Bones of the Dragon - Margaret Weis [130]
The two men finalized their plans. Raegar gave Skylan directions on how to find the settlement. They estimated the length of time required for Skylan to return to Vindraholm and prepare for the voyage to the Dragon Isles and calculated that the Venjekar would arrive on Apensia sometime during the next fullness of the moon. Raegar said this would suit him and his partners. They would be waiting for Skylan at Apensia. He ended by cautioning Skylan that no one must suspect anything was amiss. He hinted that if Skylan could bring himself to make love to his wife, so much the better.
“After all, in the dark, all cats are black,” Raegar added, chuckling.
Skylan did not consider this a laughing matter. He was already feeling a little guilty over having broken his vow to Aylaen by making love to the slave girl last night. He couldn’t bear the thought of bedding Draya. He said nothing, however, for fear Raegar would start to question his manhood.
“I must tell people how I came by such a fine sword,” Skylan said.
“Say it was a gift from Torval,” Raegar suggested. “In a way, it is. The god brought us together by forcing you to change your route.”
That was true as far as it went. There might be some question as to which god—Torval or Hevis—had dropped Skylan into his cousin’s arms. Skylan didn’t like to think about that, however.
“And now,” said Raegar, “I have to leave to meet my partners.”
“You must come visit us,” said Skylan, embracing his cousin, and he added impulsively, “Why don’t you come back with me now? My father is not in good health. I fear he will soon go to join Torval. You should see him before he dies, see your other kinsmen—”
“I will come, I promise. But it would never do for Draya to know I am alive, would it?”
“No, I suppose not,” Skylan said.
“You must not tell her you have seen me,” Raegar cautioned, eyeing him. “You must tell no one, not even your father, lest word get back to her.”
Skylan agreed.
“Thank you for everything, Cousin,” Skylan said in parting. “Especially for Blood Dancer.”
“May she bring you honor and glory, Cousin,” said Raegar heartily.
The two parted, Raegar going to his boats and Skylan to his horse. He had dawdled on his way to Hammerfall, hoping to put off going back for as long as possible.
He now had to make up for lost time.
Draya was pleased and astonished to return to the longhouse one evening to find Skylan’s shield hanging on the wall. She took this as a happy sign. He had thought things over, and all would be well between them. She could make plans for their honeymoon journey to the Dragon Isles.
She prepared food for him and waited eagerly for him to return. He arrived home at the supper hour. His greeting to her was cool and thus not propitious, but at least he was home. He ate his meal with a good appetite. After he was finished, he sat down and began to clean and polish a sword.
“That is new, lord, isn’t it?” she asked, gazing down at the weapon and marveling. “Where did you get it?” She bent near to examine it. “I’ve never seen anything like it!”
“It was a gift,” said Skylan, intent upon his work. “From Torval.”
Draya drew in an awed breath. “Tell me,” she said, taking a seat beside him. “Tell me of your experience in Hammerfall!”
“What happened is between myself and the god,” said Skylan. “I may not speak of it.”
Draya was disappointed, but he was right not to reveal the god’s mysteries. She herself never told anyone about her meetings with Vindrash. Not that there had been anything to tell lately. The goddess remained silent.
Skylan continued to polish his sword, rubbing the rainbow metal lovingly with a cloth. She watched his hands, strong and capable at their work. She thought of his hands taking hold of her, and she burned with desire. She found it hard to concentrate on what he was saying.
“I want to leave immediately” were the first words she caught.
“For the Dragon Isles?” she asked.
“Of course,” Skylan returned, slightly frowning. “Where else? We will sail on the Torgun dragonship, the Venjekar.”
“We will send a messenger to your father—,”