The Black Raven - Katharine Kerr [50]
Before Verrarc could say another word, Werda turned on her heel and strode out, with Korla hurrying after.
“The haughty bitch!” Raena snarled from behind him.
Verrarc spun round to see her walking out of their bedchamber. She was wearing a green overdress, and she’d done her hair in thick braids, falling one on either side of her face.
“I’d not speak ill of Werda, if I were you,” he said.
“Indeed?” Raena was scowling. “Huh! Some priestess she is, her and her little gods! Here, my love—do you not scorn my Lord Havoc and claim him but a fox spirit or suchlike? Well, the gods Werda tends are no better than that, the spirit of a mountain, the spirit of a tree!” Her mouth twisted. “Did they give her the power to call forth silver light, as the great Alshandra gave to me?”
“They didn’t, truly. But Rae, when it comes to life in this town, there be gods that Werda tends who have true power indeed.”
“Oh? And who may they be?”
“Rumor, for one.” Verrarc looked steadily at her. “And the gods of a happy hearth and a good reputation, for others.”
Raena blushed, looked away, then sat down in her chair by the hearth. Verrarc went to the fire and knelt to add the last of the wood from the big basket near the hearth. The flames leapt up in a swirl of golden sparks.
“This be the second happiest day of my life.” Verrarc reached for the poker. “The first, well—truly, it will always be the day my father died.”
Raena laughed. “Never would I begrudge you that, my love,” she said. “It gives my heart joy, too, thinking I’ll be your wife.”
Verrarc glanced over his shoulder and smiled at her just as Korla returned, her mouth still tight, her eyes narrow with what seemed to be anger. No doubt she wasn’t looking forward to having another woman give her orders in her kitchen, not after so many years of keeping house for Verrarc alone. He would have to do somewhat to soften the blow, he decided.
“Korla?” he said. “Do tell Harl to bring in more wood, will you? And it would behoove you and Magpie to be thinking of what sort of grand present I can make you to celebrate my marriage.”
Korla relented enough to smile, but all she said was, “Harl, he be out in the woodshed now. I’ll be telling him.”
Raena watched her unspeaking as the old woman crossed the room and disappeared through the door that led to the kitchen. Verrarc rose, dusting the ashes off the knees of his brigga.
“We shall have a feast on our wedding day, my love,” he said. “The best that winter can offer us, and then in the spring, when the crops come in, we’ll have a proper celebration at the same time of the moon that marks our wedding.”
“That will be splendid, Verro. Truly, this day gladdens my heart. I did hear what Werda said about the townswomen. There be a need on me to go and thank them.”
“There is, at that.” Verrarc sat down in his facing chair. “I ken not all their names, but I’ll wager that Dera and Emla be among them. I do owe them thanks myself, and we’ll pay our calls together.”
Raena nodded, staring into the fire with a small smile. Verrarc leaned back in his chair and stretched out his legs to the warmth.
“It will be splendid,” Raena said at last, “to have a name again. I did get so sick to my heart of their snubs! Now, mayhap I can gain their trust, so that they’ll listen to me.”
“Whose trust?”
“The women of the town, of course. I do think that they’ll hear about Alshandra with more joy than the men.”
“What? Just what be you planning to do?”
“Spread the word of my Goddess’s coming.” Raena was looking at him with a slight frown, as if she were puzzled by his obtuseness. “Think you I be a miser, to keep such joy to myself? I did swear to her that ever and always would I tell of her doings to all whom I would meet. Cerr Cawnen, it be a fine place to take up her charge again.”
Verrarc started to speak, then thought better of it. All at once he felt a cold that the leaping fire was powerless to dispel.
“I shall spread the word,” Raena went on, her voice soft, almost dreamy. “I shall set her name upon Cerr Cawnen and make it a place of her altars.