Part 35 (1/2)
”Are you well?” Josua asked worriedly.
”No. I hurt d.a.m.nably. But I'm on my feet, and that's something.” He seemed reluctant to move further. ”How far is it?”
”Just down the hall a short way.” Josua slid his shoulder under the older man's arm. ”We will go slowly.”
They moved carefully out into the long, cool hallway. After a couple of dozen paces, Isgrimnur stopped to rest. ”I will not be able to sit a horse for a few days, Josua,” he said apologetically.
”A few days!” Josua laughed. ”You brave old fool. I will not let you on a horse for a month at least.”
”I won't be left behind, d.a.m.n you!”
”No one is going to leave you behind, Isgrimnur. I am going to need you more than ever in the days ahead, whether you can fight or not. My wife is not going to ride, either. We will find a way to get you to Nabban, and to wherever we go from there.”
”Traveling with the women and children.” The disgust in his voice did not mask the fear.
”Only until you are healed,” Josua soothed him. ”But don't lie to me, Isgrimnur. Don't tell me that you are ready when you are not. I mean it when I say that I need. you, and I will not have you making yourself so weak that your wounds don't heal.” He shook his head. ”I should be hanged for letting you get out of bed.”
The duke was a little cheerier. ”A new father cannot refuse a request. Didn't you know that? An old Rimmersgard custom.”
”I'm sure,” said Josua sourly.
”And besides, even with smashed ribs, I could beat you the best day of your life.”
”Come on, then, old war-horse,” the prince sighed. ”You can tell me about it when we get you to a bench.”
d.u.c.h.ess Gutrun left the protective circle around Vorzheva's bed to give Isgrimnur a furious scolding for leaving his bed. She had been running back and forth between the two rooms for days, and was plainly exhausted. The duke did not argue, but sank onto the bench Strangyeard had dragged in with the air of an unrecalci trant child.
Vorzheva was propped against a mound of blankets with an infant in each arm. Like Gutrun, she was pale and obviously tired, but this did not diminish the proud serenity that shone from her like a lantern's hooded glow. Both babies were swaddled so that only their black-haired heads peeped out. Aditu squatted near Vorzheva's right shoulder, staring at the nearest child with rapt interest.
When he had caught his breath, Isgrimnur leaned forward, stealing a glance at the Sitha woman. There seemed a strange hunger in her eyes, and for a moment the duke was reminded of old stories about the Sithi stealing mortal children. He pushed away the disconcerting thought.
”They look fine,” he said. ”Which is which?”
”The boy is in my right arm. And this is the girl.”
”And what will they be called?”
Josua took a step closer, staring down at his wife and children with unalloyed pride. ”We will name the boy Deornoth, in memory of my friend. If he grows up half so n.o.ble a man, I will be proud.” He s.h.i.+fted his gaze to the other small, sleeping face. ”The girl is Derra.”
”It is the Thrithings word for star.” Vorzheva smiled. ”She will burn bright. She will not be like my mother and sisters, a prisoner of the wagons.”
”Those are good names,” Isgrimnur said, nodding. ”When is the First Blessing to be?”
”We leave here in three days' time,” Josua replied, still staring at his family. ”We will have the ceremony before we ride.” He turned. ”If Strangyeard can do it then, that is.”
”Me?” The archivist looked around as though there might be someone else of that name in the room. ”But we are in Nabban, now, Josua. There is a church on every hillside. And I have never performed a First Blessing.”
”You married Vorzheva and me, so of course we would have no one else,” Josua said firmly. ”Unless you do not want to.”
”Want to? I shall be honored, of course. Of course! Thank you, Prince Josua, Lady Vorzheva.” He began to edge toward the door. ”I had better find a copy of the ceremony and learn it.”
”We're in a monastery, man,” Isgrimnur said. ”You shouldn't have to look far.”
But Strangyeard had already slipped out. The duke felt sure that the attention had been too much for him.
Gutrun made a brisk throat-clearing noise. ”Yes. Well, if all of you are quite finished with your talking, I think it's time for Vorzheva and the little ones to get some rest.” She turned on her husband. ”And you you are going back to bed, you stubborn old bear. It nearly stopped my heart when I saw you carried back here on a sling, and it was just as bad when I saw you staggering in today. Have you no sense, Isgrimnur?” are going back to bed, you stubborn old bear. It nearly stopped my heart when I saw you carried back here on a sling, and it was just as bad when I saw you staggering in today. Have you no sense, Isgrimnur?”
”I'm going, Gutrun,” he mumbled, embarra.s.sed. ”Don't bully me.”
Aditu's voice was quiet, but her melodious tones carried surprisingly well. ”Vorzheva, may I hold them for a moment?”
”She needs to rest.” Gutrun was sharp; Isgrimnur thought he saw something beyond her usual firmness in her eyes-a touch of fear, perhaps. Had she had the same thought he had? ”The babies, too.”
”Just for a moment.”
”Of course,” said Vorzheva, although she, too, looked a little startled. ”You had only to ask.”
Aditu leaned down and carefully took the children, first the girl, then the boy, and balanced them in her arms with great care. For a long moment she looked at both of them in turn, then she closed her eyes. Isgrimnur felt an inexplicable touch of panic, as though something fearful had been set into motion.
”They will be as close as brorher and sister can be, ” Aditu intoned, her voice suddenly solemn and powerful, Aditu intoned, her voice suddenly solemn and powerful, ”although they will live many years apart. She will travel in lands that have never known a mortal woman's step, and will lose what she loves best, but find happiness with what she once despised. He will be given another name. He will never have a throne, but kingdoms will rise and fall by his hand.” The Sitha's eyes opened wide, but ”although they will live many years apart. She will travel in lands that have never known a mortal woman's step, and will lose what she loves best, but find happiness with what she once despised. He will be given another name. He will never have a throne, but kingdoms will rise and fall by his hand.” The Sitha's eyes opened wide, but seemed to gaze far beyond the confines of the room. seemed to gaze far beyond the confines of the room. ”Their steps will carry them into mystery.” ”Their steps will carry them into mystery.” After a moment her eyes closed; when they opened once more, she seemed as natural as it was possible for a Sitha to seem to mortals. After a moment her eyes closed; when they opened once more, she seemed as natural as it was possible for a Sitha to seem to mortals.
”Is this some curse?” Gutrun was frightened but angry. ”What right have you to put Sithi magics on these Aedonite children?”
”Peace, wife,” Isgrimnur said, although he, too, was shaken by what he had seen.
Aditu handed the children back to Vorzheva, who stared at the Sitha in superst.i.tious bafflement.
Josua also seemed unhappy, but he was clearly trying to keep his voice even. ”Perhaps it was meant as a gift. Still, Aditu, our customs are not yours....”
”This is not not something we Sithi do.” Aditu seemed a little surprised herself. ”Oh, sometimes there are prophesies that go with certain of our births, but it is not a regular custom. No, something ... came to me. I heard a voice in my ear, as one sometimes does on the Road of Dreams. For some reason I thought it was ... young Leleth.” something we Sithi do.” Aditu seemed a little surprised herself. ”Oh, sometimes there are prophesies that go with certain of our births, but it is not a regular custom. No, something ... came to me. I heard a voice in my ear, as one sometimes does on the Road of Dreams. For some reason I thought it was ... young Leleth.”
”But she is down the hall, next to my room,” said Isgrimnur. ”She has been asleep for weeks-and she never talked when she was awake. What nonsense is this?”
”I do not know.” Aditu's golden eyes were bright. Her own surprise gone, she seemed to be enjoying the discomfiture she had caused. ”And I am sorry if I made anyone frightened.”
”That is enough,” Gutrun said. ”This is upsetting Vorzheva.”
”I am not upset,” said the new mother mildly. She, too, had recovered some of her good humor. Isgrimnur wondered if things like this happened among her wagon-folk. ”But I am now tired.”
”Let us get you back to bed, Isgrimnur.” Josua darted a last worried glance at his wife. ”We will think on this later. I suppose Aditu's ... words ... should be written down-although if they are true, I do not know that I wish to know the future. Perhaps they are better forgotten.”
”Please forgive me,” Aditu said to him. ”Someone wanted those words spoken. And I do not think they portend ill. Your children seem fated for great things.”
”I am not sure that any such portent could be good,” Josua replied. ”I, for one, have had quite enough of great things.” He moved to Isgrimnur's side and helped the duke to rise.