The Dragon Revenant - Katharine Kerr [174]
“If any man or woman either has reason to speak against this wedding,” the priest called out, yelling over the general noise, “let them step forward now or come to me in private at the temple on the morrow morn. Otherwise the wedding will proceed at noon.”
“Noon?” Tevylla blurted. “On the morrow?”
“Why not?” Cullyn said. “I’m not a little lad who needs to say farewell to his mam.”
At that she could laugh, and she felt much better. Yet, as soon as she decently could, she made her escape and went out to the kitchen hut to talk with Baena, who was cracking parched oats on a quern for the morrow’s porridge. Automatically Tevylla picked up a wooden scoop and began transferring the cereal into a kettle as they talked.
“I’m so happy for you, Tewa, I truly am.”
“My thanks. Our Cullyn certainly doesn’t waste any time once he makes up his mind about somewhat.”
“True enough. He’s a good man, though. I’m happy for him, too.” Baena paused, laying down the heavy stone grinder so she could tuck a wisp of hair back under her headscarf. “The regent called me in earlier. We’ll have a nice feast on the morrow.”
“Oh, you shouldn’t have to go to all that work. It seems silly to make a fuss over a second marriage.”
“Not to me, it doesn’t, and I don’t mind the work at all, I don’t. Everyone needs a bit of fun to lift their spirits these days, and that’s the truth.”
Since she had to instruct Glomer in her new dudes, the following morning passed quickly for Tevylla with hardly a thought of her coming marriage. Yet, as she watched the lass playing with little Rhodda, she found herself remembering her first wedding day. Since her father had picked him out from another village, she’d barely known her husband, and she’d spent the whole morning alternately vomiting or giggling hysterically. Now, when Cullyn appeared in the doorway, she merely smiled at him.
“Time to go?”
“It is. No use in keeping the priest waiting.”
As she followed him down the long spiraling stairs, she had a brief moment of doubt, yet when they left the broch and he held out his hand, she took it as trustingly as Rhodda always did.
Shall we walk down? he said. “I can get my horse if you’d rather ride.”
“Oh, a walk is fine. It’s a lovely morning, isn’t it?”
It was warm and clear, as if the threatening clouds of the night before had left to make them the present of a splendid day. Down in the harbor the turquoise sea was at low tide, rolling slow breakers onto the pale beach.
“Tell me somewhat,” Tevylla said. “Do you want another child? We might well have one.”
“Well, I do, at that. Ah ye gods, I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything as much as I want a son. I suppose it’s because I’m getting old. I’m not saying I’d turn up my nose at another lass, mind, but you’ll have to stop me from spoiling this one rotten.”
“I’ll do my best, but you don’t seem like the sort of man who likes to be argued with.”
“It might be a good thing if I learned to put up with it.”
“Good, because you’ll have to.”
When they shared another smile, Tevylla felt that they were married. The ceremony before the priest was only a formality.
Yet, when they returned to the dun, they had a surprise ahead of them. With a howl of laughter and shrieks like battle cries, both warbands came bursting out of the broch and swept across the garden. A horde of young men mobbed them, slapping Cullyn on the back, grabbing Tevylla’s hands and kissing