Fire Dragon - Katharine Kerr [59]
As they dismounted, grooms rushed forward to cheer the prince and take their horses. Nevyn worked his way free of the mob and headed for the main broch. In the doorway stood Princess Bellyra with her serving women, all of them dressed in their best dresses of brightly colored Bardek silks. With them stood Prince Riddmar in a clean shirt and a pair of brigga that were almost too small for him. Despite her finery, though, Bellyra looked dead-pale and gaunt. When he bowed to her, she smiled and gave him her hand to kiss, but the entire time she looked over his shoulder at Maryn, working his way free of the well-wishers mobbing him. As Nevyn walked past her, Lady Elyssa caught his glance and mouthed a single word, “Worried.” “Me too,” he mouthed back. On the morrow, once Bellyra had welcomed home her prince, he would go up to the women's quarters, he decided, and talk with Elyssa in private.
Lilli was waiting for him inside, a few steps up the stone staircase. At the sight of him she broke into a grin and rushed down to meet him. Nevyn caught both her hands in his and squeezed them.
“Oh my poor child,” he said. “Your hair.”
“It's for Branoic,” she said, and the smile vanished. “I wanted to mourn him properly.”
“So I assumed.” Nevyn paused, studying her pale face. “You've been ill again. Or I should say, you are ill again. Another sign of your mourning?”
“I suppose. I wept and wept so much at first.” Lilli looked down at the floor. “I couldn't sleep, and oh, it hurt to breathe! But I've been getting a bit stronger just recently.”
“That's good, but I intend to make sure you get a great deal stronger before you do any more dweomerwork. Shall we go up to your chamber? We have much to talk about.”
“Let's. I'm not ready to face Maryn just yet.”
Nevyn raised an eyebrow at that, but Lilli said nothing more until they were safely in her chamber. She insisted that he take the chair and perched on the edge of the high bed.
“It gladdens my heart to see you, my lord,” Lilli said. “I've been so worried.”
“About the princess?”
“Indeed. She's so unhappy. I've been thinking, I should give Maryn up. I can't stand being her rival, I just can't. She did so much for me, when I had naught.”
“Will he allow that?”
“I don't know.” Lilli looked down at her clasped hands. “But he'd never force me, and so if I could just hold firm—” She let her voice trail away.
“If. A rather large if, I'd wager. But Lilli, if you do mean to do this, remember what I told you about the glamours I cast over Maryn. You have dweomer, you can see past them if you choose.”
“Of course!” She looked up, wide-eyed. “That's the thing I was forgetting. I knew there was somewhat.”
“But think well on this decision. After all, even if you do renounce him, Maryn will mope and mourn for a while, but in the end, he'll only find some other lass.”
“That's what Elyssa says, too. And I'll admit it vexes me.”
They shared a wry laugh.
“Anyway,” Lilli went on, “the cooks have prepared an enormous feast to welcome the prince home. It should last all evening.”
“Very well. I'd like to talk with you about your studies, but it can wait till tomorrow.”
“I don't want to go to the feast. Do you?”
“I hate large grand affairs like that.”
“So I thought. May I come to your tower chamber, and we can discuss things there? I've got myself completely confused over these sigils.”
“Sounds like a splendid idea. The prince will probably be looking for you, though.”
“I know. That's why I asked.