Daggerspell - Katharine Kerr [199]
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Nevyn was riding alone at the rear of the warband when two Wildfolk came back, popping into manifestation on his horse’s head and on his saddle peak. The obese yellow gnome was particularly pleased with himself, grinning from ear to ear and rubbing his fat little stomach. Nevyn slowed his horse and dropped even farther back, out of earshot of the men.
“Did you do what I told you to?”
The yellow gnome nodded a yes and stretched its mouth in a soundless peal of laughter.
“And Rhodry’s safe?”
This time the blue sprite nodded vigorously. She shaded her eyes with one hand and did a pantomime of someone peering and searching while her face registered sheer frustration.
“And you got the horses?”
They both nodded.
“Splendid, splendid. You have my thanks, and you come tell me if Rhodry’s in danger again.”
They disappeared in a swirl of breeze. As Nevyn rode back up to join the others, he allowed himself a smile for the thought of Rhys’s men, walking the whole fifteen miles back to Aberwyn in soft riding boots. It’s a good thing I decided to scry Rhodry out, he thought to himself, curse Rhys and his murdering bastards all!
“The warband must have reached your cousins dun by now,” Dannyan remarked.
“Just so,” Lovyan said. “It was sensible of Cullyn to think of taking the men away. At least Rhodry’s left me a good man to captain the band.”
With a sigh, Lovyan sat up on the bed and ran her hands through her tangled hair. She had wept enough for one day; in spite of the pain she felt over Rhodry’s exile, she had to pick up the broken pieces of her plans and make new ones.
“Dann, would you get a servant to fetch me hot water?” Lovyan said, “I’ll have a wash and dress now. I must have a word with the gwerbret.”
“So soon? Is my lady sure that’s wise?”
“Not wise at all, but necessary.”
Yet in the end, Rhys came to her. Lovyan had just finished dressing when a page appeared to ask if she would receive the gwerbret. Lovyan took a place by the window and drew herself up to full height as Rhys came in. He looked so timid that Lovyan suddenly remembered that there was something he very badly wanted from her.
“Mother, my apologies. Truly, I never meant to send Rhodry away, or to hang him either. I was honestly glad when his captain reminded me of my promise. Don’t you see? After he stood there and defied me in open malover, what could I do? Knuckle under and be shamed in every man’s eyes?”
Lovyan wished that she could believe him. In time, perhaps, she would be able to make herself believe him.
“Mother, please! I’d already shamed myself once by admitting my fault there in the malover.”
“I have no doubt that His Grace perceived his choice that way. I have hopes that he will see a better choice at some future time.”
“I suppose you want me to recall him.”
“Does His Grace truly have to ask me that?”
With a toss of his head, Rhys began pacing back and forth. Lovyan considered refusing to make the marriage for Donilla unless Rhys recalled his brother, but she knew him too well. In angry pride, he would refuse the bargain, and then Donilla would suffer for her husband’s fault.
“I wish to leave your court on the morrow,” Lovyan said. “If Donilla’s going to ride with us, you’ll have to drink the bitter ale and put her aside. It’s only hurting both of you by delaying it, anyway.”
“My thanks.” Rhys turned to her in honest relief. “I was afraid that you’d—”
He could not quite bring himself to finish. She let the silence build until he looked down, shamed by her generosity.
“Mother, please? Won’t you accept my apology?”
“Mother?