"
Freydis said: "You make a human woman of me, and then expect me to act
upon reason. It is you who are behaving foolishly."
Count Manuel meditated, for this beyond doubt sounded sensible. From
the look of his handsome young face, his heart was now exceedingly
troubled. Queen Freydis breathed more freely, and began to smile, with
the wisdom of women, which is not super-human, but is ruthless.
"The hand would be quite ruined, too," said Manuel, looking at it more
carefully. Upon the middle finger was a copper ring, in which was set a
largish black stone: this was Schamir. But Manuel looked only at the
hand.
He touched it. "Your hand, Queen Freydis, whatever mischief it may have
executed, is soft as velvet. It is colored like rose-petals, but it
smells more sweet than they. No, certainly, my images are not worth the
ruining of such a hand."
Then Manuel released her, sighing. "My geas must stay upon me, and my
images must wait," says Manuel.
"Why, do you really like my hands?" asked Freydis, regarding them
critically.
Manuel said: "Ah, fair sweet enemy, do not mock at me! All is in
readiness to compel you to do my will.
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