Days of Blood and Fire - Katharine Kerr [54]
Jill sat watching them with an expression of stunned surprise.
“I see,” she said at last. “And we know that Thavrae failed.”
“Just so, mazrak, just so. I think it likely that this pus-and-pride-swollen false goddess will send others after the thing, don’t you? I was present when some of these heretic prophets were put to the torture in our public square. All claimed their demoness was implacable and unyielding. She is a goddess of war, they cried, not of mercy, and she will revenge us upon you for this torment. Those were their exact words. You may trust that, being as I’m a bard and trained to remember such things.”
“So you are, though it’s an ill-omened thing you’ve remembered this time, I must say.” Jill paused, thinking for a long moment. “I think I’d best have a word with the gwerbret.”
“He’s likely to see more raiders on his lands, truly.”
Jill nodded, distracted. Jahdo suddenly wondered if she knew what Thavrae had been sent to fetch, simply because she looked so troubled.
“Meer, you have my profound thanks for this information. I can only hope you’ll tell me more if I should need to ask more. I promise you, I swear to you on my honor, that if you do so, you’ll be helping your own people, not betraying them in any way at all.”
“Listen, mazrak. Fair words mean little between those who have just met.”
“True enough, bard.” Jill seemed more amused than insulted. “As time goes on, I hope we come to know each other better.” She rose, nodding at Jahdo. ‘I’ll speak to Rhodry and the gwerbret on your behalf. I see no reason for you two to stay penned up like hogs.”
“Well, neither do I. It’s not like we could escape without any food and stuff.”
“Just so.”
Jill walked across the room, opened the door, then turned back for one last look Jahdo’s way. He felt that she was appraising him the way a man might judge a horse at a market fair, and for a good long time that morning, he was afraid, just from remembering her cold stare.
“Someone’s meddled with that lad’s mind” Jill said.
“What?” Rhodry looked up sharply from the bridle he was cleaning. “What do you mean?”
“Jahdo. Somewhat’s wrong with him. I wonder if he’s been ensorcelled? I don’t find all the usual evidence, but maybe it was done very cleverly.”
“Do you think it happened here in the dun?”
“Couldn’t have. I’d know if someone were working evil dweomer nearby.”
Out in the warm sun they were sitting in front of the stables, Jill on a bound shook of hay, Rhodry on the cobbles while he cleaned his tack. Although the ward was its usual busy chaos, the various servants and riders walking by all gave the pair of them a wide berth.
“Besides,” Jill went on. “Every time I look him in the eye he cringes, while I’ve never noticed him do that to anyone else. I think me he’s felt the touch of magic on his soul.”
“The lad’s got guts, true enough. I remember the night we captured them. He stood his ground, bold as brass, looking me right in the eye, and when I went to lay a hand on him, he tried to stab me with this miserable little knife, practically a pen-trimming knife, it was. I thought then that he’d make a grand warrior someday, but he’s clumsy. Ye gods, is he!”
“Oh.” She paused for a smile. “Think he’ll outgrow it?”
“Some lads do, truly, but somehow I doubt it in this case.”
“Well, maybe the gods have other plans for our Jahdo.”
“What?” He looked up again to find her solemn. “Thinking of making him your apprentice?”
“Oh, not truly, not now that I say it aloud. He seems a stolid sort of lad, all common sense and suchlike. But you know, it’s getting on to be time I thought of finding some-one.”
Rhodry winced and concentrated on drawing a rag through a bronze bridle ring to wipe away the green.
“Well,” Jill said in a moment. “I know you don’t like to think of my dying, but I’ve not got over that fever I picked up in Bardek, and it’s not likely that I ever will. Rhoddo, we’re both well on in years, even if you do look but half your age.”
The tarnish lay thick on the inside of the ring. He scrubbed hard.
“Oh, very well, I’ll hold my tongue.