Part 44 (1/2)
They spoke no words as they moved to the spot. Taminy brushed the snow from one end of the boulder and sat upon it, her cloak beneath her. Feich sat opposite and favored her with a long, appraising look, taking in her woolen breeches and leather jacket.
”You fill out boys' clothing much too well to pa.s.s. You don't dissuade me from finding you alluring, still. I admit, I recall our time together at Mertuile with some fondness . . . and frustration. You haunt my dreams, Lady Taminy.”
And you, mine, she thought, but did not speak it.
Did he know he had reached her? She thought he must, and must take perverse delight in the fact. But now, facing him, looking into his eyes, she could not be sure. As always, he seemed . . . s.h.i.+elded from her in some way she had yet to comprehend.
Here, now, face to face with him, she felt of his aidan and was puzzled by it. There was something . . . uneven about it.
”You bring me here to offer me flattery?” she asked. ”I thought you meant to speak of important things.”
”These things are important to me. But let me be frank. I have resources and forces enough to hold Airdnasheen and lay siege to Hrofceaster indefinitely.”
”We have the resources to withstand such a siege.”
”Indeed? You have ample food? Water?”
”What do you think Hrofceaster is about, sir? It's a fortress. A stronghold. Intended to withstand the siege of seasons year after year.”
”And Airdnasheen? Will it withstand the abuses of battle? The Feich and Dearg are civilized men. The Deasach corsairs are hardly that. Will you subject Catahn's citizens to their outrages?”
”What citizens are those, sir? The mice and owls?”
He started, feeling her amus.e.m.e.nt as a tickling veil drawn across his face, and looked away down the slope toward the village. Though it was broad daylight, it lay as if asleep. Nothing stirred in its streets, no smoke curled from its chimneys, no livestock moved through its paddocks. Feich swiveled his head back to Taminy, who continued to regard him expressionlessly.
”Empty.”
”A Hillwild fortress is always ready to receive refugees from the holt,” she said. ”There was a time when Mertuile could take in all the citizens living outside her gates.”
”I'll burn the village to the ground.”
”You would not be the first to do that.”
He fumed now. ”I have other means of laying siege, Lady. I will not hesitate to use them. Against you, against your followers. I suspect an aislinn siege might be more effective than a physical one. You may have observed my siege engine.” He glanced up at the standard that bore the Chalice and casket.
”The Osraed Bevol's crystal, Aiffe?”
His face stilled. ”You call my bluff. Very well. Then know that Ochan's Crystal is part of what I seek here. Don't imagine that because that box contains a lesser crystal, I am powerless. As I said, I have resources. I think you know this.”
She refrained from answering, but waited for him to come to his point.
He leaned toward her, eyes intent, aidan focused.
”I want Airleas-at Mertuile and with myself as Regent. Sole Regent. I want you there, as well, to satisfy the people, to ensure Airleas's cooperation, to be my . . . confidante, my instructor.”
”To be a trophy.”
”Ah, more than that, dear Lady. Much more than that. Cyne Colfre was right in thinking you a superb symbol. I would make you a virtual G.o.ddess. Your word would be theological law.”
”My word?”
He smiled. ”When it agrees with mine. When it doesn't . . .” He shrugged.
”You would make us figureheads, then-Airleas and I.”
”I would spare the Cwen, your followers-who, by the way, are suffering greatly in Creiddylad-and your Hillwild protector.” He turned a baleful eye on Catahn, who stood some yards away, watching. ”Though I would take great pleasure in ending the nuisance he represents. I would even leave Halig-liath under your control. Of course, the Osraed must not be permitted to obtain the sort of power they've traditionally wielded.”
”For my cooperation and Airleas's you would do all this.”
”Aye. For that.”
”Will your allies agree?”
”Eventually . . . Let me remind you again, that this will be more than a physical siege. Let me remind you of Iseabal.”
The chill that Taminy had felt hovering about her now wrapped its frigid arms around her soul. She knew her face betrayed her.
Feich nodded. ”Yes . . . I suspected you knew. Give in now, Lady. Save yourself.”
”You attack at the wrong point, Regent Feich.”
”I think not.” He rose. ”I know not.”
He escorted her back to the gates of Hrofceaster, back to their hovering audience, and took his party down the narrow, sloping road to his siege camp.
The fire was warm and, in its glow, Daimhin Feich basked and contemplated his situation, his options, his desires. Lilias Saba was seeing to the last of these, ma.s.saging him with scented oils while his mind turned in lazy spirals. He did not doubt that he would force Taminy to capitulate eventually. Then . . . then what?
He had every intention of making her a spiritual figurehead. She would be able to keep the Osraed under control, quell their rebellious arrogance. More than that, she would become his consort. No doubts had he about that either. Yet now, with his mind floating far afield, he realized he had a longer-term goal at heart-that a son of his sit on the throne of Caraid-land, binding it to the House Feich.
He saw his options for power in terms of women: A liaison with Lilias Saba would unite Caraid-land and El-Deasach. If he was exceedingly clever he might have two capitols at his command-Creiddylad in the north and Kansbar in the south-capitols his son would hold after him.
Marriage to Toireasa Malcuim, on the other hand, offered the obvious benefit of consolidating his legal hold over Airleas, and he had no doubt that, through artful Weaving, her barrenness might be cured.
Yet, neither Lilias nor Toireasa could give him a son like himself-a son with the Gift. He realized his own aidan was a fluke and knew there was no guarantee a woman of little or no talent would bear him a Gifted child. Only one woman could be counted on to do that-Taminy-a-Cuinn, Osmaer.
He daydreamed of it. Fey son of a fey father and a divinely Wickish mother.
”I'm pleased my work delights you so.”
Feich opened his eyes to gaze up into the face of Lilias. He was struck again by her exotic beauty. An embarra.s.sment of riches, he had. It was a shame Caraidin religious law didn't allow for polygamy. Perhaps he would wed Toireasa then have the Osraed allow for two extra wives. That, indeed, would be the best option of all.
”Or were you thinking about your Dearg Wicke?” Raven pouted prettily. ”I know you will go to her later.”
Feich reached up to run fingers through her glossy black hair. ”Only to Weave, my darling. Only to send aislinn warriors against Hrofceaster.”
”You believe that will work? That will cause the Sorceress to let loose of your little Cyneric?”
”I do believe that. Should I not?”