The Bristling Wood - Katharine Kerr [175]
When they returned to Dumryc’s inn, Jill and Salamander found the tale gone before them. A newly servile Dumryc gave them a candle lantern and bowed repeatedly, like a crow drinking water, as they went upstairs to their chamber. As soon as the door was safely barred, Salamander collapsed onto the mattress and howled with laughter until he choked. Jill hung the lantern on a nail in the wall and glared at him.
“Ah ye gods,” Salamander gasped when he could speak again. “That was truly one of the best jests in my life, and I’ve perpetrated a lot of them, Jill, my turtledove.”
“No doubt.” Jill put ice in her voice.
“Ah.” Salamander sat up, wrapping his long arms around his knees, and let his grin fade away. “I think me you’re vexed with this whole ruse, the portentous words, the flaming fires, and so forth, but unless the lads think us as evil as they—and as dangerous—they won’t respect us, no matter how many hints we drop about dark dweomer. I’ve no desire to be drugged and tossed overboard one fine night when we’re out to sea.”
“Well, true-spoken, but ye gods, why all the show? Why not just set somewhat on fire and threaten them?”
“Jill.” Salamander stared at her with reproachful eyes. “That wouldn’t have been any fun.”
“They’re doing what?” Elaeno was so furious that his thunder of a voice made the wooden shutters rattle at the windows.
“Going to Bardek on a pirate ship.” Nevyn still could hardly believe his own words. “That chattering idiot of an elf is taking Jill to Bardek on a pirate ship.”
Elaeno opened his mouth and shut it several times.
“Have some mead,” Nevyn said. “Normally I don’t drink the stuff, but tonight, for some strange reason, I feel the need.”
For some nights Blaen had had trouble sleeping. Generally he would dress, then prowl the long mazelike corridors of the king’s palace and wonder why he was wasting his time staying in Dun Deverry. Soon he would have to start the long journey back to Cwm Pecl, before the winter snows came to trap him in the king’s city far from home. On that particular night, he wandered half-purposely over to Lord Madoc’s chambers and found, as he’d somehow been expecting, a crack of light showing under the sorcerer’s door. As he hesitated, wondering whether or not to knock, the door opened to reveal Madoc, wearing a nightshirt over a pair of brigga.
“Ah, there you are, Blaen. I couldn’t sleep, either, and the spirits told me you were on your way. Come in for a nightcap.”
Although Blaen looked hastily around, he saw no spirits and decided that it was safe enough to go in. Madoc poured them both dark ale sweetened with Bardek cinnamon and cloves.
“Want this heated?”
“Oh, don’t trouble yourself. I don’t mind it cool.”
“Here, then.” Madoc handed him a tankard. “Have a chair.”
They settled themselves by the brazier, glowing cherry red in the drafty chamber. Blaen took an approving sip of the strong, dark ale.
“I was planning on coming to see you first thing in the morning,” Madoc said. “I have some news. The king has finally deigned to tell me that he’s sending a herald to Aberwyn tomorrow at dawn.”
“By the Lord of Hell himself! Why?”
“No one knows. His liege is apparently vexed with Savyl more than he is with you, and he’s saying not a word to anyone about it. All I know is that the herald is carrying some grave and serious proclamation. It could be recalling Rhodry, or it could be summoning the Council of Electors to choose a new heir. By the gods, it could merely be raising taxes, for all that I know.”
Blaen groaned under his breath and had a long swallow of ale.
“I’ve sent word to Nevyn already, of course,” Madoc said.
“Splendid. Here, may I put a blunt question? Where is Rhodry? I think me you know.”
Madoc considered for a moment, studying Blaen’s face as if he were reading a message there.
“I do, at that,” he said at last. “Will you swear to me to keep this to yourself?”
“On the honor of my clan.”
“Done, then. Rhodry’s in Bardek. His enemies took him there and sold him as a slave.”
“They what? By every god, I’ll have them hanged for this! I’ll have