will not be able to walk, probably also today will spend the day in the bed... resting.

  -- Perhaps Rogan is the one that needs rest.

  -- Bah -- Severn grumbled --. You do not know anything of the men. And mainly of men like our brother. It will put to that woman in its place, already you will see it. After which she happened yesterday, she no longer will try to govern this place, Rogan she will not neglect the training to support the head in the lap of the lady. -- Its voice trasuntaba bitterness. -- Now, it will lock in itself in her room and no she will try to interfere in our lives. It is enough of this constant cleaning and...

  -- the kitchen -- it interrupted Zared --. Me it pleases plus the place as it is now. And certainly, the food pleases more to me.

  Severn aimed with the knife at Zared.

  -- the luxury can be the ruin of man and nobody know it better than our brother. Rogan...

  -- Perdio' the bet.

  Severn entrecerró the eyes.

  perhaps -- Yes, it lost the bet, but it obtained like payment which he wished.

  -- Perhaps -- a thickness said to Zared, greasing slice of bread with the butter just beaten --. But on the other hand, she it imposed its decision about which it wished to do, it is not thus? And in effect, it gained the bet, no? It discovered to la­drones, which you and Rogan could not to do. And she...

  -- Tuvo luck -- it said with obstinacy Severn --. A luck blinds and stupid. Without a doubt the farmers were arranged to give to the thieves and she he appeared at the precise moment.

  -- Aha -- Zared said --. Of course.

  -- it does not please your tone to me -- Severn grumbled.

  -- and to me it does not please your stupidity to me, that woman made many things in just a short time and deserves that him reconoz­ca the merit. And what is more, I believe that Rogan is being ena­morando of her.

  — ¡Falling in love! -- Severn exclaimed --. Enamorándo­se! Rogan never would be so weak, has had one hundred, thousand women and one never fell in love. It would not make such thing, is demasia­do intelligent.

  -- one was not intelligent with Jeanne Howard.

  The face of Severn began to exhibit disagreeable shade purple.

  -- What you know of that woman? Eras a boy when she lived here and its treason killed to Basil and James. -- one calmed little.-- Anyway, Rogan knows what they are the women and mainly what they are the spouses. -- Miro' at Zared and smiled.-- and in addition, Rogan never was interested by one as soon as one lay down with her. After which it happened yesterday, it will be so very of Liana that probably will send to then Bevan and the things they will return here to normality.

  -- normality means rats in stairs and corpses in the pit? Severn, you know what it happens to you? You are jealous, you do not want that your brother pays attention to another person that you are not you. You do not want...

  — ¡Jealous! I will say to you what it happens to me: I fear that separate Rogan its attention of the treason of the Howard. If this mu­jer it moderates, it will forget to take care of the backs and they will nail an arrow to him. A man no he can be Peregrine and in addition to use skirts., You would have to know it.

  -- I know It -- Zared in low voice said --. But what happens if Roga
n in effect... the master?

  -- it will not want it, trusts me. I know a my brother better than he himself. Not even the name of his can remember wife, so that there is no danger that she loves it.

  Zared began to answer to him, but noise in the es­calera induced to both to become.

  Rogan and Liana entered the hall, both resplan­decientes with its clothes of silk brocade. It had the ca­bellos humid, as if it finished of lavárselos and both ca­minaban taken from the arm.

  More fallen into disuse than articles and bearing, was the ex­presión of Rogan. It could not be said that it was smiling, but it seemed it, and it had the eyes shining while contem­plaba the face of its wife, who watched it with adoration.

  -- Perhaps -- Rogan said.

  -- Temes that as opposed to contradicts you campesi­nos? -- Liana asked.

  -- That you contradict to me? -- he asked -- . A thing thus would induce the farmers to think that you domesticated to me.

  Liana lay down to laugh and inclined the head towards the arm of Rogan. When they approached the table, it seemed that no they noticed the deep astonishment that was pronounced in the faces of Severn and Zared.

  -- Good morning -- Liana said gladly and one seated to the right of Rogan --. Decidme if my food does not please and I will speak to you with the cook... after the session of the court.

  -- Already I see -- false Rogan said with seriousness --. And if you do not participate in the court, what we will have supper?

  Liana directed a tender smile to him.

  -- What always they ate, bread with sand, meat with worms and to drink water of the pit.

  Rogan returned towards Severn the eyes chispeantes.

  -- This woman extorts to me, if not him I allow to partici­par in the judicial cases, will force to me to pass hunger.

  Severn had been astonished so much before this new behavior of its brother who did not know what to say, and like no it trusted the self-control, was put of foot with such rapidity that the chair it fell to the floor. One became in redon­do and it left furious the room.

  Rogan, that had coexisted with brothers that they demonstrated to malhumor and irritation almost always did not pay attention to Severn.