Part 17 (1/2)
Ehara does, and glances at the unset rubies, diamonds, and pearls in the small container. ”A most generous and artistic treasure.” He closes the case gently. ”And to what do I owe the pleasure of your company and such a small token of appreciation?”
”We merely wished to meet the famous Lord Ehara.”
”My fame as ruler of the smallest nation in Liedwahr has carried all the way to the lands and isles of far Sturinn?” Ehara laughs self-deprecatingly.
”Your fame has carried farther than you would have imagined, Lord Ehara,” returned jerRestin.
”What have I done that merits such notice?” Ehara's eyes narrow ever so slightly.
”We understand that you are considering efforts to strengthen your northern border, Lord Ehara,”
suggests the Sea-Marshal, the accent in his voice stronger.
”I've never mentioned such an action to anyone.” Ehara smiles easily. ”Are you Sea-Priests able to read the tides of the future?”
”When the tides run strongly and pluck at the very. harmonies of Erde, then anyone who stops to look can see where they will take the unwary.” The Sea-Marshal offers a bland smile.
'What is this disturbing tide of which you speak?”
”We understand that the Regent of Defalk is also a sorceress, and one who would change all of Liedwahr.
Surely, that is a tide you would watch... and have watched.”
”I wasn't aware that the Sea-Priests bothered themselves with the petty affairs of poor and distant Lied- wahr.”
”We look on Dumar as a bulwark against this riptide of destruction that will change all you-and we- hold dear. That is why we offer a mere token of friends.h.i.+p and appreciation.”
”I see.” Ehara tilts his head to the side fractionally, still holding the carved chest. ”And in return for such generosity . . . what must poor and lowly Dumar provide to mighty Sturinn?”
”Only friends.h.i.+p, Lord Ehara. Only friends.h.i.+p.”
”You value my friends.h.i.+p highly.”
”It is said that those who share enemies must be friends. Our fortune-seers have declared that the Regent of Defalk is our enemy.” JerRestin shrugged. ”Since she is also your enemy, we must be friends and allies.”
”What of the Liedfuhr of Mansuur?” Ehara's voice carries a tone between bemus.e.m.e.nt and curiosity.
”The Liedfuhr is preoccupied with his own concerns and has expressed little interest in the friends.h.i.+p of Sturinn.” The rangy Sea-Marshal shrugs. ”We must seek friends among those who would have friends.”
”So you must. So must we all.” Ehara laughs once wore. ”And I bid you welcome, Welcome as friends and allies.” He sets the chest on the red velvet of the chair, then steps off the dais and embraces the Sea- Marshal, who refrains from flinching.
19.
After discussing the last of the arrangements for the next day's journey toward Cheor with Hanfor, Alvar, and Jecks, Anna waited until the receiving-room door closed. She stood and stretched, then took a deep swallow of cold water from the goblet, draining it.
As she lifted the pitcher to refill the goblet, her eyes went to the window, and to the gray-and-white clouds she could see. What else did she need to take care of before she left?
It had been two days and she still hadn't seen Daffyd's sister Dalila. That didn't seem like Dalila, but, then again, with all her preoccupations, Anna might not have seemed that approachable.
With a deep breath, she lifted the bell and rang it, standing and gathering herself together.
Her dark-haired page, Skent, appeared.
”Skent, would you take me to the room where Dalila is?''
”She's in the players' quarters, like you told me, Lady Anna. And I have made sure she and the child have gotten food.” Skent's lips pursed.
”You've had to take it to her?” asked the regent.
”Yes, lady. She won't leave the room-except for the jakes.” Skent flushed. ”I guess.. I mean... I don't know.”
Anna laughed wryly. ”I understand.” She added, ”Thank you. I knew I could count on you, and I appre- ciate it.”
Skent flushed. ”You ... you keep your word.”
”I try.” You try. . . but how long will you be able to? You said you'd be there for Elizabetta, and... She pursed her lips and forced herself to keep walking. Only Skent, of all her pages, would have trusted her enough to say that, a good harbinger for what she hoped of him.
They crossed the courtyard, the wind whipping the purple sash Anna had forgotten to remove and leave in the receiving room. Behind them followed Giellum and Blaz.
”The second door, lady.” Skent gestured.
After marching up the narrow staircase, Anna rapped on the door to the second-level room.
Dalila opened it. falling back. ”Lady. . I am...”
Anna shook her head as she stepped inside and closed the door, leaving Skent and the guards in the narrow pa.s.sageway. ”Dalila, you've seen me in your robe and dusty boots doing laundry. Do you think I've changed that much?”
The brunette's eyes remained on the plank floor, and her shoulders slumped in a posture of defeat. Behind her, on the bed, sleeping in a faded gray blanket, lay the baby.
Ruetha looked up from the floor by the single wide pallet. The girl's fingers clutched a rag doll, and she hugged the cloth figure to her, taking her eyes from Anna.
”I said we'd talk, Dalila. I'm sorry... things have been busy, but...I'm here.”
A soft snore came from the bed, and Anna smiled as she glanced at the sleeping infant. The smile faded as her eyes returned to the defeated-looking Dalila.
”I should not.. I would not have come. . . but where could I turn? If it were just for me...”
Anna could hardly imagine walking for weeks on end with two children. She could remember once, when her own mother had taken Anna to visit the back holler where her grandparents lived, how her mother had carried the heavy suitcase along the half-dry creek bed for a hundred feet or so, and then come back and carried Anna those hundred feet, time after time. And that had only been for a few miles!
”You have to think of the children. Mothers always do.” And now you can't. The image of the black-lined rectangle on the wall of her room slipped into Anna's mind momentarily.
Dalila did not look at the sorceress or speak.
”Tell me what happened.” Anna feared she already knew. ”When did he leave? What happened?”