The Black Raven - Katharine Kerr [144]
“Or as close to the cardinals as matters,” he remarked cheerfully. “Spirits rarely understand what north and south and so on mean anyway. Now, step carefully, Lilli, so you don’t rub anything out, and go stand just there, in the center.”
Lilli did as she was told. Nevyn raised his hands above his head and called upon the Light. A sheet of blue fire raced round the circle and formed a wall. When Lilli gasped aloud, he realized that it had manifested on the physical plane as well as the etheric.
“Does somewhat puzzle you?” Nevyn said.
“Not truly. It’s much like the circle Brour made for a ritual. But he had to work so hard, my lord. He invoked things and broke out into such a sweat, while you—all at once the fire just sprang up.”
Nevyn laughed. “Well, when I was an apprentice, I would have had to work much harder, too. Now, let me stand back in the curve of the wall here. Are you ready?”
Lilli nodded. In the dim light she looked pale, but she took a deep breath and steadied herself.
“Mother?” Lilli called out. “Mother, are you here?”
Nevyn felt the hair on his neck prickle. Some entity was hovering close to them, quite close.
“Oh Mother, Mother,” Lilli continued. “Where are you? Please forgive me.”
Across the circle from Nevyn she appeared, so like Merodda that Lilli sobbed aloud, just once.
“I cannot reach you,” the spirit said to Lilli. “Rub out a bit of that circle, and I’ll come to you.”
“I think not.” Nevyn stepped forward.
The spirit snarled and swung toward him, her mouth open like a beast’s.
“Who are you?” Nevyn said.
“That I shall never tell you.”
“Why not? Let me help you find peace.”
“Naught will ever bring me peace but my daughter. Her father’s hidden her from me.”
“And where has he hidden her?”
The spirit tipped her head to one side and looked him over.
“I’ll not answer any more of your questions. You’ve stolen her daughter, and so no doubt you’ll help him steal mine!”
With that she vanished, leaving Lilli shaking in the middle of the circle. With a wave of his hand, Nevyn banished the blue fire.
“Let’s go back to my chamber,” he said. “You need to get warm.”
Although Nevyn’s chamber had no hearth—he’d sacrificed a fire to gain a view—his charcoal brazier put out an amazing lot of heat, thanks to the Wildfolk of Fire. He put the chair next to it for Lilli, then perched on the edge of his bed.
“That’s better,” he said. “You’ve stopped shivering.”
“I’m not sure I was truly cold,” Lilli said. “It was more seeing the spirit.”
“Well, no doubt. I think it’s time I taught you how to make a circle round yourself for protection. You’re well enough now to try a simple ritual like that.”
“I’ll be glad of it. It would take my mind off—well, uh, I do get bored of an afternoon.”
“Take your mind off what? The prince?”
Lilli nodded, suddenly miserable. “He’s not come to me in ever so long.”
“Oh here, child!” Nevyn said. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I always knew he’d tire of me sooner or later.” Bitterness cracked her voice. “I don’t want pity!”
“Very well, then. We’ll let the matter drop.”
“My thanks.” Lilli wiped her eyes on her sleeve. “I feel so hatefully greedy. After all, I have Branoic.”
“So you do.”
Nevyn waited for her to say more, but she merely looked across the chamber, her mouth set tight. With a sigh, he changed the subject.
Nevyn stayed awake late that night, sitting in his tower room with only a lantern for company while he thought about Prince Maryn and the dangerous misery he was bringing to the women around him. He had raised Maryn to be bold in war and to hold strong in defeat, but he had never considered that victory would bring its own snares and dangers. He realized then that despite the approval of the Great Ones and the desperate need of the kingdom, he had quite simply never believed that his grand plan would succeed. Never, when he was educating his prince, had he thought of educating him for peace.
On the morrow morning when he woke, Nevyn