The Spirit Stone - Katharine Kerr [95]
‘You’ll never get Aderyn to think ill of his son,’ Nevyn said. ‘Surely you know that.’
‘I do, but—’ Valandario hesitated for a long moment. ‘This time it seemed so obvious.’
‘Have there been other times when he’s stolen somewhat?’
‘Oh, never that! He tells lies, though, and then there’s his nasty temper.’ She paused again. ‘Maybe he truly didn’t mean to steal the gem. I’ll try to think that, anyway’
‘It’s all we can do. Now, as you work with the gem, you can reach me through the fire if you have questions. If naught else, I’d love to know what you discover about it.’
‘My thanks, Master Nevyn. I’m honoured.’
Nevyn returned to Aderyn’s tent. They sat down outside the door, idly watching the life of the camp swirl around them. One of the women brought them a basket of wild redberries, which they shared as they talked.
‘How long, exactly,’ Nevyn said, ‘was Loddlaen’s soul trapped with Dallandra in that amethyst crystal?’
‘As we reckon time?’ Aderyn said, ‘Or as the Guardians reckon it?’
‘As we do. Loddlaen most assuredly has either a human or an elven soul. Had he been one of the Guardians’ flock of spirits, the experience wouldn’t have scarred him so deeply.’
‘I don’t know why you keep insisting he’s been scarred.’
Nevyn wanted to scream, Just look into his eyes, you wretched doting fool! Are you blind? Instead, he said, ‘Well, how could it not have? Trapped like that, half-born but not truly alive, aware of only himself and the gem around him?’
‘Oh, I doubt if he was truly aware. After Dallandra came back to us, it was a good many months before she gave birth.’
‘How many?’
‘I don’t remember.’
Nevyn decided against pointing out just how obvious it was when Aderyn lied.
‘But as for your other question,’ Aderyn went on, ‘it was close to two hundred years.’
Nevyn shuddered, his blood abruptly cold in his veins.
‘I do see your point,’ Aderyn said. ‘If he’d been truly aware, it would have been agony. But he wasn’t, he couldn’t have been, not for all of those years, or he’d be stark raving daft.’
‘Well, he’s not that, certainly.’
‘I suppose you’ve brought this up because of the misunderstanding over Val’s obsidian gem.’
‘I have. You’re convinced it’s a misunderstanding?’
‘He just wanted a look at the thing. He wasn’t stealing it. It is true, though, that he’s never been good at explaining himself, or at telling others how he feels. Maybe you’re right about those years in his mother’s womb, now that I think of it. No doubt they would have had some effect.’
‘Imph,’ Nevyn said. ‘Let’s hope that he slept in the darkness of his mother’s body, at least for most of the time.’ May the Lords of Wyrd have been merciful enough for that, at least.
Aderyn stood up, staring off into the distance. ‘I see there’s a new alar riding in. I’d better go tell them the merchant’s already left.’ He walked off without a glance back.
Nevyn stood and looked for himself, shading his eyes. Indeed, in the far distance he could see the tiny figures of horsemen riding through the billowing grass. They would have found out for themselves soon enough that they’d missed the trader, but Nevyn couldn’t begrudge his old friend the excuse.
Every day more and more Westfolk brought down their tents, cut their horses out of the herd, and struck out into the grasslands. Morwen and ebañy would watch them go until they disappeared, sinking into the grass, or so it seemed, along the far horizon, dancing with heat. With fewer people in camp, it became harder and harder for Morwen to avoid Loddlaen, and finally, one sunset hour when she went to the stream to draw water, he caught her alone.
‘Morri, please,’ Loddlaen said, ‘won’t you even talk to me? I didn’t steal that gem, truly I didn’t. I just wanted a chance to study it.’
His voice ached so badly that she felt her heart softening. She put down the heavy water jug and turned to look at him. Tears glistened in his eyes.
‘You could have asked Val first.’
‘I know, but I figured she’d never let me have it even for a day, and I just couldn’t concentrate