The Black Raven - Katharine Kerr [129]
“You know what?” she said. “I’ve been sewing on your wedding shirt.”
“Have you now?” He grinned, so genuinely pleased that she began to share his pleasure. “When did you start that?”
“A fair bit ago. After you left for Cerrmor.”
“Huh. You’re lucky I didn’t change my mind.”
They shared a laugh, then another kiss. Lilli felt a gratitude so immense that she could almost mistake it for love. A marriage with Branoic would keep her steady and safe, the way a keel steadies a boat when it runs before a storm, desperate for harbor.
“My lord?” It was Lilli, standing in the doorway. “May I speak with you?”
“By all means,” Nevyn said. “Come in and shut the door.”
Lilli did so, sitting in the chair when he offered it to her. He was pleased to see her calmer than she’d been in days.
“Branoic still wants us to marry,” Lilli said. “Even though he knows about the prince.”
“Indeed? Well, that’s large-hearted of him! Do you want to marry him?”
“I do, but will it interfere with my dweomer work?”
“I doubt it. Branoic will be at best a very minor lord, so his household will be simple for you to run.”
“We’ll be glorified farmers, more like.” Lilli smiled. “I can’t imagine Branno sitting in his hall doing naught when there’s work to be done outside, no matter how much land owes him dues.”
“No more can I, frankly. Well, then, my blessings on you both.”
“Oh, my thanks! You know, Sanno’s already given me his permission, so you could announce the betrothal if you’d like. I mean, you’re my master in a craft.”
“So I am! You know, I’d not thought of it that way.”
“Although—well, they announced my betrothal to Braemys here in the great hall.” Her smile vanished. “It seems like a bad omen, to announce a second betrothal there.”
“So it does. I’ll just spread the word around to those who need to know.”
“Like the prince?”
“Him and others.”
“My thanks. It’s going to be a long while before Branno gets that land, anyway. I gather Maryn can’t give it to him until he’s the king.”
“Just that.” Nevyn hesitated for a moment. “And that means bringing Braemys to heel, one way or another.”
“So it does,” Lilli said. “It aches my heart, my lord, to think of him being slain. He always was my cousin, and now I know he’s my brother as well. I wish he’d just surrender and swear to Maryn. Do you think if I wrote him a letter it might help?”
“Now that’s a thought. It might at that. Let me ponder the idea for a bit.”
Late that night, when most of the dun had long since gone to bed, Nevyn had another visitor. He was studying certain obscure sigils relating to the planetary spirits when he heard a noise that might have been a timid knock upon the door. He rose and shut the book. The noise came again.
“Is someone there?” Nevyn called out.
“There is.” A woman’s voice, and tremulous.
Nevyn crossed to the door and opened. Princess Bellyra stood on the landing, wearing a plain linen dress and a shawl over her head and shoulders. She clutched the halves of the shawl together at the neck, so that with a flick of her wrist she would have been able to hide her face from passersby.
“Do come in, Your Highness,” Nevyn said. “I hope you’re not ill.”
“I’m not. I’ve come to see if you can make me a love charm.”
Nevyn started to answer, then merely sighed. Bellyra walked in and sat down in his only chair. She let the shawl fall back over her shoulders, then reached up and ran a hand through her hair, hanging loose and dishevelled.
“I’d wager you can’t, actually,” Bellyra went on. “Love charms have the fine ring of legend about them.”
“You’re quite right.” Nevyn sat down on the edge of his bed. “And it’s just as well. The legends are built around all the troubles they cause, you know.”
“What I really want is a potion that makes a person fall out of love.”
“If I had one I’d make Lilli drink it.”
“Oh, not for her! I don’t blame Lilli for one single thing. She