He licked his lips, not wanting to lie.
'Byren?' Her brows gathered together in a straight line.
'I've been delaying leaving in the hope that Lence would return from Cockatrice Spar so I could invite him with us to Dovecote,' Byren revealed. Actually he had considered asking Lence to escort Garzik. Now he wondered if it would make Lence feel better or worse to see Elina.
He ached to see her, but to see her and have her reject him again would devastate him.
'We don't know when Lence will be back. He might stay on Cockatrice Spar until he's ready to escort Rejulas to the Jubilee.' His mother tilted her head watching him and he felt the beginning of a headache. 'Is there something you're not telling me, Byren?'
He frowned, concentrating despite the thumping in his temples. 'Do you ever regret relinquishing your claim on Merofynia?'
She looked surprised and the headache lifted. The queen fiddled with the keys on her waist ring, then laughed softly. 'How could I rule Merofynia? I would have had to leave your father and live there, for an absentee ruler would never be able to contain the warlords. I could not leave your father.'
She was right, an absentee king wouldn't be able to hold Merofynia. Byren cleared his throat. 'But Lence could have ruled Merofynia. He is next in line after you.'
'And you could have ruled Rolencia.' She frowned, releasing the keys. 'Is that what's troubling you? You two are twins after all. Only seven minutes stand between you and the throne — '
'No.' Byren sprang to his feet. 'I don't crave the kingship. I was thinking of Lence.'
'But he is the heir to Rolencia.'
'And Merofynia, if he chose to assert his rights.'
'And he will one day rule Merofynia with Isolt as his queen,' his mother said. 'Though I don't know how he'll divide his time between the two countries.' She paused, obviously mulling over the practicalities.
It was clear to Byren that Lence did not want Merofynia on those terms. 'But he does not love the Merofynian kingsdaughter.'
She laughed. 'Since when does love decide royal marriages? Lence must give poor Isolt a chance. The ambassador assures me she is nothing like her father.' His mother smiled winningly. It was the smile his sister used when she was trying to winkle her way out of trouble. 'So, will you take Piro with you to Dovecote?'
He was trapped. To refuse would lead to embarrassing questions. Besides, the request was not really a request, not coming from his mother. 'Yes, I'll take Piro to see Elina.'
Since he would not actually venture onto Dovecote estate without dishonouring the Old Dove, he would ask Piro to arrange a meeting for him with Elina, so he could give her the poem and plead his case.
Elina had been furious with him but surely, if she did not feel strongly for him, she would not have been so angry. It gave him hope.
Chapter Twenty-One
Byren caught Orrade's arm as they passed on the stairs. They had hardly seen each other since they had returned from Unistag Spar. Byren was still not sure how far he could trust his old friend.
Here, on the stair landing, there was no one to overhear them, still he lowered his voice. 'I'm in a fix, Orrie. I have to escort Garza back to Dovecote estate to acknowledge his bravery, and mother wants me to take Piro to visit Elina.'
Orrade frowned, then one corner of his mouth lifted. 'Yes, that's what I'd call a fix.'
Byren's spirits lightened. He'd missed Orrade, who'd seemed withdrawn since Cobalt asked him to spy.
'You'll have to camp on the edge of the estate and send Piro on with Garzik. That'll make her wonder… I guess there's only one thing for it.' Orrade was serious now. 'You'll have to tell Piro the truth about me.'
'You don't mind?'
'A kingsdaughter, who can do what she did on Unistag Spar, is not going to worry about my preference for men.' Orrade hesitated. 'Do you want me to come too?'
'Of course,' Byren replied. 'If I'm to camp in a chilly snow-cave, while Garzik and Piro sleep in warm beds and eat hot dinners, I want you to suffer with me!'
Orrade laughed. 'You know I'd suffer far worse for you.'
Byren dropped his friend's arm. If he truly had Orrade's loyalty, why hadn't he warned him about Cobalt?
Orrade went to say something, but Byren turned and left him there on the stair. Alone.
Orrade would misinterpret his reaction, thinking Byren was uncomfortable with him. Which he was, whenever he stopped and thought about it.
Byren tried to put himself in Orrade's position. How would he feel, spending every day with Elina, unable to show that he cared? Was it even right for him to presume on Orrade's friendship? His head spun. He wished Orrade had kept his mouth shut.
Byren let his horse stand. They had ridden rather than skating so they could bring enough stores to make a comfortable camp. This camp had to be near enough to Dovecote's keep for Byren to slip over and meet up with Elina, but far enough to avoid detection.
He shaded his eyes to look across the valley. The setting sun's silvery rays picked out Dovecote's warning tower. Each great estate had warning beacons, just as they had a force of trained warriors… once. Thirty years of peace had made everyone grow fat and prosperous. But not the Old Dove. He still drilled his honour guard himself. Mind you, he'd outlived the veterans of Byren the Fourth's War of 246 and nearly all the veterans of the Merofynian War of 269 that put King Rolen on the throne.
Byren blinked. The Dove was nearly eighty. How strange it must be to live so long, to see others who were born when you were an adult grow old and die before you.
The grey stone of the warning tower gleamed like polished pewter. It was close to spring cusp but the thaw had not yet begun. Soon the land would be madly sprouting, dormant seeds battling each other to accept Halcyon's blessing. Strange to think that this snow-shrouded valley would be a steaming jungle by summer's cusp.
'Not far.' Piro spurred her horse on.
'We'll camp here,' Byren announced. Now that it was time to reveal his banishment from Dovecote estate and the reason for it, he was worried about Piro's reaction.
His sister twisted in the saddle to stare at him. 'But we're nearly there.'
He nodded to the setting sun. 'Nearly night.'
'There's no cloud cover. We could ride by starlight,' she protested.
'We're camping here.' Byren swung his leg over the horse's back, dropping to the snowy ground.
'I don't — '
'For once, will you do as I say? There's something I have to tell you, Piro. Something important.'
This piqued her curiosity and she swung her leg over the saddle, landing lightly on the snow. 'All right. I'm listening.'
He nodded to Garzik who collected her mount's reins, then moved off to unsaddle the horses and rub them down. Without a word to Orrade, Byren began to dig the snow out of a gully to make a snow-cave. A big one, since he planned on being here for more than a day or two.
He hoped that while they were alone Orrade would confide in him and together they could think of a way to outwit Cobalt.
Piro watched him for a few moments then asked, 'Why bother with such a big snow-cave, when we'll be in beds tomorrow night? Why camp at all, when we could ride on?'
'Orrade and I are not going to Dovecote,' Byren told her.
'I must confess, I wondered why Orrade was coming with us. But you… why aren't you coming to Dovecote?' A teasing sparkle lit her dark eyes and it struck Byren that his sister was a remarkably pretty girl… when she wasn't being irritating. 'Elina will miss you, Byren.'
That stung. 'No, she won't. She said she never wanted to see me again and Lord Dovecote's banned me from his estate.'
Piro's mouth dropped open. 'But why? That's ridiculous!'
Byren smiled because she bristled so beautifully on his behalf. He forced himself to go on. 'The Old Dove thinks I'm like Palos, a lover of men.'
Piro's laughter rang like a bell. Seeing his expression, she sobered abruptly. 'What made him think that?'
'I told him.'
She gaped.
'He was trying to protect me,' Orrade revealed with painful honesty. 'But I've been disinherited anyway.'
Piro sat down in the snow, stunned. 'So that's why your father disinherited you, Orrie. No wonder you didn't want to tell anyone.'
'Yes. And that's why neither of us can set foot on the estate. Elina thinks I prefer Orrade to her.' Byren heard the resentment in his voice and turned away to resume digging, using his anger to fuel the work. Sometimes he wished he had sent Orrade away instead of keeping him close by, a constant reminder of what he had lost. 'Orrie and I will camp here and wait for you. We've enough food to last seven days, more if we get lucky with our snares.'
Byren concentrated on working, waiting for her reaction. He didn't know which would be worse, pity or sympathy. Then he wondered if she would ask if it was true and that would be worst of all.
Garzik came back, having overheard everything, and began to help with the snow-cave.
'You knew all along, Garza?' Piro asked.
He nodded. More silence.
'Oh, Orrie,' Piro whispered. 'Here I was, feeling sorry for myself because I have to join Sylion Abbey when you've lost everything.'
Orrade looked up, startled. 'You have to join the abbey? But that would mean… you have Affinity?'
Garzik stopped work, his heart in his face. He loved Piro. Byren had not guessed and he doubted if the boy even realised it himself.
He was equally sure that Piro hadn't noticed, as she nodded to Orrade. 'I do. How do you think I controlled the unistag?'
The brothers exchanged looks, then turned to Byren.
'We only just found out,' he explained. 'It seems everyone has secrets.'
'Some more deadly than others,' Orrade muttered. Byren felt sure he was referring to Cobalt and his threats.
'What do you mean?' Piro asked, then wrinkled her nose. 'Oh, being a lover of men.' She paused as a thought struck her. 'But I've often heard Lence boast of the times you three have gone wenching. He claimed Orrie could — '
'Piro!' Byren cut her off, shocked.
'What?' Seeing his expression she flushed, then looked frustrated. 'I have ears, Byren. I know what you males get up to.'
'Maybe, but you don't hear mother talking about it,' Byren snapped.
'Oh really?' She rolled her eyes. 'You haven't heard the women when they are alone.'
Made uncomfortable by the idea that gossip of their exploits had reached his mother, Byren fell silent.
Orrade straightened up, dusting snow off his gloves. 'Several of the lords executed for being Servants of Palos were married, Piro.'
'So they were.' She stood up and brushed snow off her riding breeches. 'Well, you learn something new every day. What's for dinner?'
A surprised laugh escaped Byren. Orrade caught his eye, sharing his amusement in a moment of perfect understanding. No, he didn't regret their friendship and he didn't want to give it up.
So they cooked dinner and, afterwards, he beckoned Piro, leading her to the lookout where he turned to face her. Starlight illuminated her face, making her dark, tilted eyes mysterious.
'Eh, Piro, there's something you can do for me, but only if you've a mind to,' he began, reaching into his jerkin pocket to withdraw the poem.
'Does it concern Elina?'
'How did you know?'
She laughed. 'Last autumn cusp Elina told me she felt something special for you.'
'Then why'd she go off for a roll in the hay with Lence?' he demanded, surprised by the force of his anger, when he didn't really believe Elina had lain with his twin.
'She did not go off with Lence, not once!'
Byren said nothing, mouth grim.
'Oh, I'm sure Lence was swiving some girl in the hay — '
'Piro,' Byren protested.
She snorted in exasperation. 'I know what Lence gets up to. Mother's afraid she'll end up with half a dozen bastard grandchildren.'
'Piro!'
'Her words, not mine.'
'I'm sure she never told you that.'
Piro had the grace to look guilty. 'I happened to overhear her telling Seela,' she said primly. 'But that's neither here nor there. Do you want me to give Elina a message?'
Byren nodded. 'See if she'll meet me. Give her this.' He held out the poem which he'd folded over and sealed with a drop of wax, impressed with his foenix emblem.
Piro accepted it. Showing tact for once, she did not ask what it was.
'Remember the water-wheel, where the stream feeds into the lake?' Byren asked. 'I'll be there every day around midday, waiting for her.'
'What if one of Lord Dovecote's men finds you?'
'I can take care of myself, Piro.'
'I'm sure you can, but you can't kill his servants.'
He laughed. 'That's not what I meant. I can avoid being seen if I must. I'm trained in woodcraft. I just want to explain things to Elina.'
Piro nodded.
'Do you think she'll forgive me?' He couldn't help asking.
'I don't know… what girl would like to hear that the man she loves prefers her brother to her?'
Elina loved him? Byren's spirits soared, then plummeted. Somehow, knowing she loved him only made it worse.
'Oh, Byren, don't worry.' Piro hugged him. 'Elina's got a good heart.'
'True. But she's proud and I've hurt her.'
Piro winced as Lord Dovecote greeted his youngest son grimly and led him away. Even the horses, which were being led off by the stable lads, looked happier to be home than Garzik. At least they were headed for a warm stall, a feed and a rub down.
'I fear Garza's in trouble,' Piro whispered to Elina.
She nodded. 'He'll have to sit through an hour's lecture and promise to mend his ways before father will let the matter rest. Da's proud. When Garza ran away, it hurt him.'
Byren's words returned to Piro. She could tell her friend was hurting, too.
'Oh, but I'm so glad to see you!' Elina hugged her.
'Me too.' Piro returned the hug. She needed to get Elina alone where they could talk. 'I heard Regal had her pups. Father was saying he'd like one. They're sure to be great trackers.'
Elina nodded. 'Come see. They're adorable.'
They skirted New Dovecote and entered the stable yard which had been swept clean of snow.
'They're in here.' Elina led her into the stable, into a tack room near the entrance. 'Come and look. Aren't they darlings?' She scooped up a puppy, thrusting it into Piro's arms. 'Hold him.'
They knelt on the straw, shoulder to shoulder to admire the pups. The stable was warm and cosy, redolent with the familiar smells of horse and hay, friendly with the soft singing of the lads at work on the horses. Piro felt seven years old and wished life was this simple once more.
'I'm glad Garza's come back,' Elina confessed. 'Father's been impossible to live with.'
'I'm sure everything's going to be all right now,' Piro said and tipped the puppy over to tickle his tummy. Byren's message felt incredibly important in her jerkin pocket. She needed to choose the right moment or Elina might reject it. 'You haven't asked after Byren.'
Elina became very interested in her puppy. 'Do you know why?' she asked carefully.
'I know Byren loves you,' Piro insisted. 'And you once told me you loved him, so…'
Elina said nothing, staring at the puppy unseeing.
Piro stole a look. She was in time to see a large tear slide down Elina's cheek. 'Oh, Lina!'
Piro reached out to console her, but Elina pulled away. 'You don't understand, Piro. This isn't the sort of thing that can be mended by saying I'm sorry.'
'Maybe it can be mended by listening to what he has to say. Here.' Piro thrust the message into Elina's hands. 'It's from him. He'll be waiting for you by the water-wheel tomorrow at midday. Promise me you'll read it and hear him out?'
'Oh, Piro…' Elina glance down at the message then fixed tearful eyes on her.
The horses stirred, whickering. Piro and Elina b
oth turned their heads to listen. The jingle of harness and the stamp of hooves told her they had company.
'Who could that be?' Elina muttered. Wiping her cheeks, she tucked the message in her apron pocket and went to look through the stable door, staying in its shadow.
Piro had to stand on tip toe to peer over her shoulder.
'Why, it's Lence!' Elina whispered fondly. She pulled the apron off over her head and folded it across her arm. 'Lence and friends. Two of them are mere boys.'
'Don't let them hear you say that!' Piro warned. 'They're Lords Brookfield and Dellton now, having come into their titles since you last saw them. And they've joined Lence's honour guard. They think themselves men.' She frowned. Trust Cobalt to travel with a servant. 'The fancy one is the new Lord Cobalt.'
'Spurnan's son, Illien? The one who's been in Ostron Isle these last thirteen years?'
Piro nodded. 'Father's acknowledged him as our blood kin.'
'Really? My father will be pleased to see the breach mended. He'll be sorry to hear that Spurnan's dead.' Elina hurriedly smoothed down her hair, then threw the door open. 'Lence Kingsheir, always welcome at Dovecote.'
Piro watched her brother's face lighten with delight, then tighten hungrily. She could not imagine a man ever looking at her like that.
Lence swung his leg over the horse's back and dropped to the swept stable yard. 'Elina, lovely as always. Don't you have stable lads to take our horses?'
'I was playing with the puppies.' Her words were prim but her voice held laughter. 'We have more of King Rolen's kin visiting. Come, Piro.'
She stepped from behind the door. 'Hello, Lence.'
'Piro!' Lence looked surprised, then forced a smile. 'What are you doing here?'
Elina laughed and rolled her eyes. 'Brothers!'
Piro noticed both Brookfield and Dellton could not take their eyes off her friend and even Cobalt straightened unconsciously in the saddle. Why did Elina have this effect on men?
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