Days of Air and Darkness - Katharine Kerr [50]
“My thanks, Your Grace, for your generosity to a shamed man. I’ll think about your offer.”
Rhodry rose and bowed, then fled to the ward. He was tempted, seriously tempted, by Tudvulc’s generosity, but he knew that taking it would cause political problems touching the High King himself. Rhodry’s brother Rhys, Gwerbret Aberwyn, hated him so bitterly that no doubt he’d find a way to challenge any lord, no matter how powerful, who took his younger brother in. The challenge would be the king’s affair to settle, at great cost to His Highness. Exile or not, silver dagger or not, Rhodry considered himself the king’s vassal still, and one who had sworn a sacred oath to put his liege’s needs above his own. With a toss of his head, he shrugged the temptation off and strode back to their chamber, where he found Jill waiting.
“That’s that, my love. We’ll be on the road on the morrow. No doubt you’ll be glad of it, too. This must have been tedious for you, sitting about with the womenfolk.”
“It wasn’t. I like them all, truly, and you can’t blame them for worrying about the right match. I tell you, Rhoddo, I’m more determined to hunt Mallona out than ever. I still pity her, but she’s like a fox among chickens. What if one of these ladies stood in her way?”
“Well, it wouldn’t be pretty, would it? We’ll do our best to make sure the lovely Lady Mallona gets a long neck from the gwerbret. Here, did you arrange to get in touch with the lasses once they reach Belgwerger?”
“I did, and they assure me they’ll find some way for me to meet Davylla at least, if not her guest. It should work out well.”
Although Belgwerger was a decent size, with close to eight thousand people, its lord’s dun looked definitely shabby compared to the iron-supported splendor of Lughcarn, and the town itself had none of the feel of a place where money flows like a river, Rhodry and Jill found a quite decent tavern where the innkeep wasn’t too proud to take a silver dagger’s coin. There they spent an edgy pair of days, trying to keep out of sight while watching what might be happening in the town. Several times they saw Lord Elyc riding out of the dun with his warband, but never did they see any of his womenfolk.
Finally, as they were lounging near the east gate of the city on a late afternoon, the traveling party from Lughcarn rode in: the three lasses on their palfreys, a servingwoman for a chaperon, a couple of pages, a small cart of clothes and traveling gear, a pair of servants, and fifteen men of the warband, all looking profoundly bored with their duty as they brought up the rear.
“No wonder it took them so blasted long to get here,” Rhodry muttered. “Traveling with a wretched cart!”
“Just so,” Jill said. “Here, I’m going to make sure they see me.”
On the streets, the crowd was hurrying out of the way, stepping into doorways and alleys as the procession made its slow way along. Jill worked through the crowd until she was at the edge of the street, then bowed as the lasses passed her. All three of them giggled and waved, and the servingwoman allowed herself a small smile in her direction. Once they were past, Jill came back and caught Rhodry’s arm.
“Well and good, my love. If I don’t hear from them soon, I’ll go up to the palace and bribe a servant to take them a message.”
Sevinna was surprised to find Lady Davylla young, with a pretty round face and a thick head of chestnut hair. At the dinner to celebrate their arrival, her ladyship kept the talk light, amusing her guests with talk of various weddings and other social events in her husband’s demesne, as well as chatter about her young daughter. Only once did the talk turn to her mysterious new dependent.
“I take it Lady Taurra must still feel ill,” Babryan said, “since she’s not dining with us.”
Davylla shot a small smile in Elyc’s direction and changed the subject.
After the meal, they retired to Davylla’s hall, a