Days of Air and Darkness - Katharine Kerr [60]
“Listen carefully. If Baba starts getting ill in any way, for the love of the gods tell me. It’s truly important. And please, the moment you see Rhodry, tell him where I am.”
“I will, I promise. And I’ll do my best to get you out of this, too. I don’t know what I can do. We’re going to be going home in two days, so maybe I can speak to my uncle.”
“Two days? Well, maybe Rhodry will get here before then. And I can go hungry for a couple of days if I have to.”
Sevinna was honestly surprised that food would mean so much to her that she’d starve rather than eat prison food, but she’d always heard it was terrible stuff. She left the prison and hurried across the ward to the kitchens, but before she could reach them, she met Babryan and Wbridda, out for a stroll to see the gwerbret’s falcons. In the sunlight, Babryan’s face was still decidedly pale.
“I thought Baba needed some air,” Wbridda announced.
“So she does. I’ll join you in a bit.”
“Why not now?” Babryan said. “Sevvi, what are you doing out here? You haven’t been to see that awful Jill, have you?”
“Of course not! It aches my heart to think she deceived us all.”
Sevinna saw no way out of walking with them, but in the end, she was glad of it. As they came to the gates, they saw one of the guards coming in, leading Jill’s distinctive golden horse, laden with a pair of saddlebags and a bedroll.
“Those are Jill’s things, aren’t they?” Wbridda said. “I hope none of the men steal them or suchlike.”
“Oh, hold your tongue,” Babryan snapped. “She’s awful, and she deserves whatever she gets.”
“Baba, I don’t see why you’re being so nasty. For all we know, there’s some mistake. After all, why would a noble-born man like Rhodry fall in love with a thief?”
“He’s done awful things, too. Da should never have let him stay at our dun, never!”
Wbridda started to reply, then merely shrugged. Sevinna marched over to the guard.
“What are you doing with those? Where did you get them?”
“Fetched them from the inn at Lord Cenwyc’s orders, my lady. As to what, his lordship hasn’t told me yet.”
“Then let’s go find out, shall we?”
The man turned the horse over to a waiting page, but took down the gear. Sevinna followed him inside to Cenwyc’s usual reception chamber. The lord rose and bowed to her, but she could see how irritated he was with the sight of her. The guard dumped Jill’s gear onto the table and made a hasty retreat.
“Cenwyc,” Sevinna snapped, “I want to watch while you search for the brooch.”
“Oh, those clever thieves sell things as soon as they get their hands on them, my lady. No use in looking.”
“And where would she sell it in town without you knowing?”
Cenwyc started to answer, then hesitated, looking oddly troubled. All at once, Sevinna recognized his expression, so much like Babryan’s after one of her special lessons.
“Think, my lord!” Sevinna crossed her arms over her chest and glared. “Who told you that? About thieves selling things, I mean.”
“Told me? What do you mean, told me? Don’t be silly!” But he hesitated and thought. “Well, that’s odd, now that you mention it. Must have been Lady Taurra, when she was telling me about the brooch in the first place. I do remember, now that I come to think of it.”
“Indeed?” Sevinna summoned up all her courage. “Well, I think we should have a look into this, my man. I can’t believe his lordship would be so slipshod about an important matter.”
Nowhere in the saddlebags or bedroll did they find any piece of jewelry, not so much as a copper pin.
“Huh,” said Cenwyc. “Well, I’ll send men to ask round town and see if she sold it anywhere. I’ve been told she never left when that man of hers did, so if she sold it, it would have to be here. Odd, very odd. Well, you’ve made your point, lass. If it does turn out that she was never seen selling anything, or if they don’t find it buried round that inn where she was staying, then I’ll have a word with my Lord Elyc when he comes home. Lady Taurra might have mislaid the thing.”
“Perhaps so. How silly of her!” Sevinna arranged a bright and winsome smile. “Oh, I do