The Spirit Stone - Katharine Kerr [80]
‘I am not sure. His name is Javanateriel, and he is Loddlaen’s foster-brother. His mother nursed Loddlaen after Dallandra left us, and so he knows Aderyn awfully well.’
‘Has he ever studied dweomer?’
‘He has not.’ This time her blush turned deep scarlet. ‘I believe that he is merely in love with me.’
‘Then he has good taste in women. He has some tenuous connection with the dweomer, however, through you and his mother. I wonder if we have a confluence of forces at work here. You receive the message from your young man, you have the dream, you hear that I’ve created the Great Stone of the West—which reminds me. How did you hear about my work with the opal?’
‘Loddlaen mentioned it,’ Valandario said. ‘I suppose he heard it from his father.’
‘No doubt. Here, don’t go mentioning it to anyone else, will you?’
‘Of course not. I told Loddlaen at the time that he’d best hold his tongue, too.’
‘Ah, my thanks! If you’ve got no more questions, I think I’ll just tell him again myself as well.’
‘Oh, I could talk about gems for days and days, so it would be better to let you go now.’
As soon as they returned to the Westfolk camp, Nevyn took his leave of Valandario and began to look for Loddlaen, who was nowhere in evidence. Finally Nevyn saw a lad he knew named Farendar, kneeling on the ground with three others. As he walked up, he noticed that they’d spread out a painted doeskin to play an elaborate game of dice. At his question, they laid the dice aside.
‘I’m not sure,’ Farendar said. ‘I did see him walking with Morwen, Wise One, and that shifty-eyed little apprentice merchant was tagging after them.’
‘Oh. You know, I think Loddlaen must have moved his tent. I went by there, but all I saw was a worn patch on the ground.’
‘He does that now and again.’ Farendar let his lip curl. ‘It’s our noise. He’s too good for the rest of us.’
‘That’s not it, and you know it.’ Another lad scowled at him.
‘Just so,’ the third said. ‘Wise One, don’t listen to Far. Loddlaen does keep to himself, but by the Star Gods! there’s plenty of room out in the grasslands for a man who needs a little peace and quiet.’
‘Ah, I see,’ Nevyn said. ‘Do you know why he needs it?’
‘Loddlaen’s just Loddlaen.’ The lad got up and shaded his eyes to look around the campground. ‘Ah, I think they’re down near the stream, past the herd, do you see? By the two willows. It’s a fair distance along.’
‘My thanks. My old eyes aren’t as sharp as yours.’
By following the lad’s directions, Nevyn did find Morwen, Tirro, and Loddlaen sitting on the grass in front of the newly placed tent. Evan lay asleep beside his nursemaid. Every few moments Morwen would brush the flies away from the child’s face with a whisk she’d woven from strands of dry grass.
A great crowd of Wildfolk swarmed around them, but as he watched, Nevyn noticed that while Loddlaen and Morwen could see them, Tirro seemed oblivious. He’d often make a gesture with his hands or move to a more comfortable position without noticing that he’d nearly sat upon a gnome or swatted a sprite, a lack that surprised Nevyn. Brour might have been a shifty little thief, but he’d had undeniable dweomer gifts. In this life, apparently, he had none.
Loddlaen glanced up and smiled. ‘Good morrow, Master Nevyn,’ he said.
‘And a good morrow to you,’ Nevyn said, ‘I want a word with you, lad.’
Loddlaen’s pale face turned a little paler. For a moment he froze, then scrambled up as quickly as he could. They walked along the stream out of ear-shot of the others.
‘Valandario mentioned that you told her about the Great Stone of the West,’ Nevyn said. ‘I hope you’ve not told anyone else.’
‘I’ve not, I assure you.’ Loddlaen arranged a brittle smile. ‘I only mentioned it to Val because of her own gem dweomer.’
‘There was no harm in telling Val. It’s not precisely a secret, but I don’t want it bruited about, either. There are evil men here and there who might covet the thing.’
‘True spoken. I shan’t say another word to anyone.’
‘Good lad!’ But Nevyn hesitated. He had a feeling that Loddlaen was lying, but it was only a feeling,