The Black Raven - Katharine Kerr [95]
“Do you think I wouldn’t?” Owaen said.
“Oh hold your tongue, you hound!” Maddyn broke in. “We’re doing pretty well, Nevyn. We’ve now got fifty-six men, fifty-seven if Red-haired Trevyr can ever fight again.”
Owaen ostentatiously picked up a map and carried it over to the window to study. With him gone, a blue sprite materialized on the table, a pretty little thing except for her mouthful of fangs. She stuck her tongue out at Owaen, then hopped onto Maddyn’s shoulder.
“I wouldn’t count Trevyr,” Nevyn said. “It’s a miracle that he lived at all.”
“So we tell him. Daily.” Maddyn smiled in a wry sort of way. “You must be expecting trouble soon, if you’re worrying about the prince’s guard.”
“I am. In Eldidd the winters are mild. There’s no reason for King Aenycyr to wait till spring to cause trouble. I’ve had reports that he’s considering how he might exploit Maryn’s half brother to keep Pyrdon out of Deverry hands.”
“Ah horseshit! That’s the last thing we need. How old is Riddmar, anyway? He’s but a child, isn’t he?”
“He was born nine summers ago, if I remember rightly. Casyl of Pyrdon’s not in good health. When he dies, who can blame his wife if she’s ambitious for her son? She’s never so much as met Maryn, and he’s the living memorial to Casyl’s first wife, anyway.”
Owaen turned around and lowered the map to listen. The sprite, whom of course he couldn’t see, stuck her thumbs in her ears and waggled her fingers at him.
“I hadn’t heard about King Casyl being ill,” Maddyn said. “That saddens my heart. He was generous to us silver daggers when we were in Pyrdon.”
“He’s a good man, truly.” Nevyn sighed, genuinely saddened himself. “But be that as it may, when Casyl dies, Maryn inherits, Pyrdon becomes part of Deverry, and there’s Eldidd, squeezed on both its borders. Aenycyr will do anything he can to stop it.”
“And Riddmar’s the logical weapon for him to wield.” Maddyn considered for a moment. “Is there any way to bind Riddmar to Maryn? Some practical thing, that is. Family sentiment never seems to burn brightly among the noble-born.”
“That’s it!” Nevyn suddenly burst out laughing. “Maddo, you’ve done it again!”
“Er, I beg your pardon?” Maddyn said.
“Given me a splendid idea, that is.” Nevyn did a few quick steps of a jig, then calmed himself. “I must go speak with Councillor Oggyn. Do carry on, lads, with your recruiting. The more men in the prince’s guard, the better.”
Nevyn practically ran down to the great hall. He found a page and sent him off to look for Oggyn, who appeared promptly. They stood in the curve of the wall out of the general confusion to talk.
“My apologies for disturbing you,” Nevyn said. “But I’ve had an idea about that problem we discussed the other night. I suggest that we lay it before the prince straightaway.”
But the prince proved much harder to find. Nevyn and Oggyn sat at a table in the great hall whilst the pages searched all over the broch complex. No one had seen the prince ride out of the dun, no one had seen him retire to his private chambers. After a long irritating while, Nevyn suddenly realized where Maryn must be.
“If you’ll come with me, Oggyn,” Nevyn said, “let’s go up to my chamber while the pages keep looking. I’ll tell you this idea privately.”
“A wise move, no doubt,” Oggyn said.
Sure enough, when Nevyn opened the door to his chamber, there was Maryn, half-sitting, half-leaning on the table while Lilli sat opposite, the book open in front of her. She was giggling, smiling up at the prince while he grinned back at her, but at the sight of Nevyn she yelped like a kicked dog. The prince blushed sunset-red and stood up. Nevyn bowed to him.
“Ah, my apologies, my liege,” Nevyn said. “But we have a grave matter to lay before you. Lady Lillorigga, if you would attend to the work I set you? It’s of the utmost importance, tedious though I know it must be.”
In the council chamber the maps still lay on the table where Owaen and Maddyn