"My lord," said she softly, as though she meant to help him to his
coveted power, "if this be indeed your intention, methinks 'twere well
that you should first reckon with me."
Her right hand now grasped the haft of her dirk, her left hand was ready
to fly at the man's bare throat.
"Haply I am but a weak woman; yet a woman can ofttimes do that which men
would shrink from."
"Even so," said he calmly. "And now if you would but help me in this
project, I swear to you that I will love you always, and when I am in
possession of my lands and castles, I will even make you my wedded wife,
and you shall be right happy."
"Villain!" cried Aasta. Then she flung back her cloak and sprang upon
him, seizing his throat and raising her knife to strike it to his heart.
Roderic saw her eyes flash like two fierce fires. He saw her weapon
gleaming in the moon's pale light. With a wild cry of rage he caught her
uplifted arm and arrested it.
"Deceitful witch," he cried, "is it thus that you would help me?"
"Even so," said Aasta the Fair. "For now your last hour has come. No
mercy will I show you, base villain that you are!"
And then they struggled together in each other's arms, swaying and
panting, gripping and twisting, like two furious animals. Aasta held him
firmly with her left hand, burying her strong fingers in his thick
throat.
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