The Red Wyvern - Katharine Kerr [45]
“It must open outside,” she whispered.
“If it’s a root cellar, they usually do.” Brour stuck his head out. “Ah, I see. This once lay under some kind of stone building, but it’s been razed, and many years ago, too. Cursed good thing. I was afraid we’d come into some lord’s great hall and have some explaining to do.”
When Lilli climbed out, all she could see were dark stone shapes, looming against a starry sky, but she could make out enough to guess that they were seeing the remains of an outer wall that once had circled a small dun. At their feet grass and weeds grew thick. Brour squinted up at the stars.
“We’d best get back. I don’t want your mother sending a page first thing in the morning only to find me gone.”
On the trek back, Lilli suddenly realized that she was exhausted. Her excitement had kept her going on the way out; now she found herself yawning compulsively and shivering with cold. The long climb uphill under Dun Deverry left her gasping for breath. By the time they emerged from the tunnel, the lanterns they’d left behind in the root cellar had long ago burned out. Brour flung open the doors overhead to reveal the first grey of dawn.
“You’ve got to get back,” he said. “If you hurry, you should be able to get up to your chamber without anyone seeing you. And clean the muck off those dresses before your mother sees it, too.”
“I’ll do that.” Lilli hesitated, thinking back to the Great King of Earth shining in his silver pillar. “This has been splendid, Brour.”
He started to smile, then merely yawned.
“We’ll talk later. Now hurry.”
Lilli did indeed manage to reach her chamber before the rest of the dun woke. She stripped off her dresses, hung them over a chair to let the mucky water dry—she could beat the worst of the mud off later—then fell into bed and deep sleep at what seemed to her the same moment.
“Have you seen Lilli?” Merodda said.
“I’ve not,” Bevyan said. “I asked a page a while ago, and he told me she was still asleep.”
“Lazy little thing! Well, I’ll find her later. Will you be attending upon the queen this afternoon?”
“I won’t. I’ve been asked to look in on Lord Arvan’s wife. She’s ever so ill, poor thing. She shouldn’t have come to court this year at all, if you ask me.”
“She’s never been strong.” Merodda considered her rival for a moment. “If you do see Lilli, please tell her to find me.”
Here was a bit of luck! But it was late in the afternoon before Merodda got her chance to speak to the queen alone, when Abrwnna’s maids went down to the river to wash clothes and her serving women had gone off about their own business. Merodda and the queen sat at a window in the high hall, where they could see the busy ward below, like a Bardek carpet scattered with children’s toys.
“Look!” Abrwnna said, pointing. “There goes Lord Belryc. Sometimes I think I like him best—the best of my fellowship, I mean.”
Merodda watched the young lord, sunny and blond, leading his horse toward the gates.
“Only sometimes, my liege?” Merodda said, smiling.
“Well, I like them all. Oh, it’s so awful, wondering what people are saying! Rhodi, do you think I’m a slut?”
“Of course not, my liege! I have every faith that you understand how important your honor is. I know you’ll act properly.”
“Well, it’s just so unfair!” Abrwnna left off watching the ward and turned in her chair to face Merodda. “Other ladies have lovers!”
“Those other ladies have given their lords legitimate heirs, my liege. Then they may—”
“But that’s even worse! It’ll be years before Olaen can—well, you know. If we even live that long! Oh gods, Rhodi, do people think I’m a dolt or suchlike? Don’t you think I know I’m likely to spend my whole life in some ghastly temple, if Cerrmor doesn’t have me strangled first?”
“My liege, you’re just vexing yourself. The regent’s raised a decent army, and we’re not defeated