The Red Wyvern - Katharine Kerr [63]
“So,” Maryn said. “What brings you to me, Tieryn Peddyc?”
“I’ve come to beg a pardon for me and mine, Your Highness, for ever raising a sword against you.”
“I’ve never heard a request I was more minded to grant.” The prince smiled and held out one hand. “Rise, then. Come into my hall, and we’ll drink mead together. I offered my pardon freely, and freely it shall be yours.”
It was so beautifully done, just like something out of an old saga, that Lilli felt her eyes fill with tears. Peddyc tried to speak, then merely wept. The prince leaned down and with his own hands helped him rise. Lilli glanced at Anasyn, who seemed to be staring at a god, not a prince, just from the instant worship in his eyes. As everyone got to their feet, Peddyc’s men broke out cheering. With a laugh the prince acknowledged them.
“And are you ready to ride back to Dun Deverry?” he called out. “With me?”
“We are!” The sound rang like bells around the ward. “The king! the king!” One man started the chant, and the others joined in until Maryn flung up his hands for silence.
“Not yet a king,” he called out. “I’ll not claim that name until the high priest of Dun Deverry tells me that the gods have allowed it as my right.”
While he spoke, Lilli could have sworn that a beam of sunlight brighter than all the rest fell upon him. The men stood transfixed and listened.
“Many years ago,” Maryn went on, “when I first rode to Cerrmor, I did fancy myself already king. But the priests came to me and told me that Great Bel demands humility from those he would favor. Until I won the brooch of kingship, they told me, I had no right to call myself High King. And so I did what the god asked of me and laid that name aside.”
The men nodded, wide-eyed and worshipful.
“And so,” Maryn said, grinning, “we’d cursed well better get ourselves to Dun Deverry, hadn’t we? Ride we shall, and soon enough. For now, come in and rest.”
They cheered again, one brief whoop of agreement. Laughing, the prince summoned the waiting servants forward to take the horses and show the men to the barracks and suchlike. Peddyc wiped his eyes on his sleeve and recovered his voice.
“My liege,” he said to Maryn. “May I present my son Anasyn and my foster-daughter, Lillorigga?”
“Indeed you may.” The prince turned to Lilli in surprise and bowed with swift grace. “My apologies, my lady, for thinking you a lad. You must be weary from all this travelling. I’ll have one of the women escort you to my wife’s hall, where I’m sure she’ll make you welcome.”
“My thanks, my liege.” Lilli found it very hard to speak. “You’re very generous to such as I.”
“My liege?” Nevyn stepped forward. “May I have the honor of escorting the lady? Oddly enough, we’ve met.”
Although the old man smiled pleasantly, Lilli felt herself begin to tremble. His ice-blue eyes seemed to catch hers and bore into her very soul. When she tried hardening her aura, he raised one bushy eyebrow in surprise; then he looked away.
“You need to rest, my lady,” Nevyn said. “And then we’ll have a little chat.”
“Lilli?” Anasyn stepped forward. “Will you be all right on your own?” He glanced at Nevyn. “We all owe my sister a great debt, my lord, and I’d see her well treated.”
“It shall be so,” Prince Maryn said. “I’ll stand personal surety for it, Lord Anasyn.”
Anasyn bowed low. With a quick smile for his sake, Lilli allowed herself to be led off. Once again, she remembered those first hours in Dun Deverry, when it had seemed so huge