Part 23 (2/2)

Aybas wished that last night's dream would depart from his memory Even more, he wished that he had never had it in the first place

Both wishes, he kneere futile His wish to be of service to Princess Chienna was not so futile, if he did not let the drea Noas standing at the princess's door, and he was reliving the moment of the drea baby

He re hirip one tiny foot, but the tentacles of more beasts than all the wizards of the world could keep were also reaching out, cla rubies and solid rock blacker than a starless night-

”The Princess Chienna bids you enter”

The voice and accent were a hill woman's, but the words were those of a royal hter The princess exacted proper service and obedience so fir never came to anyone's mind

Anyone's, that is, except the Star Brothers-and Aybas was here tonight in the hope that he couldopen on its leather hinges Rush tapers cast a fitful light but showed the princess seated on her usual stool She wore Pougoi dress now, even to the leggings and the bird-bone co black hair But she sat as if in her father's hall, receiving a guest of state while clad in silk and cloth of gold

”I would bid you welco in the service of your hness, I-” Aybas looked at the serving woman, who made no move to leave

”I would have her tell you her own story if we had time,” the princess said, ”but, in brief, she is kin to a warrior who died on the night of ic You may speak freely”

This command rendered Aybas briefly reat friend to the wizards, had it reached other ears as well?

If one could be hanged for stealing a cup of wine, why not steal the whole barrel? Aybas nodded

”I understand that your son has been wet-nursed by women of this tribe

Now, by the custooi By the custooi, a nurse-brother is next only to a blood-brother in kinshi+p”

”So I have heard,” the princess said Aybas was sure that she was hiding ignorance, since few of the lowlanders thought it worth learning ht be norant or not, the princess was playing her part well Aybas judged it tieant

”A nurse-brother of the Pougoi is under Pougoi laws inthese laws is one that even the wizards have obeyed since the first days of their star-oi ives consent or has coreat offense”

”A babe at the breast can consent to nothing!” the princess snapped

Then she s his nurses and ”

Aybas held his peace until he was sure that no more would follow The princess was silent, but he saw her face grow taut as she struggled to hide her fear for her babe

Then the struggle to hide fear turned into a struggle of another kind

Aybas could read her thoughts, allowing fire: If I adoi, this ht to the throne There are already n of a babe There will beof a louse-ridden, rock-scrabbling oi, the wizards cannot sacrifice hi their os Their own folk will draw back from thereatest strength against reement to the princess's unspoken wisdo as the count intended to wed her

Her son, heir to the realm, had always been in a different and worse circumstance

Without words, Aybas prayed that she would see the way to what must be done