The Bristling Wood - Katharine Kerr [132]
“Haven’t you listened to one blasted word I said? It’s not a question of weak will. You were ensorceled, dweomer-bound and dweomer-muddled. Once his life force swept over you, you had no will of your own, only his will. All his lust ran to you like water through a ditch.”
For a moment she wanted to vomit as she remembered how it felt to have him smile at her in his particular way.
“Why do you call it a wound?” she said.
“Because it’s going to kill him, sooner or later.”
“Good. I only wish I could be there to watch.”
“And no one expects you to feel differently, my delicate little lass. But can’t you see, Jill? You’re as blameless as if he’d tied you down and raped you by force.”
“Ah ye gods, and that’s what I hate most. I felt so beastly helpless!”
“You were helpless.”
“Oh, true enough. It’s a cursed hard thing to admit.”
“Boils need lancing, on the other hand.”
When she threw a fake punch his way, he smiled.
“Truly, you’re coming back to your old self. But don’t you see the curious thing? Given that Perryn has no true dweomer, then where by all the hells does this power come from? What gave him the wound?”
“As much as I hate to talk about the worm-rotted bastard, I’ll admit the question’s of some interest.”
“Of great interest, especially to Nevyn. Unfortunately, at the moment, there is no answer.”
“Well, if anyone can find it, it’s Nevyn.”
“Precisely. Especially once he gets his hands on him.”
“Is he planning on hunting Perryn down?”
“Not truly. I’ve been waiting to tell you this until you were stronger, but I think you can bear it now. Perryn’s been following us.”
She felt the blood drain from her face. Salamander caught her hand and held it between both of his.
“You’re in no danger now, none at all.”
“Not now, maybe, but what about when we’re out on the roads again, following Rhodry?”
“By then Perryn will be on his way to Eldidd under armed guard. Here, there’s a dweomerman at court named Lord Madoc. He’ll have Perryn arrested as soon as he enters the city, then send him to Nevyn. From what you told me, that rambling scribe in our lordling’s saddlebags is more than enough reason for the king’s wardens to take him under arrest.”
“So we’re going to Dun Deverry?”
“We are. And we may not have to leave it, either. Do you know Rhodry’s cousin Blaen of Cwm Peel?”
“I do.”
“The good gwerbret’s at court at the moment. Nevyn wants us to speak with him. It seems that the king’s sent out the word that he wants to see Rhodry. Apparently the various gwerbrets are keeping watch for him, and when they find him, they’ll send him straight to Dun Deverry.”
“The king? What—”
“I don’t know, but I think me we can guess. The king knows Rhys won’t be getting any more heirs for Aberwyn.”
“Recall.”
“Just that. So soon enough, Jill, you’ll be having a splendid wedding.”
“Oh, will I now? You sound like a village idiot. Think! They’re never going to let the heir to the most important rhan in Eldidd marry a silver dagger’s bastard. The best I could hope for is being his wretched mistress again, living in his court and hating his wife. Well, if he even wants me anymore. What do you think this is, one of your tales?”
“I have the distinct and revolting feeling that I was thinking just that. Jill, please, forgive me.”
She merely shrugged and watched the farmland gliding by. A herd of white cattle with rusty-red ears were drinking from the river, watched over by a lad and two dogs.
“Do you forgive me?” he said at last.
“I do, and my apologies, too. I’m all to pieces still.”
“So you are. After you’ve baited our trap for Perryn, you could just ride away without seeing Rhodry, if you wanted.”
“Never. Maybe he’ll curse me to my face, but I want to tell him that I always loved him.”
Salamander started to speak, but she covered her face with her hands and wept.
The king’s palace in Dun Deverry was enormous, six broch towers joined by a sprawling complex of half-brochs, surrounded by outbuildings, and protected by a double ring of curtain walls. As an honored guest, Blaen, Gwerbret Cwm Peel, had