Any Man So Daring Read Online Free PDF Page B

innocently slept by fair Ariel’s side.
    Quicksilver shuddered, remembering his guards’ bloodied corpses, crumpled in a heap outside his door.
    Only the guards' valor in that final test had saved Quicksilver. They’d stayed alive long enough and called for help loudly enough to rouse the household -- against the greater numbers of magically powerful foes.
    Their blood had purchased Quicksilver’s own life.
    Only then had Vargmar and his accomplices, caught at their attempt, called to them the malcontents and dregs of fairyland and with them taken to the hinterlands of the realm.
    Those dregs had scourged the hills long enough.
    Quicksilver let Vargmar live? What for? That he might call to himself another such coalition and think of new ways to amaze the cowering world?
    Quicksilver stared at his wife’s face, uncomprehending.
    Mercy?
    Quicksilver sighed. “I’ve won the war, milady, and this much I know. I cannot have lasting peace if I show mercy. I showed mercy to my brother once, showed him mercy despite his evil acts and that was only the beginning of a worse strife.”
    “But your brother--” Ariel started.
    Quicksilver patted her hand, and let it go. “Milady, you were not there when, on the fields of Mars, I stood surrounded by enemies and must slash my way out or die. Nor were you there, on that awful night when I woke to feel a blade at my throat and see an enemy crouched beside my bed. Malachite saved my life then, by killing my foe. Think of all the valiant elves who died as I would have, by stealth and dishonorable attack. The fine flower of this hill was squandered upon the hills and marshes. The harsh, wild ground drank up their blood. Now you would that I show mercy to the man whose ambition murdered them. Arrest such thought, my Queen. Mercy would not serve. It is unworthy.”
    Ariel gasped and her face hardened. Determination erased the normal gentle cast of her features. “You wrong me, Milord. If I went not to war it is that you left me behind to rule your kingdom against your return. And if I speak now, if I speak, oh, Lord, it is that I fear for you. For I’ve had dreams such as never before, dreams that stain my nights with blood and make my sleep rank.
    “I dreamed tonight that I saw you as a statue which like a fountain with a hundred spouts did run pure blood; and many lusty elves came smiling and did bathe their hands in it.
    “Do not go on with this, milord. For I fear for your life if you should.”
    Quicksilver narrowed his eyes.
    Ariel’s dreams were normally true, but this one smelt not of truth. Rather, the dream, like a frighted, wild thing, knocked its teeth and ran wild with terror. The war that had, for so long, held fear over all of their heads now, being ended, allowed Ariel to give voice to that fear.
    Knowing she was affrighted, he spoke softly. “From whom should I fear?” he asked. “Who would harm me, once Vargmar is dead? For his own son has deserted his cause, and those centaurs whom he, with great pride, accounted his closest allies, have sworn fealty to me.” Again he raised his hand, pulling back strands of Ariel’s disarrayed pale blonde hair. “Be of good cheer, my dear, for once Vargmar is dead you’ll have nothing to fear.”
    Ariel held her hand over her heart. “And yet I misgive me. Can this not be delayed?”
    “What? And I shall ask the executioner to stay his ax till Quicksilver’s wife shall meet with better dreams?
    “Your fears are foolish, wife, and if I stay my hand because of them I will all the more encourage that violence you fear against my person.”
    Ariel blushed. Red splashes stained both cheeks and the bridge of her nose. “Woe is me. For once were my dreams accounted of service to my Lord."
    She drew herself up to her full height, which, yet, came no higher than Quicksilver’s chest.  
    Her face strained and white, she looked like the miniature of a warrior Queen, as endearing as disconcerting.  
    He wanted to hold her and