Fire Dragon - Katharine Kerr [72]
“Oh, how splendid of Otho!” Lilli said. “Of course, if Maryn were a less honorable man, he would have thrown Otho in prison or suchlike.”
“Perhaps,” Nevyn said, still smiling. “But I think Otho would have thought it was worth it.”
Someone knocked on the door, then banged on it.
“Lilli?” Elyssa's voice called out. “Is Nevyn there with you?
“He is.” Lilli rose from her chair. “Do come in, Lyss.”
Elyssa opened the door and stepped in, but only by one pace. “Nevyn, please, can you come attend upon the princess? Her madness—ah ye gods! I've never seen it so strong.”
“Of course I will.” Nevyn got up hastily. “I suppose this attack must be the result of what happened in the great hall.”
“That and worse. The prince is sending her away to Cerrmor. He says it's to stand as regent to young Riddmar, but I doubt me if that's the real reason.”
“The little bastard!” Nevyn snarled. “And no doubt she blames herself.”
“I don't know.” Elyssa spread her hands in a helpless gesture. “She can barely put ten words together.”
“Lilli, go to my tower room and fetch the canvas sack. It's under the table. The sack with the medicinals. Then bring it to the women's hall.”
“I will, my lord.” Lilli took a deep breath. “As fast as I can.”
Lilli hurried to the staircase and clattered down in her clogs. By then the storm had turned the sunset hour as dim as twilight, and in the murky great hall she could hope that no one would notice her. From the scraps of conversation she could overhear, everyone was still talking about Bellyra and Otho, how between them they had shown the prince a thing or two. She hurried outside and trotted across the ward to Nevyn's broch. At the entrance she paused and looked back: no one was following her. By the time she reached the top of the stairs she was gasping for breath. Although she found the sack immediately, she was forced to sit down and rest till her pounding heart stilled.
By the time she left, the rain had started. Fat cool drops spattered down, thicker and faster with every moment that passed. She wrapped her arms around the sack to keep it as dry as possible and ran for the great hall. She was so intent on keeping the herbs safe, in fact, that she nearly ran into Maryn. He caught her arm and smiled at her. She could smell mead.
“Why such a hurry, my lady?” Maryn said.
“Your wife, Your Highness, has been taken ill. Nevyn sent me for medicinals.”
Maryn let her go and stepped back. Lilli could see the men at the nearby tables turning to watch, but her anger pounded in her blood like the rain on the cobbles.
“How could you!” she hissed. “Send her away, I mean. How could you?”
Maryn froze, staring at her with eyes that revealed nothing. Lilli pushed past him and started up the stairs. Her lungs ached and burned, but she forced herself onward until she gained the safety of the landing above. She staggered down the corridor to the women's hall, pushed open the door, and staggered through it to find Degwa lighting candles with a long splint. In the dancing light tears gleamed on her cheeks.
“My lady and Nevyn are in the bedchamber,” Degwa said. “I should have listened to you, Lilli. Ah Goddess, how I wish I'd listened to you!”
“I wish you'd listened, too.” Lilli set the sack on a nearby table. “Take this in to Nevyn, will you? I don't want to add to our princess's grief by letting her see me.”
Lilli returned to her own chamber. Clodda had set on the table a plate of bread and cheese, a goblet of watered mead, and a lit candle lantern. Lilli sank into her chair and remembered Maryn, standing in the doorway with his eyes suddenly gone dead to all feeling. He sent her away for me. The realization sickened her. He sent her away so I wouldn't see her grief. Did he think I'd fall into his arms again, once Bellyra was out of sight?
“I'd rather die,” she whispered. “By the Goddess, I hope he never touches me again.”
And as she spoke, she felt an eerie cold wash over