Dragon Prince 01 - Dragon Prince (45 page)

Andrade handfasted the two young people, and Sioned and Urival stepped back. The words that joined a Sunrunner and her Chosen were more elaborate than those for anyone but royalty, for there were vows other than those of marriage to consider. Tobin heard the echo of words Andrade would soon speak over Rohan and Sioned, and saw the girl’s green eyes come to life even though the rest of her seemed frozen.

Ostvel drew the carnelian necklet from a pocket of his tunic and as he fumbled to fasten it around Cami’s slender throat the stones gave off a sultry dark red fire. Not even Eltanin’s sapphires, at which Antalya had gasped, had been as magnificent as this. Cami then stood on tiptoe and clasped a thin gold chain around Ostvel’s neck. It was set with a single large piece of black coral carved in a sunburst pattern—the stone from Gilad, Ostvel’s home, and the symbol of the sun to represent her status as a
faradhi.

“As the sun and the moons circle the world of waters,” Andrade chanted, “as the waters circle the lands; as the lands circle the body of the world; so surround and sustain each other. Be as light to each other’s eyes and life-giving water to each other’s souls. Give of the richness of the earth, one to the other. Catch the wind within to sweep away all doubt, all pain, all fear. Be all things within your love.”

She turned to Ostvel, holding up her left hand, palm out, rings sparkling in the morning sun. “In your keeping is a Sunrunner, one who calls Fire and weaves the light. Help her to keep her paths true and unshadowed, free of all hurtful things. You will be the sire of
faradh’im.
I judge you worthy, Ostvel of Gilad.”

He bent his head and responded, “You honor me with your trust, Lady, as the
faradhi
does with her love.”

Andrade smiled slightly, and nodded. To Camigwen she said, “You are a Sunrunner and know your work and your vows. To serve, to speak truly, to weave the light across the world in company with your brothers and sisters. To rightly use your knowledge, and never to kill. All these things are impressed on your heart. To you I give this man, to cherish with the Fire of your calling and guard with the strength of our ways. Repose in his heart, and listen to his soul.” She took their clasped hands between hers. “Goddess blessing, all your lives.”

They faced each other, smiling as first gazes met and then lips. Tobin sighed and sniffled a little, and felt Chay shake with silent laughter at her side. “Stop that,” she whispered. “It was lovely.”

“For a princess with a political head on her shoulders, you’re a terrible sentimentalist.”

“Oh, really? And who is it who always remembers to wear his own wedding necklet to these ceremonies?”

“Well. . . .” Caught out, he shrugged, his cheeks suddenly red beneath his tan. Tobin reached up and fingered the elegant silver chain she had given him years ago, each flat link set with a small diamond so it seemed that his strong throat was circled by stars.

“Sentimentalist,” she accused fondly.

Andrade had decided that enough was enough. “Ostvel, let the girl breathe!”

The crowd dissolved into laughter. Musicians began to play as friends and families hurried forward to congratulate the newly wedded couples. Tobin and Chay found Eltanin and his bride, who seemed to be competing with each other in a blushing contest, then looked around for Rohan.

“They’re all wondering why he wasn’t first today with a bride of his own,” Chay observed, grinning. “How did Ianthe ever get the nerve to show up?”

“I don’t know and I don’t care. Where
is
that miserable brother of mine? And for that matter, what happened to Sioned?”

“Andrade, too,” Chay said, scanning the crowd with narrowed eyes, no longer smiling. “She has some explaining to do.”

“Don’t they all?”

They made their way to the outskirts of the crowd and Tobin caught sight of a blond head and a red-gold one. Sioned was moving like an old woman, Rohan supporting every faltering step. He glanced around when Tobin called his name. Fear had taken all the joy from his eyes. “It’s that damned drug he gave her,” he said. “I should have killed him.”

Chaynal put an arm around Sioned’s bent shoulders. “Rough night last night, hmm?” he asked lightly.

“You could say that. Goddess, what a headache! It comes and goes with as much warning as the fogs at Goddess Keep.”

“What did he give you?” Tobin asked as they continued down the hill.

“I don’t know. I felt all right, and then I felt terrible—” She managed a smile for Rohan. “And then I felt wonderful.”

“I’ll bet you did,” Chay replied to keep the bracing banter going.

“Oh, shut up,” Rohan muttered, crimson to his ear-lobes. But there was a smug gleam in his eyes that brought a muffled giggle to Tobin’s lips.

“I can hardly wait to hear the whole story,” Chay went on.

“Tobin, you didn’t tell him?” Rohan asked.

“There wasn’t time.” She fell silent as they reached the camp, and went ahead to pull aside the flaps of Rohan’s tent. The two men half-carried Sioned inside, and Walvis was there at once with pillows to put behind her head as she wilted onto Rohan’s bed.

“I’ll go find Lady Andrade,” the squire said without being told, and vanished.

Rohan sat beside Sioned, smoothing the hair back from her forehead, holding her hand. A deadly anger competed with the aching tenderness in his eyes. Tobin exchanged a glance with Chay, and they both pulled up low stools and sat down.

“You and Roelstra aren’t just on opposite sides anymore,” Tobin said. “You’re enemies.”

“I should’ve killed him,” Rohan said again.

“Come on, out with it,” Chay said impatiently. “I want to hear it all.”

Rohan was spare in the telling. Sioned said nothing, merely gazed up at him, until he reached the part about the two of them walking along the river. She smiled, saying, “I think he’ll forgive you the details of what happened after that.” Rohan blushed again, and Tobin grinned at her husband.

“This morning,” Rohan went on, glowering at his brother-by-marriage as if daring him to tease, “we woke up and found Roelstra’s barge on fire. That’s the part I want to hear from Andrade. If anybody knows what happened, she will.”

“Nobody told you?” Chay asked, all humor gone.

“I don’t listen to rumors.”

“Neither do I,” Andrade said from behind them. She took a swift assessing look at Sioned, frowning. “The
dranath
?”

“If that’s the name of the drug, then yes,” the Sunrunner replied.

Andrade gestured peremptorily, and Chaynal brought her a chair. She sat down, folded her hands in her lap, and announced, “The royal mistress gave birth last night. For reasons unconnected to the fact that it was another daughter, Roelstra burned Palila in her bed.”

“Goddess!” Sioned breathed. “Rohan, I wish you
had
killed him!” Andrade nodded. “So do I. What are the symptoms of this drug?”

“A grandsire dragon of a headache. It comes and goes.”

“Was there any odd taste to the wine?”

“It was Giladan, but I don’t know enough about the variety to say if there was anything wrong with the taste.”

“Damn,” Andrade muttered. “Will you be able to appear tonight?”

“Of course I will!” Sioned tried to sit up.

Rohan pushed her gently back down. “You’re not well enough. Don’t even think about—”

“I’ll be there,” she said stubbornly. “Try and stop me!”

“Sioned,” he began warningly.

“Don’t be a fool, Rohan!” Andrade exclaimed. “She must be there!”

Tobin judged it was time to change the subject before frayed tempers snapped. “Aunt, why wouldn’t anybody let me in your tent this morning?”

The Lady looked grimly amused. “I have a guest who doesn’t appreciate my hospitality. The Princess Pandsala.”

Andrade showed none of her usual enjoyment for the shocked silence that followed such an incredible pronouncement. She made brief work of the story, residual horror and disgust in her eyes no matter how strictly she controlled her voice. When she had finished, she considered each of them in turn, focusing at last on her nephew. “We’ve badly underestimated Ianthe, it seems. I don’t know what Roelstra believes, but I know Pandsala is telling the truth. The whole scheme was Ianthe’s, and the implications sicken me. She sat there cool as a cloud, without a trace of guilt—and I’m sure she feels none, for she’ll get at least part of what she wants.”

“
Not
Rohan,” Sioned stated flatly.

“She’ll have other means to power, you can be sure. We’ll have to watch her carefully over these next years. It’s said he’s given her Feruche.”

“No!” Rohan cried furiously. “Feruche is going to be mine! And I won’t have that bitch within a hundred measures of my lands!”

“There’s nothing you can do about it,” Andrade told him roughly. “Put someone you trust completely in command of your garrison below the castle. That’s your only move for the moment.”

“I’ll thank you not to decide the disposition of my troops for me,” he snapped.

Sioned placed a gentle hand on his arm. “What about the others, my Lady? The crew and servants—and those other women and their children. Did they escape?”

“The crew, yes. The servants, mostly. As for the women and babies—I don’t know. I’ve tried all morning to find trace of them, but. . . .” She shrugged, a casual gesture at odds with the cold fury in her eyes. “It’ll be a long, hard trip back to Castle Crag for the High Prince and what remains of his suite. You’ll make a tidy profit, Chay. I’ve heard you’ve upped your prices.”

“That was before I’d heard all this!” Chay shot back. “He can damned well walk! What kind of man could murder a woman who’d borne his children?”

“Daughters,” Tobin corrected softly. “That’s the difference, Chay.”

“No,” Andrade told them. “Palila died because she was guilty of treason.”

“So is Ianthe,” Rohan pointed out. “Roelstra’s arrogant, but he’s not stupid. He has to know she was behind it. Pandsala’s clever enough to think up the variation, but only Ianthe could conceive the original plan. The fact that Roelstra’s rewarding her with Feruche confirms it, as far as I’m concerned.” He held Sioned’s fingers more tightly, looking down at her. “He’ll want Ianthe’s talents directed at us now. Especially you.”

“That makes it even more important for me to appear tonight with you as we planned,” she insisted. “It’ll be a slap in her face and I’ve been looking forward to it.” She gave him a tight smile. “I’m not afraid of her, Rohan. You aren’t, either.”

“Exactly,” Tobin approved, winning a furious glance from her brother. “And aside from all that, she has to show up healthy and smiling tonight. There will be rumors all over the camps by now about—what did you call it, Aunt?”

“
Dranath.
Shut up, Rohan, they’re both right.”

Chay sat forward and interposed, “How can we help?”

Andrade scrutinized Sioned once more. “You look a fright. Tobin, you and Cami will have to do something about that.”

“Then the first thing is for her to get some rest,” Tobin decided. “Chay, Rohan—out.”

“I’m not leaving her,” Rohan said.

“Listen to me, beloved,” Sioned murmured. “I can’t rest when you’re sitting here looking like an avenging dragon.”

Chay took a handful of Rohan’s collar and drew him to his feet. “Come on. We have to get you prettied up, too, you know. Walvis can bring your clothes and so forth to my tent. Let the girl sleep. Goddess knows you didn’t let her get any rest last night!”

After a moment’s sulky rebellion, Rohan allowed himself to be led away. Sioned met Tobin’s gaze, whispering, “He was so happy. And now this.”

“You’ll be free soon enough,” Andrade told her.

“And with all the time in the world to be happy,” Tobin finished. “Close your eyes, Sioned. Camigwen and I will take care of everything.”

At sundown Sioned was looking into the mirror at the face of a stranger. Her eyes had been outlined in dark green pencil, and a dusting of gold powder on her lids lent a hint of the usual sparkle to her eyes. Salves had been applied to her cheeks and lips to simulate healthy color. It had taken all Tobin’s and Camigwen’s combined skills to create the semblance of her normal face to which the makeup had then been applied. They had done her hair in a mass of thin braids that twisted around her head and looped down her neck like plaited fire. She supposed she was beautiful.

“Where did Walvis get to with the jewels?” Camigwen fretted as Tobin lowered the gown’s skirt over Sioned’s hair and pulled it into place around her waist.

“You’d think my idiot brother would be dressed to his own satisfaction by now, and have the decency to remember Sioned’s emeralds.”

Sioned finished tying the skirt’s laces and stared bemused at her image. The dress was everything she had hoped when she’d first seen the heavy silk in the merchant’s booth. Was this what a princess looked like?

“Perfect,” Cami announced, standing back from her.

“I think so, too,” Rohan said softly.

Sioned turned. Resplendent himself in a solid black outfit like the one he’d worn at Stronghold, he had added a sleeveless black silk tunic slit in front from the waist to the knee-length hem, belted in silver. He and Sioned stared at each other until Tobin broke the spell with laughter.

“Put your eyes back in your heads!”

“Is that my Sioned under all that?” Rohan teased.

“Want proof?” She held up the hand wearing his emerald.

“Oh, something a little more substantial than that,” Cami suggested, laughing.

Sioned cast her a sidelong glance, then went to Rohan and kissed his lips. The Fire blazed up between them. She didn’t dare put her arms around him, knowing he held back for the same reason. They knew each other’s bodies now, understood the reality of ecstasy. When she stepped away from him, they were both trembling.

“Oh, it’s you, all right,” he murmured, eyes dazed. Then he shook himself and reached into a pocket. “Tobin, you put these on her. I’d drop them.”