Bones of the Dragon - Margaret Weis [123]
Raegar scratched his bearded chin. “I considered coming back to Luda. But a man finds his happiness where he can, Cousin. I had a good life. I owned my own house. I had a wife, children. All gone now, sadly.” Raegar looked downcast. “They perished in a fire.”
“Freilis give them peace,” said Skylan, naming the Goddess of the Dead, who took care of women and children.
Raegar nodded; then he shrugged and smiled again. “I like Oran, Cousin. I like the people, I like the climate.” He grinned expansively. “Always plenty to eat and no more freezing off your balls in the winter. And the women are beautiful. As you can see.”
Skylan had been looking at the women. They were much different from Vindrasi women, who were mostly blond and blue-eyed. One of the prettiest smiled at him. Skylan smiled back.
“I had a longing to see my homeland,” Raegar was saying, “and when my partners proposed this voyage, I decided to go with them. We have been visiting the clans in the south. It was there that I heard the remarkable news that my cousin, little Skylan, was now Chief of Chiefs! I was on my way to wish you joy when this motherless boat struck a rock and started taking on water.”
Skylan did not understand how a man could turn his back upon his kin and make a new life in a strange land, especially a land whose people had made him a slave.
“Torval must have wrecked our boat on purpose, for here you are. The god has dropped you into my arms, so to speak.”
Skylan shifted uncomfortably at the naming of the god, though, on second thought, it was a good sign that Torval had relented toward him enough to give him back his favorite cousin, return him from the dead.
Raegar stood regarding Skylan with undisguised admiration. “Chief of Chiefs. I am not surprised. The day you were born, an eagle fought an adder outside your house. The eagle won, slaying the snake. An omen of greatness, for all know the eagle is favored of Torval.”
“I never knew that,” Skylan said.
“Norgaard never told you? Ah, well, that is like him. He probably feared it would give you a swelled head. How is your father? I hear he was badly wounded and he finds it difficult to get around, yet he is still Chief of the Clan.”
Skylan was about to answer when Raegar suddenly struck himself on the forehead. “Where are my manners? You have ridden far. You must be thirsty and hungry. Come, I will introduce you to my partners, and you will share our evening meal. The wine of Oran is excellent. And”—Raegar smiled—“I have a gift for you. I will show you after dinner. When I knew I was sailing north, I had this present made especially for my favorite cousin. I had no idea then that I would find little Skylan Chief of Chiefs and married to the Kai Priestess!”
Skylan frowned, not liking the reminder.
“Speaking of which,” Raegar added teasingly, “what are you doing riding around the countryside when you should be enjoying the pleasures of the marriage bed?”
Skylan’s frown deepened to a scowl.
“Have I said something wrong, Cousin?” Raegar asked in some confusion.
“It is nothing,” said Skylan. “I will explain later.” He glanced again at the pretty girl who had smiled at him. She was still keeping her eyes on him. “First I would like to bathe and make myself presentable.”
Raegar grinned. “Go ahead. I will take care of this fine beast for you.”
Skylan walked back down the beach to a sheltered cove. Stripping off his clothes, he plunged into the water and swam for a long time. He emerged from the water and let the sun warm and dry his wet skin. He combed his hair and was shaving off the stubble on his chin when he was aware that he was not alone. The pretty girl had come up on him silently. She was regarding him with unabashed admiration. Pointing at his clothes that he’d left in a heap on the sand, she made a motion as of washing and then wringing.
“Ah, yes, thank you,” Skylan said, wondering if she understood him.
The girl gathered his clothes in her arms and, with a smile, carried them away.
Skylan had brought a change of clothes with him.