The Dragon Revenant - Katharine Kerr [85]
“Stranger and stranger,” Salamander said. “They could have been made by the same hand, or at least the same workshop. Anyway, a long time ago a mysterious stranger gave our father that ring and said it was for one of his sons. Assorted divinations have awarded it to you. I was trying to find you to hand it over when you got yourself abducted.”
Rhodry was staring at the ring in utter bewilderment.
“Do we have other brothers?” he said at last.
“One, a full-blooded elf, he is, and then we have a sister who’s fully elven, and it’s too bad she’s our kin, because she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, well, present company excepted of course.”
“No need to flatter,” Jill said, smiling. “I’d never pretend that I could ever be as lovely as an elven woman.”
“You’re certainly as lovely as most, but they all envy our Mellario. And you, younger brother, had three brothers on your mother’s side of the family. Two are dead for certain, alas, and the third, your elder, has most probably ridden through the gates of the Otherlands by now, because when last I heard, he’d suffered a very bad fall from his horse. If I remember correctly, the poor beast rolled on him, too.”
“Well, that aches my heart.” Rhodry did look distressed. “If I live to reach Aberwyn, I’ll provide for his widow, of course.”
“That’s good of you, my love,” Jill broke in. “But you know, you actually rather hated your brother Rhys. He certainly hated you. He’s the one who exiled you in the first place.”
“Truly? Ah, by the black hairy ass of the Lord of Hell! You-can’t know how blasted strange this is, hearing bits and pieces of my life like they were gossip about some other man! Here, elder brother. You’re a sorcerer, and a cursed good one, too. Can’t you do somewhat to mend my mind?”
“I can’t, though nothing has ever ached my heart more than my incompetence, inability, and sheer lack of knowledge at this juncture.” Salamander arranged a bright smile. “But fear not! We shall eventually take you to a healer of enormous art and repute back in Eldidd, a dweomerman who makes my tricks look like … well, like the silly tricks they are. He’ll heal you right up for sure.”
“You’re lying.” Rhodry’s voice was perfectly level. “There’s naught that can be done. That’s the truth of it, isn’t it?”
Salamander started to speak, then merely looked away with a long sigh. Rhodry got up with a defiant toss of his head.
“Let’s get on the road. If you’re both so sure there’s enemies behind us, I for one don’t want to sit here babbling and wait for them. Let’s hope I remember how to use that new sword you bought me. Cursed if I’ll let Jill do all our fighting.”
Jill caught her breath in a little grunt.
“What is it?” Rhodry said.
“I just remembered the sword you used to carry. It had a dragon worked round for a hand-guard, and your mother’s husband gave it to you, thinking you were his son.”
“Well then, maybe it’s better off lost. Elder brother, I’ll pay you back the cost of the new one when we reach Aberwyn.”
“You may not, because I’m giving it to you as a gift. Never before in my life have I felt so keenly that two swords are better than one.”
When Gwin and his men left Wylinth, Pirrallo led them down a false trail to the south for several days. Even though they never met anyone who’d seen or heard of the wizard, the toad kept insisting he was right until Gwin finally told him that either they retraced their steps or he’d send him straight to Hell to meet the Clawed Ones that very night. Even though he cursed and blustered, Pirrallo finally gave the order to turn around and head north. Since Krysello had spent time performing in the various towns he’d visited, however, their little caravan caught up with his eventually, reaching Albara just a few hours