The Spirit Stone - Katharine Kerr [59]
Morwen stared at him for a long moment, then began to weep herself, but out of relief, apparently, because she was also smiling.
‘There, child.’ Nevyn stepped forward. ‘I told you I might think of somewhat to make things better, didn’t I?’ He fumbled in his brigga pocket and found a reasonably clean rag to offer her.
Her tears stopped. She handed Nevyn the little sack she’d been carrying, then took the rag and wiped her face. Before she spoke again, she stooped and picked Evan up. The bewildered child stopped weeping, but he threw one arm around her neck and clung to her while she wiped his nose.
‘Why should I care what my brother thinks?’ Morwen said at last. ‘Doubtless he’ll be glad to be rid of the burden of feeding me. Will you really let me come with him?’
‘Let you?’ Devaberiel paused for a brief laugh. ‘It would gladden my heart if you’d come along. Now, in all honesty, I have to tell you that it won’t be an easy ride for you, and life out on the grass is going to strike you as passing strange, but if you hate it or suchlike, Nevyn here can bring you back when he leaves us.’
Morwen smiled, and even though her split lip curled round its scar as always, she looked as triumphant as a warrior. ‘I’d like naught better,’ she lisped. ‘And I’d ride to the Hells for my baby if I had to.’
‘Well and good, then.’ Devaberiel laid a gentle hand on his son’s back. ‘We’re going home. Your Morri’s going to come with us. You won’t have to leave her here.’
Evan looked only at Morwen.
‘It’s true,’ she said. ‘I’m coming with you. We’ll have a nice ride with your da and his friends. Now, I’m going to pack up my things. Come along. You can watch.’
‘I suppose I’d best tell your sister,’ Devaberiel said.
‘Why? She’ll not care, and no more will my brother. They won’t have their ugly little witch lass spoiling Varynna’s fancy wedding this way. Nevyn?’ Morwen turned to him. ‘My thanks. My humble thanks, indeed! I’ll be forever grateful for this. I lacked the courage to ask to come with him, though truly, I was wishing for it.’
‘Well, then.’ Nevyn smiled at her. ‘It’s all worked out quite nicely.’
Morwen picked Evan up and carried him towards the house. Once the door shut behind her, Gwairyc muttered a few choice curses under his breath.
‘And what’s that for?’ Nevyn said.
‘Her kin,’ Gwairyc said. ‘Particularly that sister. Cold as ice and twice as sharp, if you ask me. She reminds me entirely too much of a woman I used to know entirely too well.’
‘I’m glad to hear it,’ Devaberiel said. ‘It means I’m not the only man here with poor taste in women. Misery loves company and all that.’
Not counting her bedding, everything Morwen called hers fitted into one cloth sack, but she decided that her kin owed her a few things towards her new life since she’d cost them so little in the old one. With Evan clinging to her skirts she went through the house and took a good kitchen knife and a steel to sharpen it, a table dagger, a pair of her brother’s old brigga for riding, and a winter cloak. She rummaged through the cook house as well and filled another sack with food for the journey.
Evan still seemed bewildered, especially when they went back to the draughty little shed that had served as their bedchamber. Since she’d already handed his few possessions over to Nevyn, he wandered around as if he were looking for them. When she put the brigga on under her dress, he laughed at the sight.
‘We’re going riding,’ she said, ‘with your Da and his friends.’
He smiled and clapped. ‘Horses,’ he said. ‘Pretty horses.’
‘They are that,’ Morwen said. ‘Riding them will be much nicer than riding our old mule.’
‘Mama coming with us?’
‘She’s not. Does that sadden your heart?’
He merely shrugged as if he’d not quite understood the question.
Once Morwen was dressed for the journey, she rolled up her blankets and tied them neatly at both ends with scraps of cloth, then slung them over one shoulder. She picked up her two sacks of belongings, one in each hand, and shooed Evan ahead of her. Together they marched out into the sunshine.