Kushiel's Justice - Jacqueline Carey [110]
"Dorelei." I caught her hand and laid it flat on my chest. "Look at me, wrapped all around in the ollamh's charms. I'm not going anywhere.”
"I'm glad," she said simply. "Imriel, when this is over, can we leave? I like Eamonn very much, truly, and all his family. But I miss my own.”
"Shall we return to Bryn Gorrydum?" I asked. "Or take up residence at Clunderry?”
"We don't have to do either, yet." Dorelei laid her head on my shoulder, and I shifted to accommodate her weight, sliding my arm around her. "We could go to Master Hyacinthe's Stormkeep with Phèdre and Joscelin.”
I stroked her hair. "Well, it's like to be the safest place in all of Alba, that's for sure.”
"True." She smiled drowsily against my shoulder. "And mayhap my aunt Sibeal will know why my dreams have been silent since we wed.”
To that, I had no reply.
I held her close with one arm and continued stroking her hair, humming softly, until I felt her body slacken in sleep, her breathing deepening. And somewhere along the way, I fell asleep myself; a deep, dreamless sleep, unhaunted by the sound of pipes or a woman's laughter.
On the morrow, the day dawned bright and clear, and seemingly free of harpists. I arose feeling more refreshed by my night's sleep than I'd felt in ages. Before I dressed, I sat on the edge of the bed, feeling for the croonie-stone at my throat and checking my wrists and ankles, making sure the bits of red yarn were securely knotted.
Dorelei watched me with a dimpled smile. "You're like a parcel I can't unwrap.”
"Consider it mere adornment," I suggested.
Her smile deepened. "All right.”
We made love, laughing and hushing one another when the sounds from the great hall intruded. Innisclan was not built for privacy. I thought about what Aodhan had said, and understood for the first time that learning to love Alba and learning to love Dorelei were one and the same.
I didn't think of Sidonie.
For the first time, she seemed far, far away. On the far side of the Straits that divided our lands, on the far side of the charms of protection that bound me. I had given myself over to Alba, and Aodhan rendered me proof against my own innermost desire. Even the dark surge of Kushiel's bloodline seemed far away, tied to my feelings for Sidonie.
"That was nice," Dorelei murmured.
I made a sound of agreement deep in my throat.
"Do you think we made a child?" She rolled over in the narrow bed, lacing my fingers in hers and laying my hand on her belly. "I'd like to.”
"Would you?" I squirmed downward to plant a kiss on the soft brown flesh below her navel. "Well, then. I reckon we should keep trying.”
"Imriel…" She breathed my name.
I spread her thighs and plied her with my tongue until she shuddered and writhed and tugged at my hair. She tasted of the sea and smelled of fresh-baked bread. I slithered up her body, my wrists and ankles bound with red yarn. I entered her, the croonie-stone hanging between us as I hovered above her on propped arms.
"Now," Dorelei whispered. "Now!”
I arched my back and spent my seed in her, obedient.
Her face was soft with pleasure. "That was nice," she said, echoing her own words.
"Indeed." I kissed my wife. "We should get up. I promised Eamonn I'd make an offering at his uncle's burial mound.”
The household of Innisclan was still in a subdued mood, digesting the news of Conor's paternity and waiting in an apprehensive hush to see what would come of his summons. At Dorelei's suggestion, we paid a visit to the encampment where our men were idling to warn Urist that one of the Maghuin Dhonn might be approaching.
He spat on the ground and made a gesture to avert evil. "By the Boar! What did you go and do that for?”
"There'll be no trouble on the Lady's grounds," I said firmly. "Not from this quarter.”
Urist eyed me dourly, jerking his chin toward the bindings of red yarn around my wrists. "There already has been by the look of you.”
"Just promise me you'll offer