Prophet of Moonshae - Douglas Niles [41]
Alicia thought for a moment. "Neither. A delay of a day or two will not harm our purpose, and I would spend some time beside this pool." She looked at the sky, which, though still gray, did not show the heavy darkness of impending rain.
"My friends," she said, looking back and forth from Tavish to Keane. "I wish to stay here through the day and the night. Will you remain here beside me?"
Tavish chuckled. "Your mother's daughter, that you are! Why spend the night in a comfortable lodge, with cooked food and a warm bed, when a mattress of the goddess's own boulders beckons? Of course I'll stay."
Alicia thanked the bard and turned to look at the tall young mage. She was surprised by how much she wanted him to agree. For some reason, she realized, Keane made her feel surprisingly safe-not because of any warlike prowess, but for his alert mind and his steady presence. And, too, his display against Gwyeth had been impressively effective. While she knew that, as princess, she could command him to stay, that felt like a very unsatisfactory alternative to her.
Keane cleared his throat awkwardly. "Outside? Well, for one night, I suppose I could manage… Do you suppose we could ask the earl to send up some food?"
"And bedrolls, too," laughed Alicia, suddenly relieved.
"Surely you wish me to leave men to guard you!" objected the earl, after Alicia had explained her intent.
"That won't be necessary." The princess felt that the absence of Earl Blackstone's swordsmen would enhance her security far more than their presence.
Grumbling something under his breath about scatterbrained girls, he finally agreed to send up food, wine, and some furs for sleeping. He rode away at the head of his guardsmen, and Alicia watched them until the winding trail carried them out of sight. Only then, and despite the stagnant water and the high, barren rocks looming overhead, did she feel the first stirrings of peace descend over the Moonwell and its little vale.
* * * * *
Once again the cloaked stranger came to Blackstone Manor in the dark of night, and though the man had been many miles away in Callidyrr that very day, the earl did not question his means of transport. He met him alone, in the privacy of his personal chamber. Even his sons would not know of this dark, nocturnal visitor.
"The younger sister, I believe, will be pliant to our will," said the newcomer, speaking from beneath his drooping-hood.
"Good," growled Blackstone. "The older one is going to be trouble." He told of Alicia's intransigence in the exploitation of the well.
"She is an obstacle," agreed the dark one. "But such obstacles can be overcome."
Blackstone glowered, his eyebrows meeting in a bushy ridge of darkness over his eyes. He stared, as if his gaze would penetrate that cloth enclosing the serenely hooded figure. "What do you mean?" he asked carefully.
"You couldn't have arranged the situation better had you planned it. Of course, no harm can be offered the girl-not while she is your guest. But has she not herself foresworn your hospitality tonight?"
"Indeed." The earl continued to study the cloaked figure.
"In fact, you tell me she declined your offer of a protective escort-guards to keep her safe against such threats as lurk in the hills."
"Aye-and those threats are real, but they do not materialize at my beck and call. And I cannot risk sending some of my own men, however well disguised. What we speak of is treason against the family of a very mighty High King. The loyalty of even my most trusted sergeants would be strained by such a task."
"There is another way." Now the hooded man leaned forward, clasping his hands over his knees. They extended from the sleeves of his robe, and Blackstone saw that they were slender and frail, almost womanly. The blue of veins showed through the pale skin.
"Continue," said the earl quietly.
"You remember, I am certain, the choice portions of iron and steel I have claimed from you these past years?"
"Aye… and gold aplenty, too!"
The stranger laughed