Days of Air and Darkness - Katharine Kerr [62]
“Sevvi, dearest, I should be ever so grateful.” Davylla sighed. “I truly don’t know what to do. Do you think it would insult her if we offered her money?”
“No doubt. I’ll just have a word with her.”
Taurra put delicate fingers over her mouth, as if in shame, but when their eyes met, Sevinna felt her stomach clench cold.
With a sullen sort of courtesy, Lord Cenwyc escorted Sevinna out to the prison house and ordered the guard to bring Jill out while a page saddled her horse and fetched her gear. In a few minutes, Jill appeared, striding briskly out, her head held high, her eyes so haughty when she looked Cenwyc’s way that one would have thought her noble-born.
“Very well, lass. There’s been a mistake. The missing brooch has been found, and you’re free to go.”
“My most humble thanks, my lord,” Jill snapped. “I trust his lordship will think twice in the future before he commits injustice in the gwerbret’s name.”
Cenwyc merely scowled at her. Sevinna hurried forward and caught her arm.
“Let me walk with you to the stables. I’ll tell you how the brooch was found, if Lord Cenwyc will be so kind as to let us have a word alone.”
“As my lady wishes, of course.” Cenwyc bowed. “I’ll return to her ladyship.”
The two girls began walking toward the stable, but slowly, whispering as quietly as they could.
“I saw Taurra put the brooch in your saddlebags,” Sevinna said. “Or well, I didn’t truly see her, but we’d looked through your gear, and the brooch wasn’t there. Then I saw her near the room where your things were lying. When I looked in the bags, there it was. So I put it where Baba could find it.”
“I see. Taurra doesn’t suspect you, does she?”
“I have the most awful feeling she knows I did it. She’s awfully clever, Jill, and I’m not much good at hiding things.”
“Oh, by the gods! I’ll be forever grateful to you for this, but you’ve just made yourself an awfully dangerous enemy. I hope Cenwyc isn’t going to run me out of town.”
“That’s what he wants to do. I don’t know if Davylla will let him or not.”
“If I go, you’ve got to be careful—truly, truly careful.”
“Well, what can she even do to me, here in the dun?”
“Poison you, that’s what. Please, believe me! Taurra isn’t what she’s calling herself. She’s dangerous, and she’s already poisoned one person that I know of—her lover, it was.”
Sevinna caught her breath with a gasp and felt cold panic round her heart.
“I’d denounce her, but no one’s going to believe me,” Jill went on. “That’s where Rhodry went, to get noble-born witnesses. Is there any way you can all go home? I don’t want to leave you lasses here.”
“Well, there isn’t. I mean, I’d have to tell Davylla what you said, and you’re right. She’s never going to believe it.”
At the stables, they found Sunrise saddled and ready, with Jill’s bedroll tied on behind. The page handed over the reins, then trotted off to the great hall and his dinner. By then, twilight hung cold over the dun. Flickering light began to spill out the windows of the great hall as inside, torches were lit.
“Did you want to go inside?” Sevvi said. “Davva’s waiting for you, you see. She really does want to apologize.”
“I don’t think I want Taurra to get a look at me.” Jill was staring over Sevinna’s shoulder to the main gates of the broch. “How much do you weigh?”
“What? Not much over a hundred weight. Why?”
“I’ve got an idea. Come on, walk with me into the town, will you?”
“Oooh, do you think I dare?”
“I don’t think you dare not to. Please? I’ve got an idea. Look, the guards have gone off somewhere. It’s now or never.”
Sevinna hesitated, but she was remembering the hatred in Taurra’s eyes. Even more she remembered her herbs—lots of herbs—and the mastered lore to go with them.
“There’s no time,” Jill said. “Someone’s bound to come out here as soon as soon. Will you come with me or not?”
One last hesitation, and the memory of Taurra’s small smile of triumph.
“I will. Let’s hurry.”
They rushed out the gates