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.The canceling of the ceremony should be my decision entirely; at the very least I should have had asay.""We think of your safety," Pruebas said impatiently."Try to be grateful for once in your life.""Do not speak to me that way," Culebra snapped."You have no idea how I think or feel about anything.Grateful.You haveno idea what that word means.Is there anything else you wanted from me?" Stupid, foolish him for thinking this wouldmerely be a simple lunch with his brother.They met once every week or so, just so everyone could see the siblings weregetting along - that there was constant tension between them was not common knowledge.Pruebas heaved a long-suffering sigh."Yes, actually.With the high threat of the Black Rose looming, and given we do notknow where the White Rose stand or what they will do - I do not think it wise for you to leave the premises until it isbelieved safe for you to do so.""So not only are you taking away the ceremony, you are taking away my freedom? Will you attempt to take away mysnakes as well? How about Corinos?""If your horrid pets disrupt another important ceremony, I will certainly consider taking them away.Perhaps it has escapedyour notice, brother, but those things are deadly."Culebra smiled bitterly."So am I.Does that make me horrid as well?""Do not be ridiculous," Pruebas said dismissively, but his voice held the same faint thread of fear they all did.That anyonecould kill if they were pushed far enough, or otherwise motivated, never seemed to enter their thoughts.A dog could kill aseasily as a snake.Even a small mouse could do a great deal of harm when it was fighting for its life.No one thought of that.They just saw his covered eyes and feared."What else?" Culebra asked in resignation."Shall I stay in my room?""Is there anywhere else you have to be?" Pruebas asked coldly."I do my duties!" Culebra said, hands fisting tightly in his lap."Not once have I ever shirked my responsibilities, brother.I doall that you ask of me."file:///H|/NOVEL/New%20novel/3.htm[9/25/2009 10:25:54 AM]AmaSour Fiction"Except journey as you did before."The tension in his shoulders and back was becoming painful.It would take him hours, if not days, to work it all out."Do notask that of me," he said, unable to keep the strain from his voice."If I could do it, I would.I cannot.""You should overcome your fears," Pruebas said, his voice calm.It was, Culebra knew, the closet his brother ever got tobeing gentle.Pruebas was an ass, but he was trying to help in the only way he knew.Unfortunately, his way failed abysmally.All Pruebas did was make it painfully obvious which of them had always lived safewithin the walls of the palace, loved and adored, and which of them had been shipped off frequently because his countrywas afraid.Which one of them had endured anything but a pampered life.It had always struck him as amusing, for if anyone should have been spoiled and pampered, Culebra always thought itwould have made more sense to tuck away the blind prince and keep him happily oblivious.Not that he wanted that, but hewondered if perhaps doing so would have made life easier for everyone.Not that his brother was completely pampered - no, Pruebas knew how to work hard.He was just obnoxious andinsufferable about it."Pruebas, we have been over this before.Do not make me bring it up again.Please& ""I am saying only that perhaps you should consider trying again.You were good at it.You enjoyed it.Hiding away here willnot make the fear abate.""You did not have to listen to them scream," Culebra said, voice dropping to a whisper."You did not smell the blood, thefear& you did not hear the mermaids.They hate those of us who live on land.I could hear it.I will not go on the oceanagain, Pruebas.That my brother continually asks it of me& ""I want what is best for you.""You want what is best for you," Culebra said bitterly."Whether or not the Black Rose take me does not concern you - youronly concern is that they not do it where you might be seen in a poor light.You are going to keep me locked up in thiscastle so that nothing happens to me that might reflect poorly on you.I'm a burden, so far as you are concerned.Life waseasier for you when I was kept in other countries."Pruebas started to speak, but Culebra pressed on, raising his voice to drown his brother out [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]