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Being Followed II
"Mairwen!" Devrim shouted in spite of himself. The few night sounds around them suddenly ceased at the intrusion of noise. The girl looked sheepishly up at him with her big blue eyes. The Emperor's heart melted a little, but he tried to keep a stern face. "What are you doing here? You should be at home!"
Junayd uncovered the buried embers from their evening fire and placed some dry brush on top. As it caught fire, the sudden light caused all of them to shield their faces.
Mairwen tried to back up slowly, but the forbidding gaze of her father stopped her in her tracks. "I am waiting for an answer, young lady." Uh oh. The princess knew she was in trouble. Her father only called her 'young lady' when she was very good or very naughty. Mairwen doubted that her actions qualified her for the first.
Her eyes grew watery. "I…I had hoped we would be further along when we finally met. Then you could not send me home."
There was movement in the edge of the fi
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