Part 47 (1/2)
Chay did not thank his prince for his son's life. Rohan would have been insulted by such words; if it was the duty of a va.s.sal to fight for his prince, it was no less a prince's duty to protect his va.s.sals. All that was understood.
Pol had been sent back to the pavilion with his mother and aunt, where all three tumbled into sleep as if they, too, had been drugged. Rohan a.s.sumed that Andry or Urival or someone had seen to the other Sunrunners in similar fas.h.i.+on. It was nearly dusk before Tallain came to Maarken's tent with shocking news.
”The princess-regent is dead, my lord.”
Rohan was aware that he felt nothing, in the way that a stunning blow cripples emotion.
”How?” Chay rasped, unbelieving.
”There was only the one wound, a knife-puncture in her leg. She couldn't have bled to death from it. But she died just the same.” Tallain looked as if he couldn't believe it, either. ”Her sister, Princess Naydra took her from the field to her husband's tents, and asks what you wish done, my lord.”
He was beginning to feel now, and his emotions shamed him. For he felt nothing except relief.
”My lord?”
”Yes,” he responded automatically. ”She'll be given honorable burning in state as befits a princess and a Sunrunner. At Castle Crag, I think-yes. Please tell Princess Naydra that if she'll do me the favor of arranging things, I'd be very grateful. And-and tell her that I share her grief.”
The odd thing was that he did, in a way. He grieved for the intelligence twisted, the love based in hate, the gifts misused. But he was also shamefully glad that she was dead, that he would not have to immure her in some remote keep for the rest of her life. Her crimes were unforgivable, but in her own terrible way she had loved both him and Pol. Rohan cleared his throat.
”Are the other princes waiting yet?”
”No, my lord. When it looked as if you'd be longer here than dusk, I sent them word to come tomorrow morning.” As Rohan frowned, Tallain turned defensive and a little formal. ”Her grace the High Princess concurred that everybody needs to rest.”
”Her grace the High Princess can be a graceless nag. Especially when she's right. Go rea.s.sure her for me, Tallain.”
Looking vastly relieved, the young man bowed and left. Rohan then turned to Gemma. ”My lady, have you finished?”
”Just now, your grace.” She wiped her hands on a towel and returned it to Danladi's waiting hands. ”There's no serious hurt done except to his wrist-although he'll be stiff and sore for quite some time, and one or two of the sword cuts will bear watching. As for his hand . . .” She glanced at Maarken. ”I can't tell yet. But he shouldn't be moved for at least two or three days.”
Danladi smiled shyly. ”Considering the trouble we had to get the sleeping draught down him, you'll be lucky to keep him in bed for one, your grace.”
”He'll behave,” Chay said gruffly. ”Or I'll skin what hide he has left.”
”I don't doubt it, my lord,” Gemma said. But Rohan saw something in her expression that puzzled him. He arched a brow at her and she looked away, suddenly nervous.
”What is it, my lady?” he coaxed. ”You've done me and mine a great service. Ask what you will.”
”Your grace, I want no payment for-”
”Oh, let me be generous,” Rohan suggested with a slight smile. ”It's one of the few real pleasures a prince has, as you'll find out.”
”I don't ask for myself,” she said quickly. ”But for Danladi.”
The other girl caught her breath. ”No, Gemma, please-”
”Hush,” the princess commanded gently. ”She's been a sister to me for many years now. It's my wish that we become sisters in fact as well as in feeling.”
Rohan exchanged a puzzled look with Chay.
”I've been a princess all my life, though my t.i.tle will change somewhat when I go to Ossetia after my lord Tilal and I are wed.” She blushed becomingly at mentioning his name. ”But Danladi is just as much a princess by blood as I am. I would consider it a great favor if you'd ask Prince Davvi if it would be possible for Danladi to become Princess of Syr and my sister-by-marriage.”
”With Kostas?” Chay blurted out, then apologized hastily as Danladi turned crimson to the roots of her hair.
”He thinks he wants me,” Gemma said artlessly. ”But once I've left High Kirat, and if Danladi's dowered temptingly enough. . . .”
Gemma evidently had no illusions about Kostas' character. Neither did Danladi. She met Rohan's gaze squarely, blue eyes in a timid, fair face telling him silently that she wanted Kostas for her husband. He marveled that her love for Gemma had not suffered in the face of Kostas' preference; Danladi was surely unique among Roelstra's daughters in that she seemed to have not a jealous or possessive bone in her body.
But-Roelstra's grandson as future Prince of Syr?
Sweet G.o.ddess, he was thinking like Pandsala. After all, another of Roelstra's grandsons would be High Prince one day.
”My lady,” he said to Danladi, ”I will be pleased to talk to Davvi as soon as it's opportune. If I may speak frankly, however-” He gave her a smile and she blushed again. ”I think that once Kostas sees your pretty face around High Kirat after he's come to his senses, he's more than likely to lose them again.”
”Th-thank you, your grace,” she breathed.
He caught himself just in time from shaking his head in amazement. ”I'll be subtle, I promise,” he added, and at last she smiled.
As he walked beside Chay back to his pavilion, the older man gave a low whistle. ”My, my, but you were were gallant! Imagine, that pale little wisp of a girl being Roelstra's daughter! And wanting to wed Kostas, that colossal a.s.s.” gallant! Imagine, that pale little wisp of a girl being Roelstra's daughter! And wanting to wed Kostas, that colossal a.s.s.”
”Chay, I'm surprised at you. I thought you knew from personal experience that the right wife can be the making of a man.”
”You always take refuge in jokes, don't you?” Chay asked sympathetically.
”You know me too well, d.a.m.n you.” They stopped outside the pavilion and Rohan looked around at the gathering dusk. ”I can't take in what's happened the last three days. I keep thinking I'll wake up. Chay, how did all this happen?”
”The way things always do: while we weren't watching.”
”I was watching,” Rohan replied grimly. ”I watched but I saw nothing, nothing at all.”
”Go lie down and sleep. You're about to fall over.”
He shrugged and entered the tent. Chay followed. ”You don't have to hover around, making sure I obey you,” he said a bit testily. ”And what gives you the right to order me about, anyway?”
”The right of any elder brother. Now, be sensible and go to bed. Believe me,” he added ruefully, ”it'll all be waiting for you tomorrow morning.”
Chapter Twenty-nine.
”She'll be all right now. She's sleeping.”
Volog sat down heavily in a chair near his daughter's bed. His hands came up to cover his face, and for a moment Davvi thought he might weep in his relief and weariness. But then Volog rubbed his cheeks briskly and raked his fingers through his graying hair.
”It seems I'm forever thanking someone else for taking better care of my daughter than I can. And the thing of it is, she's always taken splendid care of herself. Until now.”
”It's the shock of her faradhi faradhi gifts, cousin, no more than that. Although I admit that's quite enough,” Davvi added. gifts, cousin, no more than that. Although I admit that's quite enough,” Davvi added.