The Shadow Isle - Katharine Kerr [50]
“I was just wondering if I’d ever see Laz again,” Sidro said. “That’s all.”
“Ah. I do wonder that myself.” He glanced at her embroidery. “That’s a splendid little horse. I didn’t know you could draw pictures. ”
“I can’t. One of the other women did it for me. Now all I have to do is fill it in.”
He smiled, nodding, then stood back up.
“Pir?” she said. “Are you happy here among the Westfolk?”
“I don’t know. The horses the prince gave me are splendid, but well, um, er, they’re not our people, are they? The People themselves, I mean.”
“That’s true, but frankly, I’m glad of it. I’ll never be a slave again as long as I stay here.”
“Ah.” He considered this in his slow, careful way. “I hadn’t thought of that. But then, I wouldn’t, would I?”
“You were free born, after all.”
“Yes. Huh. I’ll have to think about that.”
“I’m coming to like it here, you see, so I wondered.”
“Oh. I’ll think about that, too.” He smiled at her, then turned and walked off through the tents.
Had he been Laz, Sidro would have worried for hours about his reaction to her statement. With Pir, she knew that he would tell her in his own time, if indeed, his reaction concerned her at all.
Why do I care if Laz returns or not? She sat with her sewing in her lap for some while, that afternoon, amazed at her own thought.
By the time Rori returned, the royal alar had traveled a long way north. The spring days had grown longer and warmer, and as the land dried out and the grass sprang up, the horses and sheep had easier walking and better fodder, which meant that their herders could keep them moving for more hours a day.
Since Dallandra had been scrying for him, she saw Rori nearing the camp before he landed, and she met him out in the open meadows, far away from the horses and other animals, who had no way of knowing that this enormous predator had a human soul—not that they would have trusted it if they had.
“I thought Pir was going to train your horses to ignore dragons,” Rori said by way of greeting.
“He is,” Dallandra said, “but he needs somewhat with your scent upon it. He’d like you to lair upon old blankets for a while. It shouldn’t take long for them to soak up the wyrm odor.”
“Not with the way I stink! I’ll do it gladly. Ye gods, it’s been years since I’ve slept upon a blanket.” Rori turned his head and contemplated his scaly stomach. “Not that I’ll be able to feel the difference, I suppose. Here, untie this pouch, will you? I’m sick of the thing banging against me.”
“You’ve got the horn, then?”
“What’s left of it. Enj sends his thanks for any aid you can give him and his people on the island. He’s longing to see them again. Oh, and by the by, I’ve bad news to give our prince. I saw Horsekin up in the Northlands when I was flying back.” He rumbled with brief laughter. “I gave them and their horses a good scare, but it wasn’t enough to send them home again.”
Dallandra felt as if she might faint. She steadied herself quickly, but her hands still shook enough to make untying the pouch difficult. At last she got it free.
“I’ll fetch Dar right now,” she said, “and give this to Val while I’m about it. Will you wait?”
“Of course. And have Pir bring me out those blankets. I can lair here tonight and sleep on them.”
When Daralanteriel went out to speak with the dragon, Calonderiel went with him. Dallandra gave Valandario the pouch with the horn, then sat down with her colleague to examine the remains. As well as the pouch, Enj had wrapped them in straw to cushion them during the long flight. Once freed of the wrapping, the horn looked a pitiful thing, all crushed and folded upon itself, filthy with tarnish. Yet as Val held it in her hands, it shone with a glimmer of silver, just for a brief moment before returning to its old color. Valandario caught her breath with a gasp.
“There’s dweomer upon it, all right,” Val said. “A very great dweomer.”
“It seems to have recognized you for what you are,” Dallandra said. “That gives me hope. It’ll work with you rather than against you.”
“Yes. I wish I could go to Haen Marn’s old location. I’d like to