Explore "The Virgin of Valkarion" by Poul Anderson on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Alfric lost desire for sleep, the girl being as skilled in the arts of love as she was beautiful. But later they fell to talking.
A dim shaft of moonlight streamed through the window and etched her face against the dark, a faint mysterious rippling of light and shadow and loveliness. He drew her closer, kissed the smooth cheek, and murmured puzzledly: "Who are you? Why are you working in a place like this, when you could be the greatest courtesan in the world? Kings would be your slaves, and armies would go to battle with your name on their lips -- if they only knew you."