The King's Bastard - By Rowena Cory Daniells Page 0,136
them.
Distracted by their appearance, Piro was not prepared for Elina's shove. The door knob hit her between the shoulder blades and a yelp of pain escaped her.
More doors opened.
'That hurt!' Piro gasped. 'You -'
'You deserved it.' Elina leapt for her. Piro defended herself, giving as good as she got. It was a flurry of hands and stinging cheeks, flying hair.
A strong arm swept Piro off her feet. She writhed and twisted, trying to get free. Then she gasped as the arm squeezed until she saw stars.
'Enough?' Lence demanded.
Unable to speak, she could only nod. He eased up but did not release her, so that she hung from his grasp like a kitten, panting for breath.
When her vision cleared she saw Elina shrug off Garzik's restraining arms. Lord Dovecote stepped between them, his crippled face expressing concern and annoyance. Beyond him, Brookfield and Dellton looked astounded. Piro fought an urge to giggle. They were shocked to see the kingsdaughter in a scrap, but she'd grown up scrapping with Elina.
'Ho, Garza,' Lence laughed. 'Remember the time it took four stable lads to pull them apart?'
'What's this all about?' Lord Dovecote demanded. 'Elina?'
Bleeding from a scratch down one cheek, Elina assumed her dignity like a cloak. 'Piro has decided to cut short her visit, father.'
His good eye widened. 'Here, there's no need for that.' He turned to Piro. 'My apologies, kingsdaughter.'
'Put me down, Lence,' Piro ordered, cheeks flaming. She could still feel him chuckling. As soon as her feet touched the parquetry floor, she straightened her bodice and pushed her hair from her face. She had been about to apologise but this was too much. She could out-dignify Elina any day. 'I thank you, Lord Dovecote, but I must be leaving.'
Turning on her heel she went to enter her chamber, but Lence was in the way and he was enjoying this far too much to let her pass.
'Let her go, Lence,' Elina said. 'It's for the best.'
'Don't listen to Elina, father,' Garzik insisted.
'What would you know? You're just a silly little boy who thinks he's a warrior,' Elina rounded on him. 'I wouldn't be surprised if you went the same way as Orrade!'
Garzik stiffened. His cheeks grew very pale and he pulled himself up to his full height. 'Father.' He inclined his head in a short bow. 'I see I am not wanted here. I'll go. I'll serve in Byren Kingson's honour guard!'
He shoved past Brookfield and Dellton, striding off down the hall.
'Garzik,' Lord Dovecote called after him. 'I insist you stay. You are my heir.'
'Make Elina your heir. I know where my true friends are,' Garzik replied over his shoulder.
'Leave this house and you will never be welcome here again!' Lord Dovecote shouted.
Garzik spun to face his father. For a heartbeat Piro thought there was going to be a shouting match and dreaded what would come out. Then Garzik gave the old lord a short, stiff bow. 'So be it. Good bye, Father, Elina.'
Elina whimpered then spun to face Piro. 'Now look what you've done!'
Piro stared at her. Her sight shimmered and she saw invisible doors slamming shut between them. She didn't say the things that boiled for release, but pushed past Lence and ran into her chamber to pack her things.
The door opened right behind her.
'What is it now?' she spun around, fighting the tears.
'Oh, Piro,' Lence muttered, crossing the room to hug her. 'Why do you always do things the hard way?'
Her tears erupted and she wiped them away furiously, wriggling out of his embrace. She rinsed her face in the water bowl, dried her cheeks and turned to him. 'I'm fine now, Lence.'
'Good. Get Garza to take you back to Rolenhold by the canal. We saw the tracks of a manticore pride on the horse trail,' Lence warned. He frowned at her. 'Did you hear me, Piro?'
She nodded once, stiffly. Satisfied, Lence left her alone.
Throwing her travelling bag on the bed, she stripped off her good gown and dragged on her travelling clothes. It didn't take long to pack. The cook sent up a sumptuous breakfast, which she thought she'd never finished. But after the first mouthful she discovered she was hungry and polished off the lot.
By late morning, she was out in the stables helping the lad saddle her horse.
'Better prepare Garzik's as well,' she warned him.
Sure enough, ten minutes later Garzik strode into the stable and she was ready to meet him, with his mount's reins in her hands.