The Fire Dragon. Katharine Kerr
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spread out over long-deserted fields. It was enormous, as well, a good many times larger than Maryn’s – even though Braemys was leading a far smaller army. When Nevyn dropped down closer for a look, he saw many small auras, pale and trembling, among the larger glows: frightened children, he realized with a shock. Many of the large auras belonged to women, as well. What were they doing there? And why north, what must have been a good long distance north? A puzzle, all of it.
Nevyn hovered for a few moments, memorizing the lay of the camp and the land around it both, then turned and headed back south. Sped by his curiosity, he saw the landscape below unrolling as fast as a Bardek scroll dropped by a careless scribe. In what seemed like a few moments he once again hovered above Braemys’s army, which had stopped marching and stood in the road. Nevyn could feel the tug of the silver cord that connected him to his body; he was tiring fast, and staying too long in the etheric offered danger even to a master of dweomer such as he. But at the same time he felt an urgency to stay, some deep intuition from his innermost being. Like a hawk on the wind he hovered above the army and saw a small group of men sitting on horseback out in a meadow. Braemys and his lords, I’ll wager!
The thought caught him like a gust of wind and blew him to the cluster of men on horseback, but he was too late to join their conference. The lords all drew their swords, black smears of death in the golden auras, clashed them together as if sealing an oath, then turned their horses and trotted back to the waiting army. Once again Nevyn felt the tug of his silver cord. When he glanced down he saw his body of light growing dangerously thin. He focused his will and began to capture etheric light, wrapping it in long silvery blue strands around himself. His simulacrum soaked it up as cloth soaks water, and once again he felt strong and solid.
By this time the army below had begun to move. In an instant Nevyn understood why he’d forced himself to stay: the column was splitting itself into two parts. One, with the Boar banners at its head, was heading fast off to the southwest – to circle round from the Red Wyvern’s flank? Most likely. Only when that second column was well under way did the remains of the army set out westward again. At its head fluttered banners carrying the crossed sword device of Lughcarn. This time, when Nevyn felt the silver cord hauling at his body of light, he gave in to the impulse and sped back west to his body and Prince Maryn. He had some news for the council of war now, good and proper.
All that same day, Lilli had been restless. She would read a page in the book only to realize that she’d comprehended not one word of it. In the middle of the morning she gave up on her studies and headed downstairs. She was crossing the great hall when a boyish voice hailed her, and she turned to see Prince Riddmar trotting over to her. His pale-haired resemblance to Maryn struck her like an omen. If one day she had a son by the prince, he would look much like this, no doubt.
‘Good morrow, Lady Lilli,’ Riddmar said. ‘Are you going out for a ride or suchlike?’
‘I thought I’d just have a bit of a walk. Why?’
‘Oh, I’m bored.’ The boy pulled a long face. ‘It’s so wretched, not getting to go to the war. I wanted to ride down to the lake, but Lady Elyssa told me I couldn’t go alone.’
‘And quite rightly, too. You’re too valuable to risk to some traitor or Cantrae spy.’
‘That’s what my brother said.’ Riddmar sighed with deep drama. ‘May I walk with you?’
‘Of course. I’m just going for a stroll.’
Although Riddmar had lived in the dun for some months, he still had a great deal of trouble sorting out the warren of walls and towers that made up Dun Deverry. As they walked, Lilli pointed out various landmarks and showed him the main paths through the confusion.
‘Some of these buildings and suchlike look so clumsy,’ Riddmar remarked at one point. ‘Like that odd tower you can see from the main ward.’
‘The one that leans so badly? Your brother told me that it was built that way on purpose, so defenders could drop rocks down on attackers.’
‘Oh. That makes sense, truly.’
All at once Riddmar blushed and looked away.
‘What’s wrong?’ Lilli said.
‘Er, ah, well, I was just – well, remembering somewhat my brother told me.’
‘About me?’
The boy blushed again, betraying the answer.
‘What was it?’ Lilli said. ‘Everyone knows I’m his mistress. You don’t need to be embarrassed.’
‘I know that.’ Riddmar looked down at the hard-packed dirt of the ward. ‘It was just an odd thing.’
‘What?’
‘Well.’ Riddmar began drawing lines in the dirt with the toe of one boot. ‘He said he hoped that I never loved a woman the way he loves you.’ He looked up. ‘I don’t understand that.’
‘He should be more careful of what he tells you.’
‘I’ve not made you angry, have I? I’m sorry. He sort of blurted it out one night when he wanted me to go away so he could – could visit you.’
‘I’m not angry. Just weary all of a sudden. Here, let’s go back to the great hall. I need to rest.’
As they were walking up to the main broch complex, Elyssa came trotting out, lifting her skirts free of the muck as she hurried across the cobbles. She saw them, waved, and waited for them to catch up to her.
‘There you are, your highness,’ Elyssa said to Riddmar.
‘I stayed in the dun,’ Riddmar said. ‘Just like you told me.’
‘My thanks for that. The captain of the fortguard’s looking for you. He wants to give you another lesson in swordcraft.’
‘Splendid!’ Riddmar broke into a grin.
‘He’s down at the royal stables, the one the silver daggers use when they’re here.’
‘My thanks.’ Riddmar made her a sketchy bow and did the same to Lilli. ‘I’ll be in his company if you have need of me.’
The young prince turned on his heel and ran off, heading across the ward to the stable complex. Elyssa watched him go with a shake of her head.
‘He’s a fiery young colt,’ Elyssa said at last. ‘Which is all to the good.’
‘He’ll need that spirit when he’s Gwerbret Cerrmor. He’s so awfully young. Shouldn’t there be a regent for him?’
‘Well, Prince Maryn will hold that rank formally, but of course, he’ll be here in Dun Deverry. No doubt one of the councillors will go.’
‘It would be splendid if Nevyn were appointed to Cerrmor. Then I could go with him.’
‘Away from the prince?’
‘Just that.’ Lilli laid her hand at her throat. ‘Don’t you think I know the grief I’m causing our princess?’
‘It’s not you who’s doing the causing. But it’s honourable of you to consider her grief. Not many lasses would.’ She paused, her mouth twisting. ‘None of the others did.’
‘No doubt. But it’s not just the princess. Sometimes I want naught more than to get free of Maryn.’
Elyssa made an odd little gasp – out of surprise, Lilli assumed.
‘Lyss, I feel like I’ve got a fever, and it’s burning me up. No doubt if I had to go to Cerrmor I’d weep and carry on for days, but then I could recover.’
‘I see.’ Elyssa studied her for a long moment. ‘You truly mean that, don’t you? You know, the prince is not a man to force himself upon a woman who refuses him.’
‘I know that. It’s just when I see him, I can’t think of anything but him. It’s horrid, actually.’
‘It