The King's Bastard - By Rowena Cory Daniells Page 0,132
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?
Lence seemed to recollect his manners. Keeping a firm hold on Elina's hand, he turned towards the youths. 'Elina, you know Arturo and Moran, now Lords Brookfield and Dellton. And this is Lord Cobalt. Illien, this is Elina Dovecotesdaughter, the prettiest girl in Rolencia.'
Both youths dismounted and bowed formally as if they were in court, insisting that Elina use their personal names, as they made free with hers. Piro had to look away and bite her bottom lip.
Cobalt swung down from the saddle, handed the reins to his servant and made the Ostronite bow, which should have looked ostentatious but he carried off with great style. He kissed Elina's hand as was the Ostronite custom then held on to it, saying, 'In the court of the Elector of Ostron Isle there are poets who claim Ostronite women are the most beautiful in the world. I believed them... until I met you.'
Elina blushed but Piro laughed outright.
Cobalt flicked an annoyed glance in her direction. 'Little Piro, so good to see you again.' He dropped Elina's hand to reach up to Piro's head. 'Hold still, you have hay in your hair, child.'
He threw something away with a practised flick. Resentment filled Piro. She was not a child.
While the stable boys ran out to take their horses, Elina smiled and accepted clumsy compliments from Brookfield and Dellton. She was all kind forbearance as they tried to outdo Lord Cobalt. Lence let them flounder for a few moments, then took over. His line of compliments was much more polished.
Compliments usually bored Piro. Today they annoyed her.
'Well, Piro.' Cobalt turned to her. 'I did not think to see you here. Where's Byren?'
The truth would not do. Piro searched for inspiration. 'He's gone hunting with Orrade.'
'Really? There won't be much game along the canal, too many travellers.'
'Then it's just as well they're on horseback,' Piro told him. 'Hunting's good up near the lookout.'
'I wish them luck,' Cobalt said. 'Though I'm sure they won't need it. They tell me Byren is a remarkable hunter.'
The conversation between Elina and Lence faltered to a stop.
Cobalt turned to Elina. 'Lence has been singing the praises of your cook. He says Queen Myrella has offered her a place in the king's castle but she wouldn't leave Dovecote.'
'Yes, father would never part with her. Shall we go inside?' Elina offered her free arm.
Brookfield and Dellton both tried to take it. There was almost a scuffle. Lence saved them from themselves by walking off with Elina. Piro smirked. Silly boys.
'Father will be so pleased to see you, Lence,' Elina told him. 'He was sorry to miss the Midwinter's Day celebrations.'
As Piro watched Brookfield and Dellton hurry after them, she caught herself wishing Lence hadn't arrived. She still didn't know if Elina was going to meet Byren.
Elina paused and looked back over her shoulder. 'Come on, Piro.'