SOPHY OF KRAVONIA
His blood tingled and burned with all these things. But there was more. Beside him all the way was the figure of Sophy dim in the darkness, and the dim silhouette of her face—dim, yet, as it seemed, hardly blurred; its pallor stood out even in the night. She engrossed his thoughts and spurred his speculations.
What thoughts dwelt in her? Did she ride to death, and was it a death she herself courted? If so, he was sworn in his soul to thwart her, even to his own death. She was not food for death, his soul cried, passionately protesting against that loss, that impoverishment of the world. Why had they let her come? She was not a woman of whom that could be asked; therefore it was that his mind so hung on her, with an attraction, a fascination, an overbearing curiosity. The men of Volseni seemed to think it natural that she should come. They knew her, then, better than he did!
Save for the exchange of a few words now and then about the road, they had not talked; he had respected her silence. But she spoke now, and to his great pleasure less sadly than he had expected. Her tone was light, and witnessed to a whimsical enjoyment which not even memory could altogether quench.
"This is my first war, Lord Dunstanbury," she said. "The first time I've taken the field in person at the head of my men!"
"Yes, your Majesty's first campaign. May it be glorious!" he answered, suiting his tone to hers.
"My first and my last, I suppose. Well, I could hardly have looked to have even one—in those old days you know of—could I?"
"Frankly, I never expected to hold my commission as an officer from you," he laughed. "As it is,
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