The Towers of the Sunset - L. E. Modesitt [162]
She laughs softly. “You found me from kays away, and you can’t tell when I’m entering the holding?”
“That’s different.”
“Because you’re trying to hide the fact that you’re going to try to switch the weather?”
“Yes.”
“Fine. I can’t keep you from it, nor can Klerris and Lydya. But do you really understand what you’re going to do?” How can you understand?
“Probably not.”
“Thousands are going to starve because their crops will be either parched or flooded by your meddling. At least one or two rulers will lose their heads or their kingdoms or both, and the White Wizards, who will love the chaos you’re going to create, will end up stronger than ever. Do you still want to do it?”
“Do I have any choice? If I do nothing, Recluce will fail. Korweil has cut us off, and what can I do about that? Threaten to destroy him? That won’t bring back the pay chest.”
“It could be Helisse who did that.”
“Does it make any difference? How would I accuse her from fifteen hundred kays away?”
“It’s not that far.”
“All right, but it might as well be. Helisse is all he has left. Even if he believes me, he won’t last long if she dies.”
“I wondered about her. That was one reason I was glad to have Aldonya with me.”
“Where is she?”
“At the keep, silly.” . . . likes privacy sometimes, too. . .
Creslin flushes again. “Anyway, if I do nothing, the White Wizards will still get stronger, and they’ll still take over Montgren when Korweil dies. And Ryessa will still probably embark on some conquest, but she’ll avoid Fairhaven. Westwind will eventually fall, because it will be caught between two absolute empires that will grind it to pieces.”
“So much for belief in the Legend.”
“That was unfair.”
Megaera swallows. “I’m sorry.”
He smiles faintly. “No matter what I do, it’s going to be wrong. But I can’t wait any longer.” He reaches into a pouch by the pallet. “Here.”
She takes the five heavy gold links.
“That’s what’s left. That’s all,” he tells her.
“The last Suthyan coaster’s supplies . . . did they cost that much?”
“Yes, between the coaster and the refitting supplies that Freigr brought for the Dawnstar. I had to pay for the canvas in advance, and it will be an eight-day yet before it’s delivered.”
“That’s unreasonable! You could have destroyed the whole Suthyan ship for that extortion.” . . . thieves! White-hearted merchants. . .
Creslin rubs his forehead at the violence of her thoughts, then holds up a hand. “I could have. But that was the only ship arriving in I don’t know how many eight-days besides the Griffin. If I ruined her, who else would risk both the White Wizards’ anger and mine?”
“Damn sister dear! Where is her promised support?”
Creslin waits. It’s clear that they cannot count on Ryessa.
“I know . . . but it’s hard. I remember when we played “Hide and Seek” in the courtyards and she promised we’d always be sisters, no matter what happened.”
“You are. She’s just doing what she thinks is best for Sarronnyn.”
“Would an occasional cargo of hard cheese or old grain hurt anyone?” Finally she shrugs and sits down next to him. “Before we do this . . .”
“What?”
Her lips still surprise him as they meet his, but his hands are gentle on her skin.
. . . best-beloved . . .
. . . Megaera . . .
Later, far later than Creslin had intended, his arms still around her, her scent still around him, he kisses her neck, slowly, then finds her mouth again.
“Mmmm . . .”
Megaera eases away from him. He lets her go but studies her body, drinking in the fire of her hair, the luminescence of her skin, the fine bones; he marvels again that she is there.
“You’re impossible.” Her voice is throaty.
He listens to every nuance, letting her words die before speaking. “I’ve always felt this way about you.”
“Not in Sarronnyn.”
“I enjoyed your sense of humor, even when I didn’t know who you were.”
She smiles. “That was a big point in your favor.” She reaches for the clothes she has discarded. “We, unfortunately, have a job to do.”
. . . why?
“Because . . . well, because—” Megaera blushes. . . . I love you, and . . . “—I wanted