The Red Wyvern - Katharine Kerr [164]
“Raena? What? How do you know—”
“My brother’s a great one for mischief, you see, and I try to keep a rope on his halter when I can. I’ve seen her worshipping him as if he were a god.”
“He’s not?”
“Not in the least. No more am I. The people to the south of you call us Guardians, and that name will do. But power we have, great power for good or ill, as I’ve learned over the last century or so. Don’t trust him, Verrarc, and you’d best put a rope on your woman’s halter as well.”
Verrarc gaped, struggling for words.
“The true gods dislike it when someone pretends to their rank,” Lord Harmony went on. “You might remind her of that nasty truth.”
“Here! And who might you be, to say such things?”
The fellow laughed, a long peal like the chime of a harp, and disappeared, leaving the last few notes of his laugh ringing behind him.
In a confusion of fear and anger Verrarc hurried up the hill and stormed into his compound, practically knocking Korla aside at the door. He found Raena sitting in one of the big chairs by the hearth with her feet up on a footstool. When she saw him, she smiled so beautifully that his rage dissolved in the thought of how much he loved her. At times he felt that if she ever left him, he would wither away and die like an abandoned child.
“What be troubling you, my love?” Raena said.
Verrarc took off his cloak and tossed it onto a chest, then flopped into the chair opposite her.
“Somewhat does trouble you,” Raena repeated. “What?”
“It does.” He stretched out his legs to savor the fire’s warmth. “Just now I did meet someone upon the road home. He said his name was Lord Harmony, and he did make the claim to be the brother of your Havoc.”
“Oho, so he has come meddling! Lord Havoc did warn me.”
“What do you mean?”
“He did tell me that he had a jealous brother who travelled where he did, spreading lies about him.”
“Indeed? I found this fellow strangely easy to believe. He did tell me that he and Havoc be not gods at all, but spirits of an ilk he did call Guardians.”
“Prattle.” Raena waved her hand as if to knock the lies buzzing around her from the air. “ ’Tis all it is, prattle and drivel.”
“It be a grave thing, Rae, to usurp the name of the gods. If this Harmony fellow be right, then—”
“He be wrong! Verro, how can you sit there and not listen to a word I say? Lord Havoc did warn me, I tell you, about this lackwit brother of his.”
“I do believe every word you say. To hold faith in Havoc be another thing entirely. Here, if this Lord Harmony be his brother, and truly, you tell me that such is the case, well, then Harmony must be a god, too, and no lackwit or jealous spirit.”
Raena flushed scarlet, then leaned forward, her hands grabbing the ends of the chair arms.
“I tell you,” she growled, “Lord Havoc is a god. I do feel his power upon me when I work magicks.”
“Harmony never denied that there be great power with him and his brother both.”
Raena sprang to her feet and trembled.
“I will not listen!” she snarled. “If you think me a liar, then I will leave your house.”
“Rae!” Verrarc rose, feeling panic clutch his heart. “Nah nah nah, I never meant—”
“How may I stand here and listen to this blasphemy?” She tossed her head. “Better I freeze out in the winter snows!”
In two quick strides Verrarc crossed to her and flung his arms around her.
“Don’t leave me! I beg you!”
“Then speak no more blasphemies and listen to none, either, from this Harmony creature.”
“Done, then. You have my word.”
At that she smiled and allowed him to kiss her. One kiss led to another, and he was about to suggest they while away the cold day in their bed, when he heard someone cough twice behind him. He let Raena go and spun round to see Korla glaring at him.
“Be you ready for the dinner, master?” she said. “Or shall it wait at the cook’s hearth?”
“We’ll eat now. You may serve it at table.”
With a snort Korla shuffled off, banging the door behind her.
“I do hate that woman,” Raena hissed. “You should turn her out and that ghastly mooncalf