Love of Lady Liana.

by Alvarez y Losada

  -- Tráela of return -- Severn requested to him in low voice --. And... I do not want to lose more brothers.

  -- I will find It -- it directed a last one to him watched:-- Cuida de Zared.

  Severn agreed and Rogan began a to move away.

  It verified that the inclined body and necessity to drag the leg caused backache to him; and the men of the Howard that they distributed to him orders to menu­do emphasized their exigencies with puntapiés and pushes. It paid attention to the faces, sheltering the hope of to en­contrar them a day in the battlefield.

  It crossed the castle retiring remainders and remainders and doing all the possible one to approach and to listen gen­te. In the castle commented much the treason of the Pe­regrine and its attempts of to rob what by right perte­necía to the Howard. People spoke of Liana, thinking that was not quite good for the smaller brother of Oli­ver. Certain time when hearing this Rogan started off in two the handle of a broom, which determined that a cook struck it with a lamb leg.

  It ate what could rob and like Howard, ins­talados in the properties of the family Peregrinates, were so rich, they never noticed the lack of foods. It slept in a corner of the stables or in the pajareras, with the birds.

  It worked, it listened well and it maintained been on the free aware, trying to identify to which they could know something. During the third week, when already it was per­diendo the hopes, man aimed a kick to him in the buttock and he demolished it.

  -- Ven with me, old -- it said.

  Rogan was gotten up, it followed it and while it promoted the stairs already was planning the death of its offendor. The man he gave a broom to him.

  -- and there clean Entra -- it ordered to him, retiring the bolt of a heavy door had with iron.

  In the room, Rogan remained moment blinking, because it was Liana there, its beautiful face in­clinado on a frame, the hair covered with a white linen cloth. It could not move, it remained of foot and it watched it, Liana returned the eyes towards him.

  -- Well, ahead -- it said --. You have better things than to ha­cer than to watch the prisoner of the Howard.

  Rogan immediately decided to say to him who it was, but en­tonces opened the door, he put in the toilet, perma­neciendo next to the entrance to listen. It emitted suspi­ro of lightening when it heard one feminine voice, and while it continued in the same position, Liana pronounced name of the woman: Jeanne. This was the Jeanne with whom he had married many years before?

  It left the toilet and it began to walk by the habita­ción and no of the two it paid the minimum attention to him. It watched to Jeanne, thinking that first wife was his, but he was not safe. marriage with her brief and had been finished long time back; in addition, no it left re­cuerdo him very alive like wife.

  It listened the two women to comment about the indifference that he himself demonstrated how he was dedicated to be­ber and a to hunt and absolutely beed not worried of his espo­sa, to that they had prisoner. It smiled when they mentioned the pregnancy of Liana. But its smile it toned down when warning that Liana believed in everything what Jeanne said to him. Perhaps women lacked loyalty feelings? What had done he stops to deserve the distrust of its wife? It gave ceiling him, fed it -- besides to give him son -- and it had even resigned to its women by her. And now it was there, in order to save it of the Howard.

  One felt so displeased by the conduct disloyal of Liana that although made adjustments and bribed to guards and va­sallos with money that was necessary for other things and it went to its room all days, it decided that he was better to abste­ner itself to reveal its identity to him.

  Now it was there, after all that it had confronted to discover it and Liana not even was been thankful.

  -- What you were doing outside castle? -- pre­guntó Rogan, frunciendo entrecejo --. I ordered to you that no you left.

  The linen cloth on the head of Liana was very fine almost it is transparent, and Rogan saw what little it was of the hair of his wife. It thought: if I get to put my hands on Oli­ver Howard, the death of that man will be prolonged and do­lorosa.

  -- I went to look for grass to calm your ardor, Gaby had said that caíste to me in a bed of ortigas.

  Now, Liana sobbed audibly.

  — ¡Ortigas! -- Rogan reproached to him by under --. Provo­caste all this because you went to look for grass to calm effect of ortigas?

  Liana began to include/understand that, in effect, he had come to look for it, and that he was false everything what she es­cuchó about its indifference. It jumped of the bed in re­vuelo of silks, threw to him the arms to the neck and gave a ar­diente kiss him.

  It maintained it with as much force that almost it broke the ribs to him.

  -- Liana -- it murmured, the mouth stuck to neck of its woman.

  Liana caressed the hair to him and of new the eyes filled to him of tears.

  -- you did not forget to me -- it murmured.

  -- Never -- its voice said to Rogan, and then it changed.-- I cannot remain more time here. Tonight there is no lu­na, I will come to buscarte and we will go away,

  -- How?

  She separated a little to watch it. It how seemed to have forgotten splendidly beautiful was Rogan, even disfigured by several weeks of negligence and dirt its expensive era...

  -- you are listening to me?

  -- With all my attention -- she answered, tightening itself more against its body.

  -- Compórtate and escúchame. You do not trust Jeanne Howard.

  -- But it helped me, can think that she saved the life to me. I burned with fever and...

  -- Júralo -- Oath said to Rogan fiercely -- that not con­fiarás in her, you do not say to him that I was here. it once betrayed my family and if it returned to do it I I would not survive. It could not fight single a the Howard. Júralo.

  -- Yes -- Murmuro' Liana --. The right of perpetual ownership.

  It supported the hands on shoulders of Liana and directed a last one to him and releases cautious.

  -- I must leave now, but tonight I will come to buscarte. Espérame, and by once tries to be to me faithful. -- Son­rió hardly.-- and clean this room. I learned to please of the cleaning.

  It kissed it again, with much force and it disappeared

  Liana was long short while supported against the door. It had come to look for it, one did not go drinking and hunting while it was prisoner. However, there was dangerous its life when entering single in the dominion of the Ho­ward. It did not demonstrate either that it did not need it.

  With soñadora expression, a began to gather all the things that had thrown to him. It did not wish that Jeanne saw disorder and formulated questions.

  Tonight, it thought. Tonight a would come to look for it. And when it began to recall to mind less with romanticis­mo this encounter, when it reflected of a more realistic way, was scared. What it would happen if they catched it? Oliver Howard would kill Rogan. One seated in the bed, the hands strongly united and the fear that began to do­minar it hardened to him the body.

  When putting itself the sun, the fear dominated it so completely that until it felt as if she herself was watching itself from far. It was put of foot with slow movements, took off the silk dress that Jeanne had rendered to him replacing it with the clothes farmer who used the day that they had catched it and returned to put the dress on atuendo the farmer and one seated to hope.

  All the muscles of their body were tense while one was there, seated, immovable, the clava­dos eyes in closed door. It perceived the silence that began to fall on castle a measurement that the workers lay down. A servant brought his supper on one tray and en­cendió a candle, but Liana did not touch the food. In cam­bio, it hoped that the night brought to Rogan.

  Around the midnight, the door it opened very slowly and Liana was put of foot, the eyes enlarged by the fear.

  Jeanne entered the room, fixing its glance in the frightened bed and, saw Liana.

  -- Crei' that you were sleeping.

  -- What happens
? -- Liana asked.

  -- I do not know it. Oliver very is angered and it dedicated to be­ber. I heard say... -- Miro' at Liana. It did not want to repeat what there was listened. In all the subjects except one, its es­poso one was a man reasonable; but when one was Peregrine it lost all the sense of proportion, of the honesty and sensitivity and today, Jeanne had heard say a Oliver that seted out to kill Liana and to give the corpse to Rogan.-- You must to come with me -- Jeanne said --. It is necessary that it hides to you...

  -- I cannot -- Liana responded to him --. I have that to hope here that...

  -- Esperar what? -- Jeanne asked --. What? To whom you hope?

  -- To nobody -- one hurried to say Liana --. No perso­na knows that I am here, right? How it could hope to al­guien? It was seated here, and that is everything. -- Cerro' the mouth, could not say to Jeanne that Rogan would come to look for it. Perhaps this one would inform to Oliver. But if it left there, how encon­traría Rogan? -- This room is so pleasant -- it said Lia­na --. I prefer to remain here and not to go to another place. I believe that it could not to support a fourth ice cream.

  -- it is not moment now for thinking about luxuries, I am worried about your life and if you want that vos and your son survive, you come with me.

  Liana included/understood that it did not have alternative and with the pressed heart followed Jeanne; both descended stairs illuminated by torches. It left with her the tower, crossed the patio interior sunk in the dark and to the aim descended the steps from stone that they took to the cellar of one of the towers. There it saw enormous grain coats, in some places piled up almost until the ceiling. It was a humid, dark place, that it smelled of mould; the only window was one to the small window on its head.

  -- you will not try that it remains here -- Liana murmured.

  -- It is the only place where nobody will come. The grain will not be necessary until the spring, so that no will enter. I put some wool blankets there and is a orinal in the corner.

  -- Who will drain it? -- Liana asked --. The old one which it comes to my room seems quite stupid, so that we could call it.

  -- Not in this situation. I will come tomorrow at night because I trust same me solely. -- Temi'a that when Oliver it discovered the disappearance of Liana, it offered one compensates by her and in that case, one anyone could give it.-- I feel It, is a horrible place, but he is only the safe one; you try to sleep, I will come tomorrow.

  When Jeanne left and threw bolt a the door, the sound took echoes in the round stone room, with his vaulted ceiling. The dark was absolute and the place was as cold as only it can be the stone that never was warmed up. Liana advanced gropingly, encountering over the grain coats, to find the blankets left by Jeanne. When it found them, it tried to make a bed on the coats, of irregular surface, but was way no to form a comfortable bed.

  Finally, laid down on the coats dusty duros and and with two small blankets covering to him the body, lay down a to cry. Outside, his loved Rogan it risked the life to find it. It requested that he it did not make anything reckless when it discovered that there was disappear, but if it even kept silence, he would never find it in that cellar, because nor the guards nor the servants knew where she was now. Only Jeanne Howard it knew the hiding place Liana.

  Jeanne did not come and Liana on the following day neither water did not have food, either light nor heat. And when the day became in night, it lost all hope. Rogan had been right in its attitude in front to Jeanne: it was not possible to trust her. Liana began to remember that it was Jeanne that spoke to him of the unconcern of Rogan when finding out that they had catched; Jeanne had induced it to believe in the treason of Rogan.

  It arrived the night from the second day, in silence opened the door and entered the cold and dark cellar.

  -- Liana -- it called.

  The young person too much was tired and to same time too much irritated to answer.

  Encountering over the grain coats Jeanne began to gropingly advance by the place, sending a exclamación when it touched to Liana.

  -- I brought food and water, and another blanket to You.

  The skirt rose and began to untie bulks. A water pumpkin approached the lips of Liana that this one drank anxiously; later it gave cold meat, bread and cheese to him.

  -- I could not come yesterday, Oliver suspects that I have had something to see with your flight and has put to everybody a to spy to all. I am scared of my own ladies. I hit upon to allege disease and to order that they brought the food to my room, for traeros something to eat.

  -- I must think that you have resigned a your supper by my? -- it asked to him, the full mouth.

  He was dark and Liana could not see face of Jeanne, but was a pause before this one spoke.

  -- something has happened -- Jeanne said --. What it is?

  -- I do not have idea of which you mean. I was, single here, in this frozen place. Nobody entered or left during two days.

  -- and that without a doubt saved your life -- it said roughly Jeanne. -- You are the wife of the enemy of my husband and I have run many risks to defend your health and your security.

  -- What risk? Your lies? -- Liana wished not to have spoken.

  -- What lies? Liana, what is happened? What you have heard? And how you heard something?

  -- Nothing -- Liana responded -- I was locked up and isolated worldwide, I could not have heard nothing.

  Jeanne separated from Liana, its eyes they began to be accustomed to the dark, could see, the shades of the coats of grain and the darkest profile of Liana. Jeanne res­piró deep and watched Liana.

  -- I have decided deciros the truth, all truth. My husband sets out mataros, is what I heard and for such reason I retired to you of the quarter of the tower, because now he does not create to you useful. It never had the intention of apresaros; simply, you have crossed yourselves in its way, and he acted obeying to an impulse. It cherished the hope to force Rogan to entre­gar to him the castle of Moray. What it really wishes is to seize of everything what they have Peregrine.

  In its voice there was a bitterness accent. Jeanne continued speaking.

  -- I do not know what to do with vos. I cannot to trust anybody and Oliver has threatened of death that is surprised lending aid to the prisoner. It knows that still you are in the castle, because after your capture it ordered the guards to observe the face of all farmers who en­tran or leave here. Even now, their men are ex­plorando the forest that extends outside the walls.

  Jeanne made a pause.

  — ¡Damn it is Rogan! Why no it tried to obtain your return? I never thought that it would allow that miem­bro of her family rotted here.

  — ¡It does not allow it! -- Liana said, and later the language bit.

  -- Yes, vos you know something -- Jeanne grasped by shoulders to Liana --. Ayudadme to save your life, is only question of time until the men of Oliver review this sóta­no and I will not be able salvaros if they discover to you.

  Liana refused to speak because Rogan him there was ordena­do to swear that it would not trust Jeanne and it was arranged to fulfill its word.

  -- Is well -- Jeanne with expression said tired --, co­mo you please. I will do all the possible one so that you leave whatever an­tes of here. You know to swim?

  -- Not -- Liana answered.

  Jeanne sighed.

  -- Hare' which can -- it murmured and it left by the door.

  Liana spent one night anxious over coats of gra­no. It could not say to Jeanne that Rogan was in casti­llo, and that it would help it to escape because would reveal the disguise to him of Rogan and she it could inform to Oliver.

  On the other hand, and if Jeanne were saying the ver­dad? Yes, it was only time question before they descu­briesen it. And if they catched it, Rogan would attend indifferent, protected by its disguise of I beg, and would watch in silence while they killed it? No, Rogan would not keep silence and Oliver Howard would also catch him.

  In the morning, Liana heard noises that they came from the tro­nera,
open in the wall to high altitude. It needed enough time, but was able to move the coats of fifty kilo­gramos until it formed a pyramid on which it climbed once and above could see by the end inferior of the long small window.

  The whole castle boiled of activity, the men and the women ran and shouted, opened themselves wide doors, the horses left the stables, unloaded the filled cars of merchandises. Liana included/understood that they were looking for it.

  When it was put in foot ends to see better, the bottom of the patio it saw I beg old and tullido, a hump in back, dragging a leg when walking.

  -- Rogan -- Liana murmured and nailed one intense watched in the man, exhorting it to approach. As if he hubie­ra received a message, one came near with slow cadence.

  When he began to walk, the heart of Liana it barked aceleradamente. The window did not exceed in mu­cho the level of outer ground and if it came near the sufi­ciente she could call it. When the distance was used excessive respect, Liana contained the breathing. It opened the mouth stops to call it.

  — ¡Eh! ¡You! -- it shouted to Rogan in that moment caballe­ro of the Howard --. You have two good arms, removes from here this car.

  The tears flowed to the eyes of Liana when seeing Rogan to raise clumsily the car and to move away with the vehicle. it seated on the grain coats and began to cry, which Jeanne had said to him it was certain. Oliver Howard was re­moviendo sky and earth in its search; and if it were not today, on the following day it would discover it,

  An inner voice said to him that it had to trust Jean­ne, that its only possibility of surviving era to say to him that Rogan was close and que had a flight plan. If it did not trust her, surely it would die but if towards, a possibility that as much existed Liana as Rogan vi­viesen.

  When Jeanne arrived that night, Liana it confronted the suffering of the Indecision.

  -- I have fixed everything to It -- Jeanne said --. It is the maximum that I could do, but I ignore if he will be effective. I have not atre­vido a to trust any of the men of my husband and te­mo that one of my ladies him be informing constantly. Now, you come with me, is no time that to lose.