Daggerspell - Katharine Kerr [173]
Finally the morning came when they would return to Dun Gwerbyn. After she saddled her horse, Jill went to say farewell to Aderyn and the two elves, who were grinning at the prospect of leaving the lands of men for home.
“Here, Jill,” Calonderiel said. “If ever you weary of Eldidd, then ride west and find us. The Wildfolk will show you the way.”
“My thanks. Truly, that would gladden my heart, to see you all again.”
“Maybe someday you will,” Aderyn said. “And if not, think of me every now and then, and I’ll do the same for you.”
As they mounted their horses, Jill suddenly felt like weeping. She’d never known men she’d liked so well so fast. Someday I will ride west, she thought, someday. Yet she felt a little coldness around her heart from somehow knowing that the “someday” was a long time away, if it ever came at all. She waited at the edge of the camp until they’d ridden out of sight, then went back to her own people and to Rhodry, waiting for her at the head of the army.
On the day that the victorious army returned to Dun Gwerbyn, Cullyn sat by the window, where he had a good view of the gates and the ward below. The day was wet, with a fine drizzle of rain that turned the cobbles below as clean and slick as metal, and the draft through the window was cold, but he kept his watch until at last he saw them filing in, the men wrapped in wool cloaks. At the head was Jill, riding a golden western hunter. Grinning in a gape of relief, Cullyn leaned on the windowsill and watched as she dismounted, threw her reins to a servant, then ran for the broch. Cullyn closed and barred the wooden shutters without a doubt that she was running to see him. In just a few minutes, Jill flung the door open and stepped in, pausing out of breath in the doorway.
“What did you do? Run all the way up?”
“I did. If you’re going to beat me, I want it over with.”
Cullyn laughed and held out his good arm to her.
“I’m still too weak to beat you. And I don’t even want to, I’m so cursed glad to see you alive.”
When she flung herself down next to him, he hugged her gingerly, aware of the ache down his side from the healing wound, then kissed her on the forehead. She gave him a smile as beautiful as the sun rising.
“Your old Da’s head is swollen these days, my sweet. So my lass gained the honor of the day, did she? I saw that horse you rode in. Was it a gift from the cadvridoc?”
“It was.” Jill grinned at him. “And after the battle, I ate at the head of the honor table.”
“Listen to you, you little hellcat.” Cullyn gave her an affectionate squeeze. “But I warn you, if I ever hear you talking about riding to another battle, I’ll beat you so hard that you won’t be able to sit on a horse.”
“Don’t trouble your heart, Da.” Her smile was abruptly gone. “Oh, it’s splendid to sit here with you and share my glory, but I don’t ever want to ride to war again.”
“Well and good, then. I suppose you had to see for yourself and learn the hard way. You’re too much like me to learn any other way.”
When she laughed, he bent his head to kiss her, then realized that Nevyn was standing in the open doorway and watching them with an oddly frightened expression, quickly stifled. Cullyn let go of Jill and moved away. The old man’s stare was a mirror, making him see an ugly twisted thing that he’d hidden from himself until that moment.
“How do you fare?” Nevyn said. “The cadvridoc wants to see you, but I wanted to make sure you weren’t overtired.”
“I’m fine.”
“Indeed?” Nevyn raised one eyebrow. “You look pale.”
“I’m fine!” Cullyn snarled. “Jill, leave us alone.”
“Da! I want to hear what his lordship says.”
“I said go.”
Like a kicked dog she got up and slunk out of